Literature Analysis #2

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

1. The story begins with the narrator's introduction of his friends whom he spends his everyday life with revolved around drinking and partying. The exposition, climax, and resolution is basically divided into three books. In book one, Robert Cohn is first introduced, a strong Jewish man who is a successful writer. Brett is a beautiful divorcee who holds the attraction of almost all the male characters in the novel. The three characters spend their nights together clubbing away. There is an initial bond between Jake and Brett but the two are unable to establish a relationship as Brett moves from one man to another. Robert is her next target in whom she has a short affair with. In Book two, the group of friends agree to watch the bull run festival, the trip consisting of Jake, Cohn, Bill, Mike, and Brett. Mike is Brett's fiancée and the two are delayed to arrive with the rest of the group as Brett is sick. Meanwhile, Jake, Cohn and Bill decide to go on a fishing trip in Bayonne but Cohn decides to wait on Mike and Brett in Pamplona. Instead, Bill and Jake continue on their fishing plans bond with a fellow fisher named Harris. The group of friends are reunited and they begin to party and drink excessively; conflict also begins to rise. The climax begins when Brett has had flings with various men in the friend group and tensions arise among them as they all want Brett. It leads to physical fights but during this time Brett is attracted to the passionate Pamplona resident, Romero who participates in the bull runs. Jake is the one who actually introduces him to her as he always grants her every requests even introducing her to a possible new fling. Brett falls for Romero's passion but once again she ends the relationship because of her inability to commit. In book three,  the story ends with Brett and Jake drinking back in Paris. They ride in a cab together and state that they could possibly have had a good relationship. 
2. The theme of the novel is a woman's influence and the meaning of life. Brett serves as the central figure to all conflict in the book. She has Jake in the palm of her hand who is the only man she does not have a sexual relationship with because he is sick. This could contribute to why she has somewhat of the most stable relationship with him among all the men. Frances also serves as a female influence as she ties down Robert in the beginning of the book. He listens to her every word and is careful not to upset her. The meaning of life is questioned as all the characters live a materialistic life of partying and drinking. The repetitive nights of clubbing becomes a routine that the characters absorb themselves in.
3. The tone of this novel is straightforward and nonchalant. Like the carelessness of the characters towards living life diligently, the tone is dispassionate and carefree. The author gets right to the point and uses simple diction to do so.
"But here was Cohn taking it all. Here it was, all going on right before me, and I did not feel an impulse to try and stop it." "The bus climbed steadily up the road. The country was barren and rocks stuck up through the clay." "I went downstairs and out the door and took a walk around through the arcades of the square."
4. Comparison pg 17 "For a man to take it at thirty four as a guide book to what life holds is about as safe as it would be for a man of the same age to enter Wall Street direct from a French covenant, equipped with a complete set of the more practical Alger books." 

Imagery pg 43 "It was a fine morning. The horse-chestnut trees in the Luxembourg gardens were in bloom. There was the pleasant early morning feeling of a hot day."

Inference pg 49 "No matter what cafe in Montparnasse you ask a taxi driver to bring you to from the right bank of the river, they always take you to the Rotonde."

Irony pg 58 "As I went out the door I looked back through the two thicknesses of glass and saw them sitting there."

Personification pg. 131 "The letter was at my place at the table, leaning against a coffee cup."
Syntax pg. 176: "Bill was buying shoe-shines for Mike. Bootblacks opened the street door and each one Bill called over and started to work on Mike."
Diction pg. 99: "...and we saw a whole new range of mountains off to the south, all brown and baked looking and furrowed in strange shapes."
Overstatement pg. 165: " I had taken six seats for all the flights."
Symbolism pg. 177: "I was drinking red wine."
Foreshadowing pg. 185: "Brett was nervous as I had never seen her before. She kept looking away from me and looking ahead at the wall."

Characterization: 

1. Direct characterization: pg 11 "There was a certain inner comfort in knowing he could knock down anybody who was snooty to him, although, being very shy and a thoroughly nice boy, he never fought except for in the gym." pg. 12 "He was a nice boy, a friendly boy, and very shy."

Indirect Characterization: pg. 16 "... and the fact that of a woman caring for him and wanting to live with him was not simply a divine miracle." pg. 52 "People beat him who had never had a chance with him." 

The author hardly uses direct characterization as the narrator who is also the protagonist but rather is very observant and describes others in a descriptive manner.

2. The syntax and diction when referring to the main character is much more simple and short. The narrator rarely talks directly about himself but when he does, it is in a straightforward, quick manner. The reader is unaware of the main charactet's name until there is dialogue between him and another character. Pg. 24. "How are you called? Jacob." His answer is as short as possible not adding extra words or even his last name.

3. Jake is a static and round character. From beginning to end, Jake had an undeniable love for Brett that he can never overcome despite her trashy behaviors. He continues to drink and party everyday not learning from hos mistakes but living a meaningless life. Although the narrator hardly describes himself, the reader is able to analyze what kind of person Jake is through his words and actions. 

4. I don't think I really met a person but just read a character. The character himself is shy and more secluded. He never mentions himself and hardly mentions what he thinks. Even when he is with other characters, he describes them and his thoughts on them. His thoughts are often embedded in the text with little hints here and there but he never flat out states his opinions. They're more opinions on people which in a way gives readers an idea of what kind of person he is but at the same time it is ambiguous as far as what his definite character is.