Question

The major was a little man with upturned mustaches. He had been in the war in Libya and wore two wound-stripes. He said that if the thing went well, he would see that I was decorated. I said I hoped it would go well but that he was too kind. I asked him if there was a big dugout where the drivers could stay, and he sent a soldier to show me. I went with him and found the dugout, which was very good. The drivers were pleased with it, and I left them there. –A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway. Describe the novel’s style by completing the following statements: The diction is ____. His syntax is ____. The style is ____. The diction in this passage includes more than ____. What does the narrator reveal about himself based on the style he uses to tell his story?

a. Sparse; Simple; Realistic; Dialogue; The narrator is humble and appreciative.
b. Ornate; Complex; Romantic; Narration; The narrator is proud and boastful.
c. Lush; Descriptive; Imaginative; Exposition; The narrator is mysterious and enigmatic.
d. Plain; Straightforward; Objective; Monologue; The narrator is reserved and reserved.

Answer 1

Ernest Hemingway's 'A Farewell to Arms' features diction that is plain, syntax that is simple, a style that is objective, and narration that includes more than dialogue. This stylistic approach paints the narrator as reserved and fact-focused, indicative of Hemingway's minimalist and economical writing style. Option a is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ernest Hemingway is renowned for his distinctive minimalist style, characterized by economy of language and terse sentences. The excerpt from 'A Farewell to Arms' showcases this clearly. The diction is plain and devoid of unnecessary embellishment, with straightforward vocabulary that aligns with the pragmatic and unadorned reality of the situation.

His syntax is simple and direct, using short sentences structured in a way that drives the narrative without superfluous complexity. Overall, the style is objective, reflecting Hemingway's journalistic background, with a focus on surface-level details that imply deeper meanings beneath - resembling the 'iceberg theory'.

The diction in this passage includes more than dialogue; it also integrates minimal but effective description and action. Hemingway’s approach to storytelling reflects the narrator's personality. Based on the style employed to tell his story, the narrator reveal about himself is that he is reserved and prefers to state facts rather than expose excessive emotion or opinion.

Therefore, the correct option to describe the novel's style is: a. Sparse; Simple; Realistic; Dialogue; The narrator is humble and appreciative.