Hills Like White Elephants Trivia Quiz

Answer: Train station

They are sitting at an outdoor table, in the shade waiting on a train to Madrid. They were told it was going to be a 40 minute wait so they decided to order drinks while they wait.

Answer: Her hat

One thing that stands out to me in this story is how short their answers are to each other. The entire story is dialogue between the two of them but it seems as if they have to give short answers because they don't seem to know how to talk to each other about important things.

Answer: His name isn't revealed to the reader.

The man is referred to simply as 'The American' and since the girl never calls him by name the readers never know his name. It's interesting how Hemingway calls the the man 'Man' and Jig, 'Girl'. Although their ages aren't revealed, I think they're about the same age, but she seems much younger than the man.

Answer: He tells her he's never seen one.

His response upsets Jig because she was saying it to make him laugh and to lighten the mood. She wanted them to have fun like they'd always had. On their luggage, there were labels from all the places they'd stayed. They traveled, they drank and they had fun but she could feel it slipping away.

Answer: an abortion

The title of this story has the term 'white elephant' in it. That term is known as something no one wants which in this case is an unborn child. Although the word 'abortion' is never spoken the operation is understood. The man explains the operation by saying, "It's really not anything. It's just to let the air in." The man also tells her that he loves her and that everything will go back to the way it was before. He's making it clear what he wants even though she's not sure if that's what she wants.

Answer: The whole world.

The man is desperate to talk Jig into the abortion so he promises her the whole world. She argues that they can't have the whole world because once it's gone they can't have it back. Her attitude upsets the man because he's afraid she's not going to have the abortion.

Answer: Licorice

When she tells him the drink tastes like licorice he replies by saying "That's the way with every thing." They try having a conversation but they realize they're having to work too hard when before all their fun came so easily.

Answer: stop talking

Jig begs him to please please please please please please please stop talking, but before walking away, he tells her one more time he wants her to have the operation. He has tried to tell her it doesn't matter what she decides but his desperation is obvious and she's upset by his relentless behavior.

Answer: The girl doesn't speak Spanish.

Throughout the story, the girl asks the man what the woman behind the curtain says, what the sign says, and what the bartender is asking. The reader catches on that she doesn't understand the language which makes her completely dependent on him.

Answer: "I feel fine, there is nothing wrong with me, I feel fine."

When she tells him this, the story ends leaving the reader to wonder if they go their separate ways or if they continue to live as they have been after she has the operation.