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The Problem-Solution pattern in Hemingway's Cat in the Rain

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The Problem – Solution pattern
in
Hemingway’s
Cat in the Rain

Asst. Prof. Sarab Khalil Hameed, Ph.D.

University of Baghdad
College of Arts
Department of English
[email protected]

‫د ســراب خليل حميد‬.‫م‬.‫ا‬

‫جامعة بغداد – كلية االداب‬
‫قسم اللغة االنكليزية‬

2018
 Abstract
The ‘problem – Solution’ model of discourse structure, developed by
Winter (1969, 1976, 1977) and extended by Hoey (1979, 1982, 1983) is one of
the few models which combine surface linguistic study and local levels of
text analysis with the overall structure of text. This model has been used in
the analysis of non-narrative texts.

It is hypothesized that:

1. The problem -Solution pattern is used in narrative texts.

2. The lexical items can signal the rhetorical pattern in the text.

The study aims at investigating the validity of the above hypotheses

by using Hoey’s model of analysis on Hemingway’s Cat in the Rain.

The analysis of the short story proved the validity of the proposed
hypotheses and revealed the following:

• The writer followed a conventional order in presenting the

information i.e. situation, problem, solution and evaluation.

• He communicated the rhetorical pattern to the reader through his

clever use of the lexical items.

• The solution is always preceded by a pre-solution.

• The positive solution signals the end of the discourse and the negative
solution signals another problem which confirms the reader’s
expectations.

2
 ‫الملخص‬

‫ان نمط هيكلية الخطاب "المشكلة – الحل" ‪ ،‬التي وضعها ونتر (‪ )1977 ،1976 ،1969‬والتي طورها‬
‫هوي (‪ )1979،1982،1983‬هو واحد من النماذج القليلة التي تجمع بين الدراسة اللغوية السطحية‬
‫والمستويات المحلية لتحليل النص مع الهيكل العام للنص‪ .‬ولقد استخدم هذا النموذج في تحليل النصوص‬
‫غير السردية‪.‬‬

‫يفترض هذا البحث بأن‪:‬‬

‫‪ .1‬نمط (المشكلة ‪ -‬الحل ) يستخدم في النصوص السردية‪.‬‬

‫‪ .2‬يمكن للمفردات المعجمية ان تؤشر النمط االسلوبي في النص‪.‬‬

‫يهدف البحث إلى التحقق من صحة الفرضية أعاله باستخدام نموذج هوي للتحليل على قصة الكاتب‬
‫همنغواي " قطة تحت المطر"‬

‫أثبت تحليل القصة القصيرة صحة الفرضيات المقترحة وتوصل الى ما يلي‪:‬‬

‫• يتبع الكاتب ترتيبا تقليديا في تقديم المعلومات مثل الحالة ‪ ،‬المشكلة‪ ،‬الحل والتقييم‬

‫• لقد اوصل النمط الخطابي للقارىء من خالل استخدامه الذكي للمفردات المعجمية‬

‫• يكون الحل النهائي دائما مسبوقا بمقترح للحل‬

‫• يؤدي الحل االيجابي الى انهاء الخطاب ويؤدي الحل السلبي الى مشكلة اخرى مما يؤكد توقعات‬
‫القارىء‬

‫‪3‬‬
Theoretical Background

1. The Rhetorical Patterns

Using Winter’s (1977) previous model of clause relations as a point of
departure, Hoey (1979, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1994 and 2001) proposes a new
model for discourse analysis in terms of rhetorical relations. He broadens
the scope of Winter’s model by showing how certain lexical items can signal
the rhetorical pattern of the whole texts instead of confining the role of
lexical items to the signaling of clause relations alone.

Whatever the pattern used in a discourse, Hoey (1979: 33) identifies a

way to detect the presence of a rhetorical pattern by projecting the
discourse under analysis into a dialogue involving questions and answers. To
demonstrate this method, Hoey (1986: 191) offers the following made-up
text:

(1) Charles was a language teacher. (2) His students came to him
unable to write coherently. (3) He taught them discourse analysis.
(4) Now they all write novels.

Projecting this text into a dialogue, the result can be as follows:

1. D (iscourse): Charles was a language teacher.

Q(uestion): What problem arose for him?

2. D: His students came to him unable to write coherently.

Q: What did he do about it?

3. D: He taught them discourse analysis.

Q: What was the result?

4. D: Now they all write novels.

Such interrogative method helps establish the relationships between

the sentences in the text.

