Contrast

A writer's style is what distinguishes him from other writers. The style in which a writer uses to write a story clearly indicates the tone of a story. The style of a writer is made up of different traits and characteristics when a story is written. These traits and characteristics include, but are not limited to, characterization and symbolism. When evaluating a literature piece for style, a person should analyze the writing by looking for these five elements: diction, images, details, language, and sentence structure. There are two well known writers that possess completely different writing styles. They are Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner. Hemingway and Faulkner lived in the same time period and wrote about what has been referred to as universal truths. But, their writing varied in more ways than not. Something as simple as sentence structure played a major role in setting them apart from each other.       Ernest Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois on July 21, 1899. He began his career writing for a newspaper. During this time, he was influenced by writers and artists of the 1920's known as the Lost Generation. In 1926, Hemingway wrote his first novel, The Sun Also Rises. He wrote mostly short stories using monosyllabic words to create a seemingly simple story. All of Hemingway's stories are simple and straight to the point, yet they possess qualities in which the reader is often deceived. In his stories, a person must read between the lines to discover the true meaning if his writing. Hemingway used themes with deep meanings, lessons, and ideas that everyone should know about and lessons we should all learn. He did not show the themes on the surface of his writing. Therefore, when a reader did realize what his stories truly meant, they were easy to remember and use in daily life. "For a true writer, each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment. He should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed. Then sometimes, with great luck, he will succeed." (Hemingway)       William Faulkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi on September 25, 1897 to a southern family. While studying at the University of Mississippi, he worked for a bookstore and a newspaper. He was born with the last name Faulkner and later changed it after publishing his first book, a collection of poems called The Marble Faun, in 1924. The language used in Barn Burning gives way to his southern style and creates a particular dialect with words such as 'naw' and 'hit don'. Many of his techniques were very different. Faulkner's style of writing was very complex, in that he used many words, long sentences, and a lot of emotion; where as his counterpart used no emotion at all. The complexity of his writing style reflects the fact that his themes are often very complex as well. Though the meaning of his stories is much easier to see, readers may often become discouraged with his lengthy and complex story telling. "I believe that man will not merely endure. He will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance." (Faulkner)       Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner both received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Though Faulkner received his a few years before Hemingway, this says little or nothing about Hemingway's stature relative to that of Faulkner. In fact, their vast differences are what them both unique and distinguished writers. With Hemingway's style being simple and to the point, and Faulkner’s was being complicated and with excessive detail, they both managed to write in a manner that creates a clear picture for their readers. This is why both writers continue to receive the respect they deserve. It is up to the reader as to which style they prefer, and only then can the writing be truly appreciated. Works Cited: www.brainquote.com/quotesauthors nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/ literature www.associatedcontent.com/article/292995/faulkner_vs www.kirjasto.sci.fi/faulkner.htm www.enotes.com/contemporary-literary-criticism/ernest