Ernest Hemingway's Big Two-Hearted River is nearly an autobiographical short story. Like the main character Nick, Hemingway often took trips into nature to escape the bondage of civilization. There are a few references to the tension and anxiety that Nick is feeling as he begins his journey. First of all, Hemingway makes constant reference to the weight of the pack on Nick's back. One can get a feel for Nick's tension as he often stops …
showed first 75 words of 326 total

showed last 75 words of 326 total
…that fishing in the swamp is a "tragic adventure." At another point, the swamp symbolizes Nick's inner anxiety as he observes the swamp to be an area bad for fishing with little sunlight. Hemingway's repetitive style of writing allows the reader to pick out the underlying themes easily. His use of the same word or same descriptions allows the reader to know what Hemingway is referring to without having to delve too deeply into story.