The American literary giants Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner had a famously terse relationship, with the former extremely unlikely to invite the latter on an extended fishing trip for silvery merlin off the coast of Cuba (it is unclear whether the two actually ever met at all).
The basis of this animosity – or possibly indifference – was their contrasting writing styles. This can be best summarized by a terse written exchange between the two authors: Faulkner “He (EH) has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary,” while Hemingway cuttingly responded: “Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?”
While both authors are known for their literary contributions, their approaches to storytelling, language, and narrative structure differ significantly.
Sentence Structure
- Hemingway: Known for his concise, simple sentences with a focus on clarity and directness. He often uses short, declarative sentences with minimal adjectives and adverbs.
- Faulkner: Characterized by complex, lengthy sentences with multiple clauses, subordinate phrases, and intricate word choices. His sentences often resemble a web of connections, requiring close attention from the reader.
Language Use
- Hemingway: Favors strong, active verbs, and a minimalist approach to description. His language is often sparse, yet evocative, relying on suggestion rather than explicit detail.
- Faulkner: Employs a rich, ornate vocabulary, with a focus on precise, nuanced descriptions. His language is often dense and layered, requiring close reading to unravel the complexities.
Narrative Structure
- Hemingway: Typically uses a linear, straightforward narrative structure, with a focus on action and plot. His stories often unfold through a series of brief, episodic scenes.
- Faulkner: Experimented with non-linear narrative structures, often blurring the lines between past, present, and future. His novels, such as “The Sound and the Fury,” feature multiple narrative perspectives, fragmented timelines, and complex character relationships.
Tone and Atmosphere
- Hemingway: Conveys a sense of simplicity, directness, and emotional restraint, often reflecting the harsh realities of human experience.
- Faulkner: Creates a rich, atmospheric, and often melancholic tone, exploring the complexities of human nature, history, and the American South.
Key Differences
- Ambiguity: Faulkner’s writing is often more ambiguous, leaving readers to interpret the narrative, while Hemingway’s work tends to be more explicit.
- Complexity: Faulkner’s sentences and narrative structures are generally more complex, while Hemingway’s are simpler and more direct.
- Emotional Expression: Faulkner’s writing often explores deeper emotional depths, while Hemingway’s work tends to be more restrained and subtle.
Ultimately, Hemingway and Faulkner represent two distinct approaches to writing, each reflecting their unique perspectives on human experience and the world around them. While Hemingway’s style is often associated with clarity and simplicity, Faulkner’s is characterized by complexity and depth.
It’s safe to say that Hemingway would have felt more at home in 2024 than Faulkner, with contemporary society’s shorter attention spans and emphasis on brevity (character limits on social networks). Yet Faulkner remains relevant precisely because of the escapism afforded by his imagined psycho-literary landscapes. The two authors’ starkly contrasting literary forms perhaps thrived of each other, and each author begrudgingly accepted the merit of the other’s work.