Final Thoughts

Overall I think my blog entries have made it pretty obvious that I wasn't entirely thrilled with the book. Who gets to decide what is and is not a “Quintessential novel of the Lost Generation,” as the back cover says. I guess what most of the “hype” I guess about this book is isn't really about the story itself its about the way that its written. I guess that the way it was written was okay. Maybe I'm just biased because the story was horrible though. It just didn't seem that impressive to me, even the style of writing. I just think that there are better authors that are alive today but their books aren't considered by whoever it is that decides we should read this book fore AP Lit because they haven't died yet. I'm really just hoping that The Things They Carried is better because it wasn't fun reading this book. That's probably the main reason I don't enjoy reading for school, if I don't enjoy the book I can't just abandon it and read something else I have to continue to read it and maybe its good for me, somehow. But I don't see how reading about a guy running around Europe with his friends drinking is any better for me than watching Eurotrip (they are essentially the same story just set in different eras, well and Eurotrip has the part with the robotguys fighting but thats kinda like the bull fights)

Chapter XIX Pgs: 231-251

Well its finally over. What a shame. I really don't understand the final chapter, it doesn't tie together any loose ends, it doesn't send us off with any type of ending really. It could have ended in the exact same way about 10 different places earlier in the book and all that would be different is I wouldn't have had to read about them going to another bar and drinking and saying things like “isn't something lovely” or calling things “rubbish.” The final chapter wasn't really anything either he received a telegram, went to the hotel Montana, found out Bret was fine, the end. I don't get it. It was basically a book about a random guy in the post world war era and what he did with the remainder of his boring life. Maybe that's kind of harsh to say but it had no plot, no excitement, just him and his friends running around Europe and drinking.

Chapter XVIII Pgs: 209-228

I think I finally get the separation of the books. Every time Brett leaves he starts another book. I'm pretty sure that's why but it seems kind of dumb he needs to get over Brett. I feel bad for him, well kind of, not really, but he needs to just get over it and stop wallowing around in his depression.

In this chapter there is a simile that is used during the bull fight. Jake is narrating and says, “It was as though he were rocking the bull to sleep.” (221) This simile is actually a little bit different then the conventional simile I guess since it seems like most similes use “like” not “as.” Never the less it is a simile and it is used to describe the degree of control and gentleness of Romero's bull fight.

Chapter XVII Pgs: 192-208 Pt. 2

Another literary term in this chapter was incorporated into the telling of the story of how Cohn fought with Romero. The line of time is interrupted when Hemingway makes use of a [FLASHBACK.] “. . . So the bull-fighter chap sort of rather staggered over to him. Cohn went back against the wall.
“'so you won' hit me?
“'No,' said Cohn. 'I'd be ashamed to.'
“So the bull-fighter fellow hit him just as hard as he could in the face. . .”
This flashback is effective since it illustrates the fight better than simply having mike explain the entire fight in his own words.

The punctuation, namely the quotation marks, seem weird here, it starts with a “ when mike starts talking but then we he mimics the dialogue of the fight they start each line with a “ then a ' but only end them with a ' the double quote marks are never ended.

Also the way that Mike tells the fight and just cuts into it like its happening in the present seems very strange. If someone were to tell you the story in the exact words of Mike then it wouldn't really completely make sense.

Chapter XVII Pgs: 192-208 Pt. 1

In this chapter something that has been brewing throughout the entire trip finally comes to be, Cohn gets into a fight with some of his “friends.” This event has really been [FORESHADOWED] for a long time whenever Cohn says something that makes the others mad they often talked about their dislike for him behind his back. “'That Cohn gets to me,' Bill said. “He's got this Jewish superiority so strong that he thinks the only emotion he'll get out of the fight will be being bored.'” (166) Another time Mike is drunk and a bit more honest about his feelings towards Cohn. “Do you think you amount to something, Cohn? Do you think you belong here among us? People who are out to have a good time? For God's sake don't be so noisy, Cohn!” And then the fight that seemed imminent from the beginning of the trip finally happened.

Chapter XVI Pgs: 173-191

This chapter was somewhat eventful. Jake continues to be reserved and always seems to be saying he feels weird because he's “far behind.” “I was drinking red wine and, was so far behind them that I felt a little uncomfortable about all this shoe-shining.” (177) It seems like Jake is always just feeling sorry for himself and acts like everyone else is always having fun but he's not. He never says anything in the actual conversations in the book to make people feel sorry for him but in his head he always seems somewhat subdued. I don't know if this has any direct correlation with his injury but I do think that indirectly it does since Brett won't be with him and that makes him sad and, well, we all know why Brett won't be with him.

Chapter XV Pgs: 156-173

This chapter is very long although I didn't notice any strikingly well placed literary terms in use. The one I did notice, however, was a [RHETORICAL QUESTION] that is asked to Cohn regarding his preconceived notion that the bull fight would bore him. “I thought he was going to be sick. You weren't bored, were you, Robert?” (169) This question was asked after Mike (the one who asked this question) had already badgered Cohn about his obvious lack of boredom throughout the fight. Mike or technically Hemingway uses the question to make fun of Cohn further since he was so far from boredom that there is no need for an answer.

Chapter XIV Pgs: 151-155

This chapter is relatively short however Jake does present a philosophy that he comes up with when he is drunk that is actually a [METAPHOR.] the metaphor compares relationships, specifically his with Brett, and the “cost” of these relationships. Jake says that in order to have good things you have to pay for them, whether it be monetarily, physically, or even mentally. He also says that “Enjoying living was learning to get your moneys worth and knowing when you had it” (152)

Chapter XIII Pgs: 131-150

This chapter is a good display of some of the [LOCAL COLOR] that has been apparent throughout the book. In this chapter when they arrive in Spain they stay at the hotel Montoya where bull fighting is a very big deal. “To-night at seven o'clock they bring in the Villar bulls, and to-morrow come the Miuras. Do you all go down?” (136) In the part of Spain that Jake and company are in Bull fighting plays an integral role in all the peoples lives and the good bull fighters who are real “aficionados” are looked on with near God-like status.

