Hemingway pioneered the minimalist writing style and uses it in his short story “Hills Like White Elephants.” Where do you see the characteristics of minimalist writing in “Hills Like White Elephants”? What benefits does this approach provide? What is lost in this approach? What effect does it have on the reader?

Teaching Suggestion: Before introducing this discussion prompt, it might be helpful to review the characteristics of minimalist writing: short sentences, “less is more,” and simplistic premises. For a more detailed overview, see “Literary Minimalism: 3 Characteristics of Literary Minimalism” from Master Class.