Blog Topic #2: Diction

• “’Jesus Christ, ain’t this a goddam war?’” (Hemingway 35).
• “’I saw the son of a bitch throw it’” (Hemingway 122).
• “’It knocked me down and I thought I was dead all right but those damn potato mashers haven’t got anything in them’” (Hemingway 122).
• “’To hell with you,’ said Rinaldi. ‘To hell with the whole damn business’” (Hemingway 174).
• “’I don’t give a damn’” (Hemingway 174).
• “’You can’t do it. You can’t do it. I say you can’t do it. You’re dry and you’re empty and there’s nothing else. There’s nothing else I tell you. Not a damned thing. I know, when I stop working’” (Hemingway 174).
• “’Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘No danger of ¬---,’ using the vulgar word. ‘No place for ---‘” (Hemingway 196).

Hemingway’s choice of diction helps to determine the tone of the novel. He chooses to use low and informal diction throughout the duration of A Farewell to Arms, which helps to convey the emotions of the characters. The narrator is torn between two different lives, a pleasant life with the woman he loves and a solitary life of serving his country, and he feels like he is not part of the group of people surrounding him because of this. Hemingway’s use of common, simple words and slang allows the reader to imagine what life was like during World War I. Due to Hemingway’s use of simple, straightforward phrases and his distinctive writing style, the word choice also shows the human lack of eloquence during a war. The characters are able to express their opinions by using simple vocabulary but can still make a statement.