The Sun Also RisesErnest Hemingway

INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL

Backdrop for the novel

• Lost Generation• Expatriates• Aimlessness and search for purpose• Drinking, fighting, traveling,

relationships• Paris• Hemingway’s life experiences

Character Overview

• Narrator: Jake Barnes– Fought in WWI; Returns physically injured;

Journalist in Paris• Physical Injuries result in emotional

insecurities

• Robert Cohn: Friend of Jake Barnes– Insecure while at Princeton; Controlled by

women; Did not fight in WWI

• Brett Ashley: Woman who loves the company of men, but finds little fulfillment in her sexual exploits – loves Jake but cannot commit to him

• Bill Gorton: True, authentic friendship with Jake – Uses humor to cope with post war emotions

• Mike Campbell: Drunk, bankrupt war veteran; Insecure about Brett’s infidelity toward him

Character Overview

• Count Mippipopolous: Veteran of seven wars; wealthy Greek; foil for the younger aimlessly living Lost Generation

• Georgette: Prostitute Jakes picks up

• Frances Clyne: Cohn’s manipulative girlfriend

Character Overview

• Pedro Romero: Passion for bullfighting; Matador in Spain during fiesta; foil for those of the lost generation

Character Overview

Chapter 1 - Focus on Robert Cohn

• Questions to ask:

1. Why does Jake start the narrative focusing entirely on Cohn?

2. How does Jake initially depict Cohn?

3. Can the reader ascertain anything about Jake at this point?

The Components of Cohn

Depicted initially a Jew who took up boxing to defend himself.

Appears to be controlled by his girlfriend, Frances.

Did not fight in WWI. Spent that

time at Princeton.

“He learned [boxing] to counteract the feeling of inferiority…at Princeton” (11).

“He was married by the first girl who was nice to him” (12).

“I rather liked him and evidently she led him quite a life” (15).

To consider in Chapter 2….

• 1. What is significant about Cohn wanting to go to South American because he read about it in a book?

• 2. What differences do you notice between Jake and Cohn, and how they view life?

• 3. As you get inured to Hemingway’s style, can you explain Cohn’s short dialogue on the last page of the chapter?