Hills Like White Elephants

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

“The Lost Generation” is a name given to the group of people who came of age around the time of World War I (1917). Why might this generation be called “lost”? Which authors are considered part of this group? How is their writing generally characterized?

Teaching Suggestion: Many students may be unfamiliar with “The Lost Generation.” It may be helpful to explain that the story takes place in the wake of devastating global conflict that cost millions of lives and left a shattered sense of meaning for many disoriented souls who survived it. If students are unfamiliar with the group of artists and writers living in Paris during the 1920s who are most closely associated with “The Lost Generation,” it might be helpful to first brainstorm a list of familiar novels, poems, or short stories by  Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein, Eliot, Miller, or other Lost Generation writers.

• Biography of Hemingway - This 3.5-minute video provides a brief overview of Hemingway’s life and career.
• “Write Like Hemingway” This 6-minute video explores the minimalist style of writing characterized by Hemingway.