Joshua, Steve, Francis, Akshat / Period 4:

AP Lit Short Story -- Group Analysis Essay Project (Exploring Lenses).

TASK: Throughout our study of different short stories we have been utilizing a
variety of critical lenses to observe how writers use literary devices and the five
elements of short stories to create meaning in their texts.

Using your notes, the text, and each other, your task is to work collaboratively on
a literary analysis essay in which you respond to the prompt below.

Prompt --Critical lenses allow literary texts to be viewed from a variety of vantage
and focal points thus allowing us as readers to gain deeper insights into the heart
of meaning within a story. Select a short story of literary merit and write a literary
analysis essay in which you utilize a specific critical lens to analyze and explain
how the writer uses literary techniques to reveal the central idea / theme of the
text.

Note: You may not use the Reader Response or New Criticism Lenses.

Steps on the path --

 1. You are completing this assignment in your pod, therefore groups
should be no larger than three or four.
2. Create a shared copy of this document that everyone in the group
can work on.
3. Read through and annotate the prompt above to get a sense of the
essay. Choose one together and decide what story you want to write
about and through what lens.
4. Look at your notes and annotations and decide who is going to write
about what (EVERYONE in the group must contribute ONE main
body paragraph. The intro and conclusion must be collaborative).
5. Formulate a thesis statement for the essay.
6. Complete the “planning sheet” below.
7. Write your intro TOGETHER (Start your essay on the bottom of this
document).
8. Independently write your main body paragraphs.
9. Peer assess each other's main body paragraphs and make any edits.
10. Copy and paste your main body paragraphs to this shared
document in the correct order (color code the paragraphs so I know
who has written what).
11. Make sure your paragraphs transition and flow.
12. Write your conclusion TOGETHER.
13. Submit your shared document before the due date. Make sure
everyone’s name is on it and that your color code key is clear.

NOTE: This is a group project so you are responsible for working together
to assure the success of the whole group. Although your individual
contribution will mostly reflect your score, any struggles in the collaborative
sections and flow of the essay may impact the success of the entire group.
If someone is not “pulling their weight” or refusing to participate then please
email me at ijackson@scusd.net.

For this essay you will have time today (Monday), Tuesday, and some of
block day.

Analysis Essay Planning Sheet.

Prompt:
Critical lenses allow literary texts to be viewed from a variety of vantage and focal points thus
allowing us as readers to gain deeper insights into the heart of meaning within a story. Select a
short story of literary merit and write a literary analysis essay in which you utilize a specific
critical lens to analyze and explain how the writer uses literary techniques to reveal the central
idea / theme of the text.

Thesis Statement: What are you going to prove in your essay? Must be clear, specific, detailed,
and have depth.
Observed through the psychological lens, Ernest Hemingway’s short story “The Snows of
Kilimanjaro” makes use of symbolism, indirect characterization, flashback, and the contrasting
nature of Harry and the leopard to convey how the ever present nature of death causes deep
reflection on one’s life.

MB 1 – Point: Put the topic sentence of your paragraph here.

Hemingway makes use of symbolism to highlight how the nature of death causes one to re-
think his actions in his life.
Evidence:
Evidence 1: For instance after Harry realized he was going to die and started to see hyenas in a
distance from him, “he said to himself, we did well to stop the quarrelling.”

Brief Explanation: How does your evidence prove your point?

Hyena → death since hyenas are scavengers of dead bodies and avoid eating the living →
Harry’s looming death and Harry’s acknowledgement to die. → causes him to reflect objectively
about the present → “we did well” → objective tone →is able to see past his present emotions
to reflect on the good and bad that he doing → catalyst for further reflection on past events

MB 2 – Point: Additionally, Hemingway uses indirect characterization to demonstrate how

individuals reflect on their regrets on the verge of death.

