“I was blown up while we were eating cheese.” - Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway's quote, "I was blown up while we were eating cheese," is a stark and surprising statement that captures the novelist's signature style of brief, understated storytelling. Hemingway was known for his minimalist prose and ability to convey deep emotion in just a few words. In this quote, the juxtaposition of a mundane activity like eating cheese with a violent and unexpected event like being blown up creates a jarring effect that compels the reader to pause and reflect on the unpredictability of life. This quote highlights Hemingway's talent for using simple, everyday language to convey complex ideas and emotions.
Ernest Hemingway's quote, "I was blown up while we were eating cheese," serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and how unexpected events can disrupt even the most mundane moments. In today's world, it is a reminder to cherish every moment and appreciate the simple pleasures in life, as they can be taken away in an instant.
Reflecting on this quote from Ernest Hemingway, consider the following:
How does this unexpected juxtaposition of a violent event with a seemingly mundane activity like eating cheese make you feel?
Do you think Hemingway's use of concise and straightforward language enhances the impact of this quote, or detracts from it?
In what ways do you think Hemingway may have been trying to convey a deeper message or theme through this statement?
How does this quote challenge traditional notions of storytelling and narrative structure?
“I loved her and I loved no one else and we had a lovely magic time while we were alone. I worked well and we made great trips, and I thought we were invulnerable again, and it wasn't until we were out of the mountains in late spring, and back in Paris, that the other thing started again.”
“I said, 'Who killed him?' and he said 'I don't know who killed him, but he's dead all right,' and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights or windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything all blown and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat where I had her inside Mango Key and she was right only she was full of water.”
“Often a man wishes to be alone and a girl wishes to be alone too and if they love each other they are jealous of that in each other, but I can truly say we never felt that. We could feel alone when we were together, alone against the others. But we were never lonely and never afraid when we were together.”
“He said we were all cooked but we were all right as long as we did not know it. We were all cooked. The thing was not to recognize it. The last country to realize they were cooked would win the war.”
“Some other places were not so good but maybe we were not so good when we were in them.”
“Out of all the things you could not have there were some things that you could have and one of those was to know when you were happy and to enjoy all of it while it was there and it was good.”