Readers analyzing Ernest Hemingway's "In Another Country" often ask which sentence in this excerpt uses parallelism to create rhythm and emphasis. By examining the structure of key lines, you can see how Hemingway balances phrases to highlight theme and emotional tension.
This article explores the specific sentence that employs parallelism and explains how its mirrored grammatical form deepens the story's sense of detachment and shared trauma. The following sections break down examples, stylistic context, and common reader questions to clarify how parallelism functions in this passage.
| Excerpt Element | Grammatical Pattern | Parallel Structure | Effect on Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| “In the fall the war was always there…” | Subject + linking verb + location/time phrase | Introduces setting with steady rhythm | Establishes continuity and inevitability |
| “…but we did not go there in the fall any more…” | Adverbial phrase for contrast + negated verb phrase | Contrasts previous clause structurally | Highlights avoidance and numbness |
| “…and at the hospital we walked in the rain…” | Adverbial phrase + simple verb + object | Mirrors earlier location-based actions | Creates calm, deliberate pacing |
| “…and there were always the soldiers sitting in the doorways…” | Existential there + continuous verb + participle phrase | Repeats locative and progressive patterns | Emphasizes static, haunting presence |
Parallelism Technical Breakdown
Identifying the Parallel Structure
The sentence that uses parallelism in the excerpt repeats similar grammatical forms to link ideas. This mirroring of phrases creates a measured, deliberate rhythm that underscores the narrator’s emotional distance.
Effect on Reader Perception
By aligning structure across clauses, Hemingway makes the scenes feel both routine and ominous. The pattern signals that these moments recur without change, reinforcing themes of trauma and resignation.
Context of War in the Story
Setting and Atmosphere
Hemingway sets the story in a foreign hospital where soldiers recover physically while struggling inwardly. The recurring scenes of walking in the rain and soldiers in doorways establish a somber, static environment.
Narrative Voice and Tone
The narrator’s flat, understated delivery contrasts with the underlying emotional weight. Parallel structures amplify this detachment, allowing the bleak atmosphere to emerge through form rather than explicit commentary.
Stylistic Devices and Analysis
Use of Adverbial Phrases
Phrases like “in the fall” and “in the rain” recur at the start of clauses, creating a geographic and temporal pattern. This repetition mirrors the characters’ stalled progress and cyclical experience of war.
Verb and Participle Choices
Continuous verbs such as “was,” “walking,” and “sitting” extend moments in time. The parallel use of participles in descriptions of soldiers enhances the sense of ongoing, unresolved waiting.
Key Takeaways and Recommendations
- Identify repeated grammatical forms to spot parallelism in modernist prose.
- Notice how location-based adverbial phrases reinforce thematic patterns.
- Observe that continuous verbs can extend emotional tension across scenes.
- Use close reading of structure to uncover subtle shifts in tone and perspective.
FAQ
Reader questions
Which sentence in this excerpt from Ernest Hemingway's "In Another Country" uses parallelism?
The sentence that best demonstrates parallelism is: “In the fall the war was always there, but we did not go there in the fall any more, and at the hospital we walked in the rain, and there were always the soldiers sitting in the doorways.” The repeated grammatical patterns link each clause and create a measured, haunting rhythm.
How does parallelism affect the mood of the excerpt?
By mirroring structure, the parallelism produces a calm, relentless tone that reflects the narrator’s emotional numbness and the unchanging nature of wartime life.
What role do adverbial phrases play in the parallel structure?
Adverbial phrases like “in the fall” and “in the rain” frame each action, providing consistency that emphasizes location, time, and the cyclical return to these scenes.
Why does Hemingway use continuous verbs in the parallel clauses?
Continuous verbs such as “was,” “walking,” and “sitting” stretch moments in time and highlight the static, unresolved presence of the soldiers and the narrator’s lingering trauma.