4.2 Hills Like White Elephants

4.2 Hills April 02, 2013
April 2, 2013
Starter: Free read.
Next class: Unit final
If you were absent
before SB, turn in Role
sheet and Vocab work
for your story. Staple
all together with late
slip.
Targets: I will
*read and comprehend the short story "Hills Like
White Elephants".
* support interpretations with evidence from the text.
* identify symbolism and other literary devices (figurative language/
imagery/irony) and to explain the effect these devices have on the
text. If time allows
4/2
Active Reading using CARPE Margin Notes
C
A
R
P
E
Type of Note
CONNECT —Compare what you are reading to
something you have experienced, heard, or read.
ASK A QUESTION —This can be a question about
what is happening, why characters act and react a
certain way, words or passages that confuse you, etc.
REVIEW—Summarize small sections as you go to
record what you understand so far. Be prepared,
however, for your understanding to change as you
continue to read.
PREDICT—Make an informed guess about what will
happen next, what a character will do, how the
selection might end, etc.
EVALUATE —Form opinions about what you read,
both during and after reading. These opinions can
relate to the style of the author, passages you think are
Example Signal Phrases
"This reminds me of…"
"This is like…"
"What is the meaning of…"
"Why, How, Who"
"So this part is basically about…"
"This character is..."
"So far this article is saying…"
"I bet this character will…"
"The next part will be about…"
"Later we'll learn…"
"I agree/disagree with…"
"The author's use of the word…is…"
"I'd like this passage more if…"
carpe

4.2 Hills April 02, 2013
White Elephant Story
Once there was a cruel and unjust king in an ancient
kingdom in Asia. One of his subjects displeased him, so he
sent to that subject a white elephant, as a ‘gift.’ In that
culture, a white elephant was sacred, and could not be
slaughtered for meat or other uses, and could not be put to
work (as other elephants might be) as a labor-animal. The
unlucky subject thus had to care for and feed the elephant,
which lives on average as long as a human, and over the
course of his life the expense of caring for and feeding the
elephant (which has an enormous appetite) ruined him
financially, leaving him destitute.
White Elephant
Definition: a largely useless object which
may be overly expensive to own.
Reale = Spanish coin, currency.
Anis is a type of plant (that resembles a starfish) that is important in making
absinthe, which is now outlawed in America and cannot be legally imported.
Anis is yellow, but turns greenish-yellow when water is added. Anis liqueurs
are the most popular liqueurs in France and in all of the Mediterranean
countries. Absinthe was the classic anis spirit. Absinthe is a drink made from
wormwood, which has a licorice-like taste and is high in alcoholic content,
and may cause hallucinations if taken in large quantities. Hemingway drank
a lot of absinthe. Today, absinthe is the drink of choice for Marilyn
Manson.”
definitions

4.2 Hills April 02, 2013
Setting: Train station in
Spain
Jan 1-2:48 PM
Europe

4.2 Hills April 02, 2013
Ebro River
Spain
DISCUSSION Q'S
What is the purpose of the trip the two travelers are taking
What do you know about it What do you not know (or what
questions do you have
Why are the speakers only identified as "a man" and "a girl" How
do these designations affect your reading of the story What
nickname does the man use for the girl
How do the descriptions of the landscape relate to the
conversation between the two travelers What about the
discussion of drink orders
Oct 22-8:37 AM

4.2 Hills April 02, 2013
Reread and highlight any evidence that the couple
are talking about an abortion.
5 minutes.
Jan 5-11:20 AM
In groups, looking back on the story, list the evidence
that tells what kind of operation Jig is confronting.
Conclude the list by telling how risky it might be
physically and emotionally.
Evidence
explanation
Be able to support inferences with evidence from the text
Jan 1-6:15 PM

4.2 Hills April 02, 2013
Evidence for Abortion
"Hills like white Elephants"
Pregnant stomach is like an unwanted gift that
someone pretends to like or want. The simile is
used several times (para. 2,10, 11) These
metaphors also allude to barrenness, "the country
was brown and dry" as opposed to Jig's fertility.
Now, she wonders if she'll ever have this chance
again. "And once you take it away, you never get it
back" (3).
"It's an awfully simple operation, jig"
He's trying to simplify the abortion both for
himself and her.
Be able to support inferences with evidence from the text
Evidence for abortion
Take a position!
In the story Hills Like White Elephants, The American man
wants/does not want (choose one) Jig to have the abortion.
Evidence
Explanation
Use bullet points here and be ready to
defend this orally.
Be able to support inferences with evidence from the text
inference on character

4.2 Hills April 02, 2013
Symbolism:
Symbol
white elephants
a concrete object
represent a big idea
Representation
pregnancy (growing of stomach)-useless object that is
expensive to own/ or a sacred gift depending on
perspective (Jig's the American's)
Railroad tracks
run side by side but never meet= relationship between
Jig and American
Green side of the station
life/baby/new beginning
Arid/dry side of the station
death or termination of pregnancy/ death of relationship
Anis del Toro
excitement the American offers Jig (but it fails to bring
her happiness or really make her feel better)
Baggage
exciting lifestyle of travel/ time (past and future)
American wants future to be same as past so he carries
the bags to the other side.
Be able to identify symbolism and other literary devices (figurative language/
imagery/irony) and to explain the effect these devices have on the text.
symbolism
Theme- think: big ideas/ something you can
learn from his main idea/ Connect it to you,
life, society. The bigger picture!
What might Hemingway be saying about:
1. Relationships or Love
2. Responsibility
3. Excess
4. Communication
5. Selfishness
6. Confronting the future/Past
Jan 7-10:40 AM

4.2 Hills April 02, 2013
Exit slip: Complete the sentence stems.
The short story by Ernest Hemingway
addresses the main idea of
__________________________________.
_______________________ is a powerful
example that illustrates...
Another key detail that proves the main
idea is...
Jan 4-4:22 PM
These examples suggest the theme that
_________________________.
or
These examples clarify the value
of___________________.
or
These examples emphasize the need
for_______________________________.
Jan 4-4:30 PM