Analysis

An analysis of the short story “The End of Something” by Ernest Hemingway reveals the story has a chronological structure. The story also illustrates Hemingway’s iceberg theory, where the deeper meaning of a text is not presented directly but implied. 

The main characters of the story are Nick and Marjorie, a young couple. The story follows Nick and Marjorie through their breakup. 

The physical setting is Hortons Bay, a former lumber town. The run-down Hortons Bay, ten years after the loss of the mill, is symbolic of the relationship between Nick and Marjorie. The social setting focuses on the effects of the collapse of the lumber industry on Hortons Bay. The social setting also focuses on everyday events, like a breakup. 

The story is told by a third-person narrator, who acts as an outside observer. The narrator uses both characters’ perspectives of the events. 

The language used by Hemingway is simple and minimalist. The story uses symbols to describe the relationship between Nick and Marjorie. 

A full analysis of the short story can be found in the following pages. 

Short story analysis

I denne vejledning får du Studienets hjælp til at analysere noveller (short stories) i engelsk.