Hills Like White Elephants
Hills Like White Elephants is a short story by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1927. The story follows an American man and a woman, referred to as "the girl," as they wait for a train at a Spanish station. The two are discussing an operation that the girl is considering having, which is implied to be an abortion. The man is trying to convince the girl to go through with the operation, while the girl is hesitant and unsure. The story is told almost entirely through dialogue, and the reader is left to infer the characters' feelings and motivations. The story is a powerful exploration of the complexities of relationships, and the difficult decisions that must be made in order to move forward.
By Ernest Hemingway · First published 1927 · Genre: Modernist Literature, Short Story, Realism · 1,440 words
First lines
THE HILLS ACROSS THE VALLEY OF THE Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun. Close against the side of the station there was the warm shadow of the building and a curtain, made of strings of bamboo beads, hung across the open door into the bar, to keep out flies. The American and the girl with him sat at a table in the shade, outside the building. It was very hot and the express from Barcelona would come in forty minutes. It stopped at this junction for two minutes and went on to Madrid.
"What should we drink?" the girl asked. She had taken off her hat and put it on the table.
What this Textopian page supports
Hills Like White Elephants is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ernest Hemingway, dated 1927 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ernest Hemingway
- Date: 1927 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Modernist Literature, Short Story, Realism, Drama, Romance
- Length: 1,440 words
- Structure: 1 section, 108 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Hills Like White Elephants?
- How does this short story by Ernest Hemingway fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Modernist Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Che Ti Dice La Patria by Ernest Hemingway
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- The Gambler The Nun And The Radio by Ernest Hemingway
Genres
- Modernist Literature — Hills Like White Elephants is a classic example of modernist literature, as it is written in a minimalist style and focuses on the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters, rather than the plot.
- Short Story — Hills Like White Elephants is a short story, as it is a brief narrative that focuses on a single incident or set of related incidents.
- Realism — Hills Like White Elephants is an example of realism, as it is written in a straightforward style and focuses on the everyday lives of ordinary people.
- Drama — Hills Like White Elephants is a drama, as it focuses on the tension between the two characters and their struggle to make a difficult decision.
Tags
20th century · afterward · american and canadian literature · american fiction · anis · bags · bar · bead · beer · care · curtain · drink