Reread the story. While you are reading, take notes and identify literary devices. Select a literary device or devices to analyze. Explain how the author’s use of this device is connected to the theme. You may choose to focus on one device throughout your paper or 3 different ones. You may also choose a device not listed below, as long as you can provide evidence to support it. Rhetorical Devices:Ethos, Pathos, Logos (including motivation) “In Another Country” by Ernest Hemingway in one word
In Ernest Hemingway's "In Another Country," the use of rhetorical devices, specifically ethos, pathos, and logos, contributes to the theme of disillusionment and the devastating effects of war.
One literary device that Hemingway employs in the story is ethos, which refers to the credibility or ethical appeal of the author. Throughout the narrative, the author establishes his authority by presenting a first-person perspective, allowing the reader to intimately experience the thoughts and emotions of the protagonist, an American soldier recovering from war injuries in a foreign country. This establishes Hemingway's credibility as someone who has witnessed the horrors of war and allows him to effectively convey the theme of disillusionment. The protagonist's disillusionment is evident as he recounts his time in war and contrasts it with the blissful ignorance of the young soldiers who walk by, seemingly unaffected by the devastating consequences of the conflict. By presenting his own experiences and observations, Hemingway appeals to the reader's ethical sensibilities, highlighting the tragic reality of war.
Furthermore, Hemingway incorporates pathos into the story to evoke an emotional response from the reader. The protagonist's feelings of isolation, loss, and despair create a sense of sympathy and sadness. For instance, the protagonist reminisces about his past successes in sports and compares them to his current state of being unable to recover his injured arm fully. This stark contrast elicits feelings of empathy as the reader witnesses the protagonist grapple with his physical and emotional wounds. Additionally, the encounters with the Italian major and the young soldiers, who are unscathed and unaware of the true horrors of war, further amplify the protagonist's feelings of despair and alienation. The use of pathos allows Hemingway to highlight the emotional toll that war takes on individuals, underscoring the theme of disillusionment.
Logos is another rhetorical device that Hemingway employs in the story to reinforce the theme. Logos refers to the logical appeal that aims to convince the reader through logical reasoning. Hemingway utilizes this device most prominently when the protagonist interacts with the major, who presents him with the theory that all the soldiers who have lost limbs would regain their abilities through hard work and determination. However, as the protagonist observes over time, this theory proves to be false. The use of logos here exposes the deceptive nature of optimism in the face of permanent damage and challenges the belief that perseverance alone can overcome all obstacles. Hemingway's depiction of the protagonist's futile efforts to regain his arm's full functionality emphasizes the harsh reality of war's lasting impact. The logical appeal in the story serves to convey a powerful message about the devastating consequences of war and reinforces the theme of disillusionment.
In conclusion, Hemingway masterfully employs rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos in "In Another Country" to accentuate the theme of disillusionment and the devastating effects of war. The author's use of ethos establishes his credibility, pathos elicits an emotional response, and logos provides logical reasoning, all of which work together to deeply resonate with the reader and convey the tragic reality of war's aftermath.