Ernest Hemingway: A Life of Adventure and Literary Greatness
Ernest Hemingway was a renowned war hero, big game hunter, adventurer, and one of the world’s greatest storytellers. His life was a testament to his unwavering dedication to writing, and his words touched millions globally. Hemingway revolutionized literature with his unique writing style, earning him the title of the most important writer since Shakespeare.
Early Life and Influences
Hemingway’s life was marked by tragedy, death, and depression, despite his super masculine image as a war hero, hunter, and fisherman. His early life was unconventional, with his mother dressing him as a girl until age six. His father, Ed, was an outdoorsman who took Ernest on hunting and fishing trips, but it was his mother, Grace, who dominated the household. Ed was harsh with his children, punishing them physically and making them pray for forgiveness, which led to Ernest sometimes fantasizing about shooting him with a shotgun.
Hemingway’s mother, Grace, was a music teacher who had given up her own opera singing career due to sensitive eyes. She settled for a life as a music teacher and married Ed Hemingway, a physician. Hemingway tried to please his parents, especially his mother, and felt guilty over his wrongdoing. In high school, he sought attention, was well-liked by girls but shy, and played football poorly. However, he found his true talent in writing, starting with the school newspaper and publishing a short story in a literary magazine.
War and Writing
Hemingway’s life changed with the outbreak of World War I, and despite being rejected by the army due to defective vision, he volunteered for the Red Cross Ambulance Division in Italy. There, he experienced freedom, formed friendships, and eventually grew anxious for action, seeking to get closer to the war. On July 8th, 1918, Hemingway was injured in a deadly explosion while delivering supplies to Italian soldiers. He suffered severe leg and knee injuries from shrapnel and reportedly carried a wounded soldier to safety before collapsing.
During his recuperation at a Red Cross Hospital in Milan, Hemingway met and fell in love with Agnes von Kurowsky, an American nurse who would inspire one of his most famous love stories. Hemingway’s feelings for Agnes intensified during the war, and he became enamored with her while recuperating in Milan. However, Agnes was less sure of her feelings, and her letters only hinted at a life together.
Paris and Literary Success
After being discharged and returning to America, Hemingway felt stifled by his small town and was hurt by a letter from Agnes that suggested she didn’t truly love him. He then met Hadley Richardson, a woman who had led a sheltered life, and married her despite their 8-year age difference. With the encouragement of author Sherwood Anderson, Hemingway moved to Paris, where he worked as a foreign correspondent and was introduced to the artistic world by Gertrude Stein.
Gertrude Stein had a significant influence on Hemingway’s writing style, encouraging him to be succinct and spare with his words. Despite Hemingway’s discomfort with her homosexual relationship with Alice B. Toklas, they maintained a professional friendship. Stein was key to Hemingway’s development as a writer in Paris, where he studied art and tried to translate the simplicity of painters into words, writing with an artist’s devotion to hone his work down to the essence of the idea.
Personal Life and Struggles
Hemingway’s personal life was marked by turmoil, including his complicated love triangle with Hadley and Pauline Pfeiffer, a stylish socialite and friend of his wife. He eventually divorced Hadley and married Pauline, but their relationship was also tumultuous. Hemingway’s marriage to Martha Gellhorn, a novelist and journalist, was marked by competitiveness and tension, ultimately leading to the end of their marriage.
Hemingway’s relationship with his children was also complicated, and he struggled with being a good father. He was a devoted father when he was present, but his absence and lack of constant connection made him a lousy father. His children had to earn his praise and attention by excelling in specific areas, such as fishing or hunting, to avoid being excluded.
Later Life and Death
Hemingway’s later life was marked by declining health and mental struggles. He was diagnosed with depression and underwent electroshock therapy, which likely damaged his memory and worsened his depression. Despite his struggles, Hemingway continued to write, producing notable works such as “The Old Man and the Sea”, which earned him the Pulitzer Prize in 1953.
Hemingway’s death on July 2nd, 1961, was a tragic event that shocked the world. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot at his home in Ketchum, Idaho, at the age of 61. Despite his controversies and personal struggles, Hemingway’s writing style and legacy continue to endure, and he remains one of the most important writers of the 20th century.
Legacy
Hemingway’s writing explored big themes like courage and transformation, with a unique, minimalist style that had a large impact on literature. He achieved great success with 27 books and over 50 short stories, and his books continue to sell in the seven figures worldwide. Hemingway developed his style through discipline and profound insight, but his writing suffered when he became distracted by his lifestyle, although he managed to fight back and produce notable work until the end of his life.
