Two of the most notable writers of modern American literature include William Faulkner and Ernest Hemmingway. Even though the two lived in the same era, their stylistic innovations depict a sharp contrast. Both applied different writing styles to create stories that explore various themes that marked the 20th century. Additionally, both writers’ stories were partly influenced by their life experiences, which make them unique. This paper compares “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” by Ernest Hemingway and “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner, specifically in their theme, style, and literary innovation.
One striking difference between the two stories is the way the two writers use words in their literature. Whereas Hemmingway uses several short words to create a simple story, Faulkner uses many words to create a vivid picture in the readers’ minds. Additionally, Hemmingway uses dialogue between characters to develop a conversational type of story. An example of this is the conversation between the old man and the waiter in the café at night. The exchanges between the characters in the tale are brief and choppy, sounding similar to the loud conversation between two people close to one another. Reading the interactions between characters feels like listening to fast-paced discussions between two people.
Hemingway creates a rapid rhythm that makes the story a quick read and easy for readers to understand the characters’ traits based on their words. On the contrary, rather than using characters’ expressions, Faulkner uses his dialogue to depict the thoughts he would want to pass on to the readers. Hemmingway is simple and his words are straight to the point while Faulkner includes lots of details, making it a little harder to readers to understand the story. Hemmingway writes simple short, clear sentences such as “everyone left the café except an old man who sat in the shadow” (Hemmingway, n.d., 149). Despite the differences, both authors’ unique writing styles create fascinating stories.
Reference
Hemingway, E. (n.d.). A clean, well-lighted place. North Ridgeville City Schools.