Indian Camp
by Ernest Hemingway

Indian Camp: Style 1 key example

Key Examples in Indian Camp

Style
Explanation and Analysis:

Hemingway’s writing style is minimalist and direct. While the first draft of “Indian Camp” was 29 pages long, he intentionally edited it down to seven pages. The following passage—which covers the entirety of the Indian woman’s emergency surgery—demonstrates the simplicity of Hemingway’s writing style:

Later when he started to operate Uncle George and three Indian men held the woman still. She bit Uncle George on the arm and Uncle George said, “Damn squaw bitch!” and the young Indian who had rowed Uncle George over laughed at him. Nick held the basin for his father. It all took a long time. His father picked the baby up and slapped it to make it breathe and handed it to the old woman.