问题描述：
急求《Hills Like White Elephants》的英文内容简介
大概150到200个单词
大概150到200个单词
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1
Hills Like White Elephants" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway. It was first published in the 1927 collection Men Without Women.
Plot summary
The story takes place at a train station in the Ebro River valley of Spain. The time setting is not given, but is almost certainly contemporary to the composition (1920s). This particular day is oppressively hot and dry, and the scenery in the valley is barren and ugly for the most part. The two main characters are a man (referred to only as "the American") and his female companion, whom he calls Jig.
While waiting for the train to Madrid, the American and Jig drink beer and a liquor called Anis del Toro, which Jig compares to licorice, showing how young she really is. Their conversation is mundane at first, but quickly drifts to the subject of an operation which the American is attempting to convince Jig to undergo. Though it is never made explicit in the text, it is made clear (through phrases of dialogue such as "It's just to let the air in" and "But I don't want anybody but you," among numerous context clues) that Jig is pregnant and that the procedure in question is an abortion.
After posing arguments to which the American is largely unresponsive, Jig eventually assents to the operation, giving the final justification: "I don't care about me." She attempts to drop the subject, but the American persists as if still unsure of Jig's intentions and mental state. As the train approaches, it is important to note that he carries their bags to the opposing platform and has a drink alone before rejoining Jig. She smiles at him, assures him that she is "fine", and the story ends.
Themes and recurring elements
"Hills Like White Elephants" is thematically rich, given its short length and sparse narrative. On the surface, it deals with concepts such as the conflict between personal responsibility and hedonism; rhetorical and psychological manipulation; coming of age; and the dynamics of the romantic relationship and its metamorphosis into the family. At a more abstract and general level, it can be interpreted as a statement about the Zeitgeist of the Roaring Twenties and the lifestyles and attitudes of the post-World War I "Lost Generation" of American expatriates in Europe.
Jig's reference to white elephants could be in reply to the baby. The American could see the baby as a white elephant and not want to raise it because of the cost, while Jig could see the child as an extraordinary addition to her mundane life of drinking and mindless traveling.
Symbolism and setting
Keep in mind while reading this that the symbolism in this story can be interpreted in many different ways, one is not more right than the other if you can support it. The title of the story,” Hills Like White Elephants," is an allegory of the innocence of what seemed to be but is not (Jig's love towards an American man) from Jig's perspective in regards to her affair with a man who simply sees the pleasure in being with her in the flesh. Innocence is revealed when Jig orders a drink that she has never had before, and does not know the taste of. This is an allegory which develops into mixed feelings as the story unfolds. That she perceives the hills as being like white elephants can be exemplified as her taste of her drink being described as licorice, for lack in her experience in better expressing its flavor more accurately. In here quote, she states that "everything tastes like licorice, especially all the things he’s waited so long for, like Absinthe." This clearly reflects that, in her innocence, she is confused of the fact that after her deliberate assurance in her decision for her love for this man, and her decision to impregnate herself with the child of this American, she is confused. She does go on to express his immorality towards her as she expresses that everything to her tastes like licorice.This reflects her intoxication which goes beyond the physical, as he abused her physically, and also emotionally. The American answers, "Oh cut it out", which is a pun intended as a nod toward abortion, and goes on saying, "Well, let's try and have a fine time."
The title of the story refers to an aspect of its setting which is symbolically important in many ways. Jig draws a simple simile by describing the hills across the desolate valley as looking like white elephants. The implication is that, just as Jig thinks the hills in the distance look like white elephants, the American views the couple's unborn child as an approaching obstacle, a hindrance to the status quo or status quo ante. To avoid this impending responsibility, he attempts to manipulate Jig into having an abortion by presenting the operation as a simple procedure that is in her best interests, a panacea for all that is ailing her and troubling their relationship.
Furthermore, this symbolism combined with Jig's question "That's all we do, isn't it--look at things and try new drinks" and her statement that even exciting new things she has waited a long time to try, like absinthe (sometimes valued as an aphrodisiac), merely end up "tasting like licorice," implies that the couple's perpetually ambling, hedonistic lifestyle has become something of a metaphorical white elephant to her. It appears that she seeks more stability and permanence in life; "It isn't ours anymore," she states of the carefree lifestyle she and the American have been pursuing from one hotel to the next.
