I began my research of Ernest Hemingway by looking into his writing style, which he referred to as "the iceberg theory." He believed that in the same way you can only see a small part of a large iceberg, an author only has to put a small part of his or her knowledge of a story in a book. Essentially, the writer only gives the reader the basic facts, and the rest is implied. Hemingway developed this style by writing short stories and trying to put as much information as possible in less space.
I found the idea of iceberg theory fascinating and can't wait to see how it plays out in Old Man and the Sea. Based on what I read, an iceberg writing style appears simple but actually forces the reader to dig deeper into the story and put together pieces. After reading a book, I many times wonder what things the author knew and didn't decide to share with the reader or state straightforward, and if I had guessed any of these things correctly. As I enjoy analyzing books and writing styles, I greatly look forward to finding if I like Hemingway's iceberg.
From his childhood in a conservative Chicago suburb, Hemingway's brilliance was evident. He not only showed talent in writing, but enjoyed it, writing for pleasure and in school newspapers, although he did once receive a D on an English paper for poor penmanship. In his early adult life he wrote for newspapers and aspired to one day write fiction. Eventually he moved to Paris to pursue this dream and become a successful writer. Unlike the many authors of classics whose works were only recognized after their deaths, Hemingway was quite famous during his lifetime, a celebrity in his own right. The press closely followed his escapades in sports such as fishing and hunting and his many marriages. It is said that his well-known novella Old Man and the Sea was an allegory of his own struggle with fame. Ernest Hemingway's remarkable life came to an end when he committed suicide in 1961.
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