31 pages 1 hour read

Ernest Hemingway

A Day's Wait

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1933

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Literary Devices

Ambiguity

The central question of “A Day’s Wait” is whether it’s better to ask for help or suffer in silence. Hemingway doesn’t provide a clear answer, instead leaving a great deal of ambiguity that permeates the work. After all, while Schatz is clearly very brave in how he accepts his perceived death, this bravery is entirely unnecessary, and he could have saved himself a day of misery had he simply asked for help.

Likewise, the character’s statements to each other are extremely ambiguous. For example, Papa asks, “How do you feel, Schatz?” and Schatz replies, “Just the same, so far” (Lines 33-34). Papa’s statement could be taken several different ways: He could be asking whether Schatz still feels ill, whether he’s feeling any better, or he could be asking how the boy feels about dying. Schatz’s reply is equally ambiguous, as he doesn’t explain what he means by “so far,” and Papa never asks for an explanation.

The same can be said for the multiple times that the narrative notes how Schatz seems internally troubled. Schatz could be repressing many things, but the narrative leaves them ambiguous since Papa doesn’t question him.

Related Titles

By Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

Ernest Hemingway

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

Ernest Hemingway

Plot Summary
logo

Across the River and into the Trees

Ernest Hemingway

Across the River and into the Trees

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

A Farewell to Arms

Ernest Hemingway

A Farewell to Arms

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

A Moveable Feast

Ernest Hemingway

A Moveable Feast

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

A Very Short Story

Ernest Hemingway

A Very Short Story

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

Big Two-Hearted River

Ernest Hemingway

Big Two-Hearted River

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

Cat in the Rain

Ernest Hemingway

Cat in the Rain

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Ernest Hemingway

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Ernest Hemingway

Plot Summary
logo

Green Hills of Africa

Ernest Hemingway

Green Hills of Africa

Ernest Hemingway

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Hills Like White Elephants

Ernest Hemingway

Hills Like White Elephants

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

In Another Country

Ernest Hemingway

In Another Country

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

Indian Camp

Ernest Hemingway

Indian Camp

Ernest Hemingway

Plot Summary
logo

In Our Time

Ernest Hemingway

In Our Time

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

Old Man at the Bridge

Ernest Hemingway

Old Man at the Bridge

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

Soldier's Home

Ernest Hemingway

Soldier's Home

Ernest Hemingway

Plot Summary
logo

Solider's Home

Ernest Hemingway

Solider's Home

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

Ten Indians

Ernest Hemingway

Ten Indians

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

The Garden of Eden

Ernest Hemingway

The Garden of Eden

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide
logo

The Killers

Ernest Hemingway

The Killers

Ernest Hemingway

Plot Summary
logo

The Nick Adams Stories

Ernest Hemingway

The Nick Adams Stories

Ernest Hemingway