Soldier's Home by Ernest Hemingway
Soldier's Home is a short story by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1925. The story follows Harold Krebs, a World War I veteran who returns home to Oklahoma after the war. He finds himself unable to adjust to civilian life, and is unable to relate to his family and friends. He spends his days aimlessly wandering the town, and his nights drinking and playing pool. He is unable to find a job, and his family is unable to understand his struggles. Eventually, he finds solace in a relationship with a young woman, but it is not enough to help him find his place in the world. The story is a powerful exploration of the psychological effects of war on those who fight it.
By Ernest Hemingway · First published 1925 · Genre: Modernist Literature, War Fiction, Realism · 2,790 words
First lines
KREBS WENT TO THE WAR FROM A METHodist college in Kansas. There is a picture which shows him among his fraternity brothers, all of them wearing exactly the same height and style collar. He enlisted in the Marines in 1917 and did not return to the United States until the second division returned from the Rhine in the summer of 1919.
There is a picture which shows him on the Rhine with two German girls and another corporal. Krebs and the corporal look too big for their uniforms. The German girls are not beautiful. The Rhine does not show in the picture.
What this Textopian page supports
Soldier's Home is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ernest Hemingway, dated 1925 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: 1925 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Modernist Literature, War Fiction, Realism, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 2,790 words
- Structure: 1 section, 70 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Soldier's Home by Ernest Hemingway
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Soldier's Home?
- 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?
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Genres
- Modernist Literature — Soldier's Home is a classic example of modernist literature, as it focuses on the psychological effects of war on the protagonist, Harold Krebs, and his struggle to reintegrate into society after returning from World War I.
- War Fiction — Soldier's Home is a war fiction story, as it focuses on the experiences of a soldier returning from war and his struggles to reintegrate into society.
- Realism — Soldier's Home is a realistic story, as it portrays the struggles of a soldier returning from war and his attempts to reintegrate into society in a realistic and honest way.
- Psychological Fiction — Soldier's Home is a psychological fiction story, as it focuses on the psychological effects of war on the protagonist, Harold Krebs, and his struggle to reintegrate into society after returning from World War I.
Tags
20th century · american and canadian literature · american fiction · beau · bed · car · complicated · father · german · girl · girls · hair