4
Thus, sentence (1) can be identified as the situation, sentence (2) as the
problem, sentence (3) as the Solution, and sentence (4) as the positive
evaluation.
Situation (optional)

Aspect of Situation Requiring a Response (i.e. problem)

Responses

Positive evaluation positive result positive result/evaluation Combined

in a single statement

Basis Positive evaluation

(optional) (optional)

Figure (1) The Basic Problem-Solution pattern

Adapted from (Hoey 1983 )

However, in real discourse the case is more complicated, and Hoey’s (1979)
model may fall short of analyzing complex texts. Therefore, Hoey (1983)
modified his earlier pattern by considering evaluation as either positive or
negative. If it is positive, the same pattern given in Figure (1) would emerge;
if the evaluation is negative, it signals another problem that leads to an
evaluation, introducing the concept of a multi-layering. A multi-layered
pattern is represented in Figure (2) herein:

5
 Situation (optional)

Problem

Response

positive evaluation Negative Evaluation

And/or result and/or result
(all three options in figure (1)

Figure (2) the recycling effect of negative evaluation in problem-solution

patterns Adapted from (Hoey 2001 )

Intending to render his model universally applicable, Hoey

(1986: 196) recommends the following more elegant and abstract
presentation of his pattern.

The purpose of the element situation is to provide sufficient

background information for the readers to enable them in comprehending
the problem being discussed however, when the situation is known or can
be inferred from the general context, there is no need to provide further
details about it.

It can also be said that any coherent piece of thought, analysis or

discussion introduced in the situation element is intended to be as a basis
that allows the reader to make his own judgment. In other words, it is the
setting.

The key to the understanding of the informational structure in texts is

the ability to recognize the lexical signaling of the problem. The element of
6
the problem has been employed in its wider sense to mean any form of
dissatisfaction or hazard that creates a need to improve or change a
situation.

Thus, it can be included under the element of problem any form of

unhappiness, discomfort, danger, disease, dilemma, a need to know
something, an obstacle, an aim too much or not enough of something etc.,
in short, any adverse evaluation of a situation or a Solution can be identified
as a problem.

When the problem is recognized, then an attempt might be

expected, proposed or an actual solution to follow. In fact, the element of
Solution involves all the actions taken as an effort to introduce a kind of
improvement to overcome the identified problem. If these actions succeed
in solving the problem, they will be considered them as a Solution, but when
they fail, they are termed as attempted Solution. Actual Solutions are most
frequently preceded by a pre evaluation which informs the reader that an
actual Solution will follow.

The element of evaluation is generally used to indicate the effectiveness of

the Solution in overcoming the identified problem. The concept of
evaluation implies any further information presented not only about the
Solution, but also about something that informs us how good or bad that
thing is in respect to a class of attributes to which the thing belongs in
comparison with similar things. Hence, good evaluation signals the end of
discourse, while, negative evaluation signals another problem. For this
reason, evaluation should include reliable data, non- controversial evidence,
an assessment based on that evidence, or a combination of all these
matters.

2. Lexical Signals and Text Organization

Lexical signals were first identified by Winter (1968, 1974 and 1977). He
divided lexical signals into three groups: vocabulary 1 is the first groups
which combine subordinators, vocabulary 2 is the second group for
grammatical connectives and the third vocabulary 3 are lexical items such
7
 as verbs, nouns and adjectives. For example problem, solution, solve,
evaluate, etc. These lexical items serve as signposts in the text. The
function of these items is to inform the readers about the type of
information presented and how they are organized. The writer uses
these lexical items as explicit signals for the text organization.

Winter (ibid:23) stated that what makes these items lexical is that they
are selected in the same way as other lexical items, nouns, verbs and
adjectives to be subjects, verbs, objects and/or a complement to the
clause. Being an open-class words, they can be modified easily.

Winter (ibid: 18 – 19) suggested three connective roles for these items:

a. Certain items like situation, problem and solution can signal

the organization of the whole text.
b. Some items perform an attitudinal function in discourse
structure.
c. Certain items may function anaphorically i.e. talk about the
preceding sentence.

3. The Analysis of the Story

The first problem Solution pattern takes a linear progression in which

the basic elements of the pattern are arranged in the conventional order of
situation-problem- Solution- evaluation. This means that the writer proceeds
linearly in exposing the information to the reader. Therefore ,the Solution
offered to the identified problem in the text will always end up with a
positive evaluation which signals the end of the discourse .No reference is
made to another problem This has been so powerful in confirming the
reader’s expectations as to the development of discourse. The situation has
been established in part (1). The position of this chunk as being first in the
discourse provides expectations to the context of the subsequent
sentences. The situation is established through the lexical items: hotel,
room, garden , and floor signal the setting of the situation ; The participants
and their attitudes to each other and to