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Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory

     ⋮   Audio version below

Ernest Hemingway, a Modernist author known for his sparse style, famously wrote, “If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water. A writer who omits things because he does not know them only makes hollow places in his writing. A writer who appreciates the seriousness of writing so little that he is anxious to make people see he is formally educated, cultured, or well-bred, is merely a popinjay.” This overview of good writing came to be known as Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory, or the Theory of Omission. The general idea is that competent authors can provide only basic facts or information and leave the rest of the interpretation up to the reader. Writing worthy of study doesn’t have to be esoteric or overly descriptive. The author can state the plain facts and trust the reader to create meaning. Hemingway’s philosophy has been embraced by many authors writing in the realist tradition in the 20th and 21st Centuries.

This perspective can be frustrating because it leaves a lot of work up to the audience. However, Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory can lead to a more nuanced interpretation of any story. Here are some ways to apply it to your work in the class:

  1. Trust Yourself - Hemingway, and all authors, have made an implicit contract with you, their audience. They wrote their fiction with an intent in mind, but usually with the understanding there is no one ideal interpretation of their prose. They knew that the real work of creating meaning would be done by you. Hemingway gives you the essentials of the story and asks you to create your own meaning. What makes literary analysis unique, and not like the hard sciences, is that there is no one right answer. As long as your interpretation is rooted in textual evidence, it is probably valid. Trust your own interpretation of the text and consider how who you are as a person informs it. Our identity almost inevitably shapes our interpretation of the text. Our age, race, gender, socioeconomic class, nationality, etc. all provides us with a framework of experiences that we use to create meaning in all aspects of our life, not just when we analyze literature. This is an important part of literary analysis and might influence the ideas that you share in class. You probably don’t want to rely too heavily on personal experience in your more formal essays, but it is important to consider what you bring to the text as a person.
  2. Dive Below the Surface - One of the reasons it is important to read and re-read fiction is that new meanings appear each time. While it is important to understand the reading assignment at the surface level (and be able to summarize the text), an astute reader doesn’t take the work at face value. They ask important questions throughout their reading of the text. What hidden meanings are implicit in the story? What is the author saying about society? How do the more formal literary elements (plot, characters, tone, etc.) contribute to this message? Remember, like Hemingway suggests, most of the meaning of the text is below the surface. Like an iceberg, it is that hidden meaning that has the real power.
  3. Have Fun! - These different interpretations of literature are what can make English classes so engaging. Because so much of the meaning of text can be hidden, you have the creative power to work with the author and your classmates to create new knowledge and ideas about the literature studied. In some ways, Hemingway is handing over the reins to you. The authors trust you to treat their work with respect and thoughtfulness, and to make it unique to you as a reader. Literary discussions and analysis are conversations that the author starts and you continue in the classroom and in your essays. The discussions began way before you came to class and will continue long after you graduate. But this is your moment to contribute! Enjoy!
  4. Apply Hemingway’s Theory to Your Own Writing - Hemingway distrusted writers who felt that they had to sound fancy or educated and worked too hard to prove their worth. Instead, he thought authors should focus on their ideas and the overall message of the text. You should certainly take the writing that you do for this class seriously and make it as polished as you can, but don’t feel like you need to use a thesaurus for every other word. Appreciate the seriousness of your own writing and don’t be afraid to clearly state your ideas.