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"once they take it away, you never get it back.” / “But they haven’t taken it away.”
“We’ll wait and see.”
Hills Like White Elephants - Partner Work for "Hills Like White Elephants" : As a teacher, nothing was more exciting to me than when a student discovered or understood something on their own. Hemingway's story, "Hills Like White Elephants", though not from In Our Time, gives students just such a chance. I remember first reading this in college - and I didn't "get it" - and it had to be pointed out by a friend of mine. But when I did see what was causing the underlying tension in the story - of course it all made wonderful sense. The story is also perfect for illustrating what Hemingway calls the "Iceberg Theory" - the idea that by leaving major plot points OUT of a story - it helps create even more tension than if it had been said explicitly. The partners read the story by themselves mark it up - then find a partner to complete the rest. If they get stuck there are some very helpful quotes that they can get from the teacher. They complete the questions together (one partner writes) and then turn it in at the end of the period. Please be aware that this story deals with abortion and should be read by students that are mature enough to handle that fact - and by classes where this will not create a problem.
Lesson Overview
Lesson Overview
No quiz - in fact, this reading isn't even assigned. The students will be reading the story cold - which is a great thing to do once in a while. Please see the Partner Work handout below for complete instructions. Before you pass out the handout - you will need to cut out the section of the handout labeled 3b. These are quotes that students can come get from you if they get stuck.
Please see the actual Partner Work below for precisely what's in it and my page on Group Work for more of the "why" do it. They are due at the end of the period. It is intense and designed to utilize the two partners' knowledge and differing perspectives.
Hills Like White Elephants - Partner Work
1 - Students begin by doing a close reading of the text (found below) and marking it up with their notes. (they are given a definition of what "white elephant" means.
2 - A short introduction to Hemingway's "Iceberg Theory" - they are then instructed to find a partner. Those who have read it before should find a partner who also has.
3a - Now the partners will look for what is "under the surface" of that "iceberg". The big thing that Hemingway is NOT telling us and that is causing the tension between the couple. When they think they know what it is - they should write it down and show it to the teacher (so that others do not hear). The answer - the thing they are not talking about is the woman getting an abortion.
3b - If they cannot find this on their own, they can come up to the teacher who will give them the part of the handout that was cut out with 4 very pointed quotes from the story which will probably help them discover the unsaid cause of the tension.
4-9 - They answer more typical "Group Work" questions. Some of these points include:
finding three quotes other than 3b that help show the underlying cause of their argument
how does not mentioning the abortion affect the story?
look to the next story, "Out of Season" and try to spot what is "under that iceberg"
going back to "Cat in the Rain" to see if they can spot something that is not said directly.
the difference in a literature class in discovering something for yourself - and being told about it.
Partner Work
Partner Work
Most Recent Handout
Most Recent Handout
Remember to cut out section 3b before you give it to students - this little square will be for students that need a hint as they are trying to figure out what is "below the iceberg". All students should be given section 3b before they leave. See the Lesson Overview for more on the actual Partner Work.
"Hills Like White Elephants" - text
"Hills Like White Elephants" - text
This is a copy of the text for students. It is formatted with plenty of room in the margins to take notes on (remember the students should have their bookmarks and poems before, handy).
Remote Enhancements
Remote Enhancements
Group Works can be done wonderfully using remote "rooms".
Now that students have done the ground work with Hemingway's "Iceberg Theory" with their last lesson on "Hills Like White Elephants" - AND they were told to watch for a similar omission in the story, "Out of Season" that they read for homework - it is time to see what they came up with - and how well the "Iceberg Theory" works. For many years, I did this lesson as a teacher-led (ringmaster) discussion with questions and answers - however, given the explosive part of the plot that Hemingway kept hidden from the text - I thought it made sense (and for other reasons) to do this as a Vertext instead.
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
Thoughts on the Lesson
Thoughts on the Lesson
Of course the teacher has to be thoughtful and sensitive here. Abortion is obviously a controversial subject. On the other hand, there is no judgment in the story about the procedure and it doesn't actually happen (in the story - it is just talked about - rather obliquely). In the 25 years that I taught this story - I never had an upset student (or parent) - though I certainly did for other texts.
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