The symbolism of the hills and the big white elephant can be thought of as the image of the swollen breasts and abdomen of a pregnant woman, and to the prenatal dream of the mother of the future Buddha in which a white elephant (in this case, a symbol of prestigious leadership) enters her womb.
The reference to the white elephants may also bear a connection to the baby as 'a valuable possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) is out of proportion to its usefulness' white elephant.
Apart from the eponymous hills, other parts of the setting provide symbolism which expresses the tension and conflict surrounding the couple. The train tracks form a dividing line between the barren expanse of land stretching toward the hills on one side and the green, fertile farmland on the other, symbolizing the choice faced by each of the main characters and their differing interpretations of the dilemma of pregnancy. Jig focuses on the landscape during the conversation, rarely making eye contact with the American.
At the end of the story, the American takes the initiative to pick up the couple's luggage and port it to the "other tracks" on the opposite side of the station, symbolizing his sense of primacy in making the decision to give up their child and betraying his insistence to Jig that the decision is entirely in her hands. This is, however, often viewed as a sign that the couple has changed their mind and decided to go back to where they came from. The argument is that they would have been going in to the city, but then when he moves the bags "to the other tracks" that he has changed their destination after the discussion they had. Also one direction of the tracks leads to the desolate "brown and dry" region while the others moves towards the river, mountains and green valleys.
Jig's name is symbolically significant, as is the fact that her real name is never given, that "Jig" is only her lover's pet name for her. In addition to being a dated slang term for sexual intercourse, the word jig can mean a sprightly Celtic dance or any of several different kinds of tools (whiskey measurer, fishing lure, woodworking tool, etc.); this implies that the American views Jig as more of a loving object or tool---a "fine time," to use the character's own words---than a person with feelings and values to be respected.
2
In "Hills Like White Elephants", Hemingway exposes the complexities of a relationship between an American man and a girl. The main focus in on the character's reaction about the unexpected pregnancy, how they will deal with it and if reconciliation was possible. By using an objective point of view, Hemingway is able to avoid biasing the reader in favor of either character. A great writer of his time, Hemingway manages to show both the power struggle between the couple and the subtle shifts in control, without ever describing the actual tone of their words.
The American man is trying to convince the girl to terminate the pregnancy, presumably so he can terminate their relationship guilt-free. She is trying to figure out what is more likely to get him to stay, get an abortion or keep the baby. While showing the American man her feelings the girl (Jig), restrains herself from the true emotional outburst a woman in her situation would have. The character's roles are very distinctive in this story. The American man is strong and smart, he takes control by ordering drinks and taking the initiative to begin the conversation. The girl is quiet, almost subservient on every issue except the pregnancy. Coincidentally or not, the one thing the man does not act like he has control over is the unborn child.
He tries to influence her by telling her the same lies that men use today; it will make everything better between us, it's a simple operation, I'll be there for you, etc... She responds to his reasoning mostly by being unnaturally calm, trying to figure out what is most likely to please him. Perhaps her calm is due to her own calculating nature, or, more likely, due to Hemingway's inability to understand what a woman in her situation would truly feel. Whatever the reason, the calm façade only cracks twice, once when she gets a slightly sarcastic tone, responding with, "So have I, and afterward they were all so happy." and the second time when he ignores her plea to quit talking about it and she threatens to scream.
3
"Hills Like White Elephants" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway. It was first published in the 1927 collection Men Without Women.
"Hills Like White Elephants" is commonly studied in literature courses because, while brief and accessible, it contains ingenious symbolism, efficient and powerful dialogue, and it deals with universal themes applied to a controversial topic (abortion) which is explored without ever being explicitly stated. These elements combine to make the story an apt introduction to Hemingway's minimalist narrative style, as expressed in his Iceberg Theory. It also illustrates the extent to which setting can contribute to meaning in fiction.