Chapter XII Pgs: 117-130

As I suspected it seems more and more likely that the plan for all of them to eventually meet up and vacation together will not come to fruition. Especially since the final line of the chapter is “There was not word from Robert Cohn nor from Brett and Mike. However it seems that despite this Jake and Bill are having a smashing old time together. Hemingway incorporates Litotes into Jake and Bills conversation “'That’s not such filthy wine,' Bill said.” It makes the dialect flow more naturally since this type of negation often occurs in normal conversation. Other than a change of location, the book is remaining relatively streamlined with its continuous wine drinking accompanied by mundane conversations.

Chapter XI Pgs: 109-116

The way that all of them are traveling strikes me as kind of odd, they keep splitting up into smaller and smaller groups leaving one or two people at a stop along their vacation. I kind of have a feeling that they will never all meet up as planned but who knows. It is kind of ironic, however, that during “the big season” (116) Jake and Bill are the only guests at the inn they stay at. They do, of course, continue to drink so much that I don’t know how they walk straight (or maybe they don’t) and at the end of the chapter Jake is saying how, “It felt good to be warm and in bed” strikes me as kind of weird but whatever.

Chapter X Pgs: 96-108

This contains a bit of [DRAMATIC IRONY] it occurs when Bill, Jake, and Cohn are all on the trip and Cohn does not know that Bill and Jake know about his fling with Brett in San Sebastian. This irony adds to sort of conflict that is brewing between Jake and Cohn. This conflict stems from Cohn being thinking he is “superior” to Jake and Bill. “He said it with an air of superior knowledge that irritated both of us.” (101) Despite the minor conflict between Jake and Cohn it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.

Chapter IX Pgs: 87-95

An insane twist!! They go to Spain to fish . . . so exciting. The book continues to follow the slow . . . boring . . . uneventful pattern that has been unraveling since the opening chapter. Jake continues to be somewhat depressed and reserved as he has been since he met Brett. Brett continues to be spontaneous with her newest fling being with Cohn. Cohn is still kind of the “dumb” one for lack of a better term and the other characters are somewhat unimportant. Perhaps the fact that they had to eat lunch late on the train will lead to something exciting fueled by their outrage, “‘Go to Hell!’ said Bill. ‘Get the sandwiches made and a bottle of wine. You tell him, Jake,’” but I doubt it. I’m finding the book difficult to analyze since all that happens is binge drinking. Well maybe that’s a bit extreme but never the less the book is boring. Also, I’m not really understanding the point of the separation between “book 1” and “book 2.” Nothing drastically changed like the point of view of the narrator and other than going to Spain everything is virtually the same. Maybe the reason for the separation will become more evident as I drudge on through this book.

Chapter VIII Pgs: 75-86

Although it is somewhat trivial in terms of enhancing the writer’s story there is an [OXYMORON] at the very beginning of this chapter. “. . . light heavyweights. . . ” (75) This is said when referring to boxers so despite the contradiction it does make sense. Other than that this chapter, like the rest of the book, is pretty slow. Brett shows up again and despite the fact that she “loved” Jake just a chapter before she is going on a date with Mike Campbell. However Brett did say earlier that she couldn’t marry Jake because she would just cheat on him which makes sense due to Jakes situation however it seems like she needs to be more definitive and not lead Jake on but maybe that’s just me.

Chapter VII Pgs: 59-71

This chapter starts right off with an [ANAPHORA] “I don’t know. He was never here before. He was very large. Very, very large. She was very nice. Very, very nice.” (59) This anaphora helps convey the writers point. However, this anaphora also serves almost as a form of analogy. The concierge, who is the one speaking, compares her opinion of how nice she thinks Brett is to the physical largeness of the Count. The size of the count is not debatable however “large” he really is. This comparison gives the normally somewhat ambiguous word “very” some sort of scope.

Chapter VI Pgs: 48-58

This chapter is filled with literary terms in use. Sarcasm is not on our list; however it is implemented very well here. “‘You must be careful not to mention him, my dear. Poor Frances has had a most unfortunate experience. Won’t it be fun, Robert? Don’t you think it will be fun, Jake?’” Frances is being incredibly sarcastic however she also incorporates two [RHETORICAL QUESTIONS] at the end of her rant that are very effective in conveying her point. She doesn’t need an answer to these questions since she is being sarcastic and by being sarcastic Jake and Robert both know that she firmly believes her trip to England will not be fun.

Chapter V Pgs: 43-47

I would say that despite the length of this chapter it still illustrates the [DIALECT] that has been displayed throughout the book so far. It is fairly simple to tell they are in Europe, specifically Paris, in the 1920's. At one point, at Jakes office, Krum says, “Lucky beggars” when he is referring to the Englishmen that have every Saturday off. This phrase is seldom if not never used in today’s form of dialect and that is what makes it a distinguishable part of the dialect used in this book.

Chapter IV pgs: 33-42

The book is extremely slow so far! I am definitely seeing the pattern start to unfold of him going to a bar and leaving early then going home then doing the same thing the next day. I did think it was kind of odd how he went on about a half of a date with Georgette then ditched her and then within a few pages he is saying he loves Brett. “I told him I was in love with you. True, too.” (41) It also seems odd the way that Brett acts towards him, first she doesn't want to kiss him in the carriage, then she does and then she’s going out with the count guy. Brett seems very indecisive and uncertain of what she wants. Hopefully the book will start to pick up soon!