Elements of short story: Hills Like White Elephants

What country is the setting for the story?

• A train station in France

• An airport in the U.S.A.

• A city in Germany

• A train station in Spain

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

What term best describes the tone of the conversation?

• bitter and sarcastic

• deeply felt and angry

• light-hearted and fun

• one-sided and poetic

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What does the man want to convince the woman to do?

• get married

• get a divorce

• have a baby

• have an abortion

What does the man insist will be true if the woman complies with his request?

• “We can have the whole world.”

• “The only shame is in not changing.”

• “We are young enough to begin again.”

• “You will be your own person this way.”

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Which of these best describes the woman’s attitude toward the man’s request?

• She is resistant and unwilling

• She is hesitant but willing

• She is excited by the prospect

• She is overwhelmed yet happy

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What does the woman implore the man to do at one point?

• to stop drinking so much

• to stay in the marriage

• to stop talking for a while

• to get psychiatric help

When the man moves the couple’s bags, he lingers for a while in another room. What is one possible meaning behind this detail?

• the man already feels distant from the woman

• the man needs to summon courage to propose

• the man feels an urge to make himself invisible

• the man is generally lost and uncertain of himself

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

At the end of the story, the woman says that she is fine. This mirrors the man’s repeated proclamations that if she does what he wants, things will be fine in their future. What significance can we ascribe to this connection?

• The woman has already agreed that everything will be fine

• The woman has already accepted the end of the relationship

• The woman has actually been the one persuading the man

• The woman has already seen that they will be happy together

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.1

CCSS.RI.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Which of the following best describes this line spoken by the woman: “I wanted to try this new drink: That’s all we do, isn’t it - look at things and try new drinks?”

• an ironic comment on the status of their relationship

• an ironic comment on her feelings about travel

• a sincere comment on their shared sense of adventure

• a sincere comment on her own developing tastes

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Select the theme from the following list that best matches “Hills Like White Elephants.”

• The story explores an emotional struggle to attain real and mutual honesty

• The story examines the practical consequences of marrying too young

• The story reflects on conflicts between faith and mutual resentment

• The story offers a commentary on co-dependency in young people

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2