可能有点多,因为不知你要从哪个角度介绍,所以各个方面大都给你说一点吧
Hills Like White Elephants" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway. It was first published in the 1927 collection Men Without Women.
Plot summary
The story takes place at a train station in the Ebro River valley of Spain. The time setting is not given, but is almost certainly contemporary to the composition (1920s). This particular day is oppressively hot and dry, and the scenery in the valley is barren and ugly for the most part. The two main characters are a man (referred to only as "the American") and his female companion, whom he calls Jig.
While waiting for the train to Madrid, the American and Jig drink beer and a liquor called Anis del Toro, which Jig compares to licorice, showing how young she really is. Their conversation is mundane at first, but quickly drifts to the subject of an operation which the American is attempting to convince Jig to undergo. Though it is never made explicit in the text, it is made clear (through phrases of dialogue such as "It's just to let the air in" and "But I don't want anybody but you," among numerous context clues) that Jig is pregnant and that the procedure in question is an abortion.
After posing arguments to which the American is largely unresponsive, Jig eventually assents to the operation, giving the final justification: "I don't care about me." She attempts to drop the subject, but the American persists as if still unsure of Jig's intentions and mental state. As the train approaches, it is important to note that he carries their bags to the opposing platform and has a drink alone before rejoining Jig. She smiles at him, assures him that she is "fine", and the story ends.
Themes and recurring elements
"Hills Like White Elephants" is thematically rich, given its short length and sparse narrative. On the surface, it deals with concepts such as the conflict between personal responsibility and hedonism; rhetorical and psychological manipulation; coming of age; and the dynamics of the romantic relationship and its metamorphosis into the family. At a more abstract and general level, it can be interpreted as a statement about the Zeitgeist of the Roaring Twenties and the lifestyles and attitudes of the post-World War I "Lost Generation" of American expatriates in Europe.
Jig's reference to white elephants could be in reply to the baby. The American could see the baby as a white elephant and not want to raise it because of the cost, while Jig could see the child as an extraordinary addition to her mundane life of drinking and mindless traveling.
Symbolism and setting
Keep in mind while reading this that the symbolism in this story can be interpreted in many different ways, one is not more right than the other if you can support it. The title of the story,” Hills Like White Elephants," is an allegory of the innocence of what seemed to be but is not (Jig's love towards an American man) from Jig's perspective in regards to her affair with a man who simply sees the pleasure in being with her in the flesh. Innocence is revealed when Jig orders a drink that she has never had before, and does not know the taste of. This is an allegory which develops into mixed feelings as the story unfolds. That she perceives the hills as being like white elephants can be exemplified as her taste of her drink being described as licorice, for lack in her experience in better expressing its flavor more accurately. In here quote, she states that "everything tastes like licorice, especially all the things he’s waited so long for, like Absinthe." This clearly reflects that, in her innocence, she is confused of the fact that after her deliberate assurance in her decision for her love for this man, and her decision to impregnate herself with the child of this American, she is confused. She does go on to express his immorality towards her as she expresses that everything to her tastes like licorice.This reflects her intoxication which goes beyond the physical, as he abused her physically, and also emotionally. The American answers, "Oh cut it out", which is a pun intended as a nod toward abortion, and goes on saying, "Well, let's try and have a fine time."
The title of the story refers to an aspect of its setting which is symbolically important in many ways. Jig draws a simple simile by describing the hills across the desolate valley as looking like white elephants. The implication is that, just as Jig thinks the hills in the distance look like white elephants, the American views the couple's unborn child as an approaching obstacle, a hindrance to the status quo or status quo ante. To avoid this impending responsibility, he attempts to manipulate Jig into having an abortion by presenting the operation as a simple procedure that is in her best interests, a panacea for all that is ailing her and troubling their relationship.
Furthermore, this symbolism combined with Jig's question "That's all we do, isn't it--look at things and try new drinks" and her statement that even exciting new things she has waited a long time to try, like absinthe (sometimes valued as an aphrodisiac), merely end up "tasting like licorice," implies that the couple's perpetually ambling, hedonistic lifestyle has become something of a metaphorical white elephant to her. It appears that she seeks more stability and permanence in life; "It isn't ours anymore," she states of the carefree lifestyle she and the American have been pursuing from one hotel to the next.
