Indian Camp

How does the story portray father and son relationships? What can fathers teach their sons, and how do sons learn from their fathers, whether the lessons are intended or unintended?

Although most of the characters in “Indian Camp” are men, the story focuses on a woman giving birth. What is significant about the way the male characters describe and treat the woman and her response? How do these play into the story’s themes about gendered dynamics and masculinity?

Hemingway uses exposition sparingly in “Indian Camp.” When he does turn away from dialogue and short action statements, it’s often to describe nature. Choose two examples and do a close reading. What do these images represent, and how do they underscore the themes of the story?