Evidence:
Evidence 1: “'Why, I loved you. That's not fair. I love you now. I'll
always love you. Don't you love me?"
No," said the man. "I don't think so. I never have."
Evidence 2: "Today's the first
time any have lit on the ground. I watched the way they sailed very carefully at first in
case I ever wanted to use them in a story. That's funny now." “I wish you wouldn't,” she said.
Brief Explanation:
Evidence 1: The author uses indirect characterization and repetition to emphasize the urgency
in Helen to comfort and reassure him while he feels helpless. It was only on the verge of death
when she realized their past mistakes. This tragic moment demonstrates how Harry realizes this
materialistic marriage got him nowhere, and despite his wife making effort to fix their situation
now Harry is already too distraught and rejects her plea.
Evidence 2: This indirect characterization and irony reveals as Harry is foretelling his own death,
he realizes how he spent time to observe birds for a future story that he will never write about.
He finds this funny which demonstrates how he is pessimistic, while Helen doesn’t like this
statement since she is still hopeful in survival.
MB 3 – Point:
Hemingway utilizes flashback to reveal how the knowledge of one’s death leads to a reflection
in their life.
Evidence:
“would never write the things that he had saved to write…There was so much to write…He had
been in it and he had watched it and it was his duty to write of it; but now he never would.”
“a time to buy presents, and the cherry-pit taste of good kirsch, the fast-slipping rush of running
powder-snow on crust, singing ‘Hi! Ho!’”
Brief Explanation:
Harry's looming death causes him to ponder the stories that he had planned to write during his
lifetime. He tries to understand the crux of this procrastination, given the fact that he had
multiple years to start writing. The reflection in his works is caused by the fact that Harry knows
his death is forthcoming, thereby revealing how death brings out this emotion in mankind.
- final flashback (an event that he was never able to write about)
MB 4 – Point:
Hemingway utilizes the contrasting nature between Harry and the Leopard to convey the deep
reflection caused by the looming nature of death.
Evidence:
“Close to the western summit there is the dried and frozen carcass of a leopard.”
“ all he could see, as wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun, was
the square top of Kilimanjaro.”
Brief Explanation:
Juxtaposed Harry's resting place and leopard’s resting place. The leopard worked hard towards
its ambition of reaching the top, so it is immortalized at the top of a mountain that is called the
“House of God”. Harry, on the other hand, fell to material desires and wasn’t able to work
towards his ambitions. Therefore, he died on a dirty bed in the valley. When he was about to
die, he had a dream where he traveled to the top. This is him reflecting upon his sad life and
how he wishes he had worked hard towards his goals.

Conclusion: Restate thesis, summarize key points, concluding statement.

Throughout “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” Ernest Hemingway divulges Harry’s past actions to
reveal his dissatisfaction in the way he has led life. Using the psychological lens, we readers
observe a change in behavior as the injured man wishes he had led a more purpose driven life
instead of resorting to monetary pleasures. Through symbolism, indirect characterization,
flashbacks, and a comparison between Harry and the leopard, Hemingway discloses that the
knowledge of one’s death causes introspection within life.

AP Lit Short Story Group Analysis Essay.

Pod Members (color code the names):
● Joshua
● Francis
● Akshat
● Steve

Start your essay below

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Joshua Tanaka, Akshat Tirumalai, Steve Ueda, Francis Wang

AP Literature and Composition

Mr. Jackson

15 November 2021

Revelations Of Death

Every man on Earth is gifted the same amount of time per day: twenty four hours. The

way we choose to utilize this time defines our character and speaks volumes about our

personality. “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” by Ernest Hemingway recounts the personal history of

Harry as he advances toward death due to an unexpected skin infection that occurs on the

African safari. The slow acting nature of this injury enables the impaired man to reflect on all

that he has witnessed over the years. This introspection reveals how Harry wishes he had spent

his time engaging in more meaningful activities such as writing, rather than constantly pursuing

material desires. As he slowly withers away, Harry realizes that the most significant moments in

his life will forever remain uncaptured and undocumented, thereby evoking a solemn emotion.

Observed through the psychological lens, Hemingway’s short story makes use of symbolism,

indirect characterization, flashbacks, and the contrasting nature of Harry and the leopard to

convey how the ever present nature of death causes deep reflection on one’s life.

Hemingway utilizes symbolism to highlight how the nature of death causes one to re-

think the actions taken in life. For instance, when Harry realizes he is going to die due to an

injury, he begins to see hyenas in the distance. The hyena symbolizes death. These creatures are

typically known as scavengers of animal’s corpses and, if present, represent a death that is
creeping up ever so slightly. This highlights Harry’s looming mortality since the hyenas are

waiting for Harry to die before feasting on his dead body. Helen disrupts his thinking and they

make polite small talk to which Harry says, “to himself, we did well to stop the quarrelling.” The

phrase, “We did well” has an objective tone that emphasizes Harry’s change in mentality of his

behavior. The looming death that is represented by the hyenas causes Harry to contemplate on

the good and the bad choices encompassed in his interactions with Helen. This acknowledgement

of his death is also a catalyst for further reflection on past events.

Additionally, Hemingway uses indirect characterization to demonstrate how individuals

reflect on their regrets while pitted against death. For example, in a conversation between Harry

and Helen, they state, “‘Why, I loved you. That’s not fair. I love you now. I’ll always love you.

Don't you love me?” No,” said the man. ‘I don’t think so. I never have.’” The repeated use of “I

love you” reveals how Helen is trying to comfort Harry, displaying urgency to feel love again.

