Curated set · answers marked
What central issue do the American man and Jig talk around in their conversations throughout the story, even though they never name it directly?
Rationale
The story centers on the couple’s indirect discussion about a medical procedure that the man refers to as "a simple operation." Using his iceberg theory and subtext, Hemingway allows readers to grasp that the "operation" is an abortion, which Jig is hesitant about while the man continues to pressure her.
In Ernest Hemingway's short story Hills Like White Elephants, what procedure are the American man and Jig, the girl, discussing during their conversation at the train station?
Rationale
While the term "abortion" isn't mentioned directly, the "simple operation" the American man pushes Jig to consider is indeed an abortion. Hemingway's iceberg theory emphasizes what’s unsaid, allowing the topic to be understood through subtext and their dialogue.
What is the main issue the American man and Jig are discussing, even though they never clearly state it, during their conversation at the train station?
Rationale
The conversation between the American and Jig centers around an ambiguously referred to "simple operation" that the man insists is "perfectly simple" and "not really an operation at all." Using Hemingway's famous iceberg technique — where much of the meaning lies beneath the dialogue — readers can grasp that the couple is actually discussing abortion, even though the term itself is never mentioned.