Hemingway is considered a true master who would have had a late style similar to Rembrandt, and his goal to write one true sentence propelled him into literary immortality. He believed in endurance and created a lasting literary body of work, and his charisma and generosity made him a dear friend to those around him. Hemingway’s impact on his family was profound, and despite his limited time with his sons, he touched their lives forever.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Minimalist | A style of writing or art that uses simple forms and few words to convey a message. | Hemingway’s writing style is often described as minimalist, as seen in his novel “The Old Man and the Sea”. |
| Electroshock Therapy | A medical treatment that uses electric shocks to stimulate the brain and treat mental illnesses. | Hemingway underwent electroshock therapy to treat his depression, which likely damaged his memory and worsened his condition. |
| Pulitzer Prize | A prestigious award given to recognize outstanding work in journalism, literature, and music. | Hemingway won the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for his novel “The Old Man and the Sea”, which cemented his status as a literary giant. |
| Red Cross Ambulance Division | A humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical care and assistance during times of war or disaster. | Hemingway volunteered for the Red Cross Ambulance Division in Italy during World War I, where he was injured in a deadly explosion. |
| Shrapnel | Small, sharp pieces of metal that are scattered when a bomb or shell explodes. | Hemingway suffered severe leg and knee injuries from shrapnel during the explosion in Italy. |
| Foreign Correspondent | A journalist who reports on news and events from a foreign country. | Hemingway worked as a foreign correspondent in Paris, where he was introduced to the artistic world by Gertrude Stein. |
| Gertrude Stein | An American author and poet who was a central figure in the Parisian literary scene. | Gertrude Stein had a significant influence on Hemingway’s writing style, encouraging him to be succinct and spare with his words. |
| Depression | A mental health condition characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in activities. | Hemingway struggled with depression throughout his life, which was likely exacerbated by his experiences in war and his personal struggles. |
| Charisma | A personal quality that makes someone attractive and charming to others. | Hemingway’s charisma and generosity made him a dear friend to those around him, despite his personal struggles and controversies. |
| Endurance | The ability to withstand difficult or unpleasant situations over a long period of time. | Hemingway believed in endurance and created a lasting literary body of work, despite struggling with depression and personal turmoil throughout his life. |
Watch The Video
Vocabulary Quiz
1. Which word means ‘a person who is greatly admired for their achievements or qualities’?
A) Outdoorsman
B) Adventurer
C) Renowned
D) Stylish
2. What does ‘succinct’ mean in the context of writing style?
A) Using many words to convey a message
B) Writing in a very detailed and elaborate manner
C) Being brief and to the point
D) Focusing on complex ideas
3. What is the meaning of ‘tumultuous’ in the context of Hemingway’s relationships?
A) Peaceful and calm
B) Marked by turmoil and conflict
C) Full of love and affection
D) Lacking in passion
4. What does ‘minimalist’ mean in the context of Hemingway’s writing style?
A) Using many words and complex sentences
B) Focusing on elaborate descriptions
C) Emphasizing simplicity and clarity
D) Ignoring details and specifics
5. What is the meaning of ‘endurance’ in the context of Hemingway’s writing and life?
A) The ability to give up easily
B) The capacity to withstand difficult circumstances
C) A lack of perseverance
D) A tendency to avoid challenges
Answer Key:
1. C
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. B
Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: The Use of the Past Perfect Tense
Grammar Quiz:
1. By the time Hemingway ________ his first book, he ________ several short stories.
- a) published, had written
- b) had published, wrote
- c) writes, has published
- d) was publishing, had been writing
2. Hemingway’s mother ________ her opera singing career due to sensitive eyes by the time she ________ her music teaching career.
- a) had given up, started
- b) gave up, had started
- c) has given up, starts
- d) was giving up, started
3. Before Hemingway ________ to Paris, he ________ as a foreign correspondent.
- a) moved, had worked
- b) had moved, worked
- c) was moving, worked
- d) moves, has worked
4. By the time Hemingway met Agnes, he ________ his feelings for her, but she ________ hers.
- a) had developed, had not developed
- b) developed, had not developed
- c) was developing, developed
- d) has developed, develops
5. Hemingway’s writing style ________ by the time he ________ “The Old Man and the Sea”.
- a) had been influenced, wrote
- b) was influenced, had written
- c) influenced, writes
- d) has been influenced, was writing
Answer Key:
1. a) published, had written
2. a) had given up, started
3. a) moved, had worked
4. a) had developed, had not developed
5. a) had been influenced, wrote