Despite her protests, Harry rejects these pleas. This tragic moment emphasizes how Harry is only

now regretting this superficial marriage with Helen. On the verge of death, despite Helen’s

efforts to rekindle them, Harry rejects her comfort because he is too distraught. This conveys his

low self esteem since he feels regretful for not fulfilling his life’s work, demonstrating how one

realizes their past mistakes on the verge of dying. Additionally, in the opening scene of the story

the author states, “Today’s the first time any have lit on the ground. I watched the way they

sailed very carefully at first in case I ever wanted to use them in a story. That’s funny now.”

While Harry is facing the idea of death as they are stuck in the mountain, he humorously feels

the birds would be great for a future story that he will never be able to write. He finds this funny

which demonstrates how he is pessimistic, while Helen does not enjoy hearing this statement

since she is still hopeful in survival. Despite the hopeless situation, readers can infer that Harry is

very determined to accomplish his goals since he regrets that he will not be able to write this

story. By expressing regret in a more light hearted manner, Hemingway demonstrates how an

individual may reflect on their regrets when their death is coming.

 Hemingway also utilizes flashbacks to revisit Harry’s past memories following the

acknowledgement of his imminent death. As someone who has thrived off the wealth of his wife,

Harry only begins to recognize his greatest regrets upon learning that Death is lurking around the

corner. Despite living a life of luxury, the man anguishes over his constant procrastination—a

mentality that prevents him from authoring several life adventures. It is because of this mindset

that he, “would never write the things that he had saved to write…There was so much to write…

He had been in it and he had watched it and it was his duty to write of it; but now he never

would.” Reevaluating his own life, Harry feels ashamed for not taking the initiative to compose

more novels that can back up his one successful seller. He has been deceived by his own brain,

which tells him that the failed results are lower than his talent level. Upon reflection, however,

Harry’s behavior changes, as he regrets trading a busy yet rewarding occupation for a life filled

with material desires. The happiest moments in Harry’s leisurely life are suddenly stripped away,

as he begins to bear the consequences. He remembers a winter in Vorarlberg, “a time to buy

presents, and the cherry-pit taste of good kirsch, the fast-slipping rush of running powder-snow

on crust, singing ‘Hi! Ho!’” Purchasing gifts, drinking liquor, and singing carols are often

associated with happy times; therefore, it is evident that Harry enjoys himself in that moment.

Yet, when he looks back upon this memory while confronted by Death, he does not feel the same

way. Instead, Harry views this experience as a time of deceitful euphoria—an event he may have

relished then but now realizes has negatively impacted his life. The injured man wishes he would

have changed these habits to make the most of his time on the planet.

Hemingway utilizes the contrasting nature between Harry and the Leopard to convey the

deep reflection caused by the looming nature of death. For example, at the beginning of the

story, Hemingway describes a leopard that has been frozen on the western summit of Mount

Kilimanjaro. In contrast, Harry, the main character, dies on a dirty, dark hospital bed in the

plains. Hemingway makes use of this contrast between resting places to make a point about the

differing lifestyles of the two individuals. The leopard strives to achieve its goal of reaching the
top of the mountain, so it may become immortalized on the top of a mountain summit. On the

other hand, Harry succumbs to material desires and fails to work towards his goal of becoming a

renowned author, which is why he dies in a dirty location. In the face of his looming death,

Harry reflects on his wasted life while envisioning himself flying up to the top of Mount

Kilimanjaro which he describes as “wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in

the sun.” In the face of his inevitable death, Harry is imagining what his life could have been

like, had he worked hard towards his ambitions. The summit of Kilimanjaro represents his goal

of becoming a famous author—“wide as all the world,” “great,” “high,” and “unbelievably

white.” All of these descriptions contain positive connotations, and connote a great legacy and

godliness. Although this is achieved by the leopard, Harry fails to realize his ambitions due to

material desires. This deep and metaphorical reflection upon Harry’s own life was sparked by

looming death. Hemingway makes use of this contrast between the leopard and Harry to

illustrate the deep reflection caused by an inevitable death.

Throughout “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” Ernest Hemingway divulges Harry’s past

actions to reveal a sense of dissatisfaction in the way the character has led life. Using the

psychological lens, the author affirms a change in behavior as the injured human wishes he had

led a more purpose driven life instead of resorting to monetary pleasures. Through symbolism,

indirect characterization, flashbacks, and a comparison between Harry and the leopard,

Hemingway discloses that the knowledge of one’s death causes introspection within previous

actions. His message is ultimately aimed toward the audience, encouraging us to partake in

meaningful activities while we still can.