The symbolism of the hills and the big white elephant can be thought of as the image of the swollen breasts and abdomen of a pregnant woman, and to the prenatal dream of the mother of the future Buddha in which a white elephant (in this case, a symbol of prestigious leadership) enters her womb.
The reference to the white elephants may also bear a connection to the baby as 'a valuable possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) is out of proportion to its usefulness' white elephant.
Apart from the eponymous hills, other parts of the setting provide symbolism which expresses the tension and conflict surrounding the couple. The train tracks form a dividing line between the barren expanse of land stretching toward the hills on one side and the green, fertile farmland on the other, symbolizing the choice faced by each of the main characters and their differing interpretations of the dilemma of pregnancy. Jig focuses on the landscape during the conversation, rarely making eye contact with the American.
At the end of the story, the American takes the initiative to pick up the couple's luggage and port it to the "other tracks" on the opposite side of the station, symbolizing his sense of primacy in making the decision to give up their child and betraying his insistence to Jig that the decision is entirely in her hands. This is, however, often viewed as a sign that the couple has changed their mind and decided to go back to where they came from. The argument is that they would have been going in to the city, but then when he moves the bags "to the other tracks" that he has changed their destination after the discussion they had. Also one direction of the tracks leads to the desolate "brown and dry" region while the others moves towards the river, mountains and green valleys.
Jig's name is symbolically significant, as is the fact that her real name is never given, that "Jig" is only her lover's pet name for her. In addition to being a dated slang term for sexual intercourse, the word jig can mean a sprightly Celtic dance or any of several different kinds of tools (whiskey measurer, fishing lure, woodworking tool, etc.); this implies that the American views Jig as more of a loving object or tool---a "fine time," to use the character's own words---than a person with feelings and values to be respected.
2
In "Hills Like White Elephants", Hemingway exposes the complexities of a relationship between an American man and a girl. The main focus in on the character's reaction about the unexpected pregnancy, how they will deal with it and if reconciliation was possible. By using an objective point of view, Hemingway is able to avoid biasing the reader in favor of either character. A great writer of his time, Hemingway manages to show both the power struggle between the couple and the subtle shifts in control, without ever describing the actual tone of their words.
The American man is trying to convince the girl to terminate the pregnancy, presumably so he can terminate their relationship guilt-free. She is trying to figure out what is more likely to get him to stay, get an abortion or keep the baby. While showing the American man her feelings the girl (Jig), restrains herself from the true emotional outburst a woman in her situation would have. The character's roles are very distinctive in this story. The American man is strong and smart, he takes control by ordering drinks and taking the initiative to begin the conversation. The girl is quiet, almost subservient on every issue except the pregnancy. Coincidentally or not, the one thing the man does not act like he has control over is the unborn child.
He tries to influence her by telling her the same lies that men use today; it will make everything better between us, it's a simple operation, I'll be there for you, etc... She responds to his reasoning mostly by being unnaturally calm, trying to figure out what is most likely to please him. Perhaps her calm is due to her own calculating nature, or, more likely, due to Hemingway's inability to understand what a woman in her situation would truly feel. Whatever the reason, the calm façade only cracks twice, once when she gets a slightly sarcastic tone, responding with, "So have I, and afterward they were all so happy." and the second time when he ignores her plea to quit talking about it and she threatens to scream.
3
"Hills Like White Elephants" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway. It was first published in the 1927 collection Men Without Women.
"Hills Like White Elephants" is commonly studied in literature courses because, while brief and accessible, it contains ingenious symbolism, efficient and powerful dialogue, and it deals with universal themes applied to a controversial topic (abortion) which is explored without ever being explicitly stated. These elements combine to make the story an apt introduction to Hemingway's minimalist narrative style, as expressed in his Iceberg Theory. It also illustrates the extent to which setting can contribute to meaning in fiction.
可能有点多,因为不知你要从哪个角度介绍,所以各个方面大都给你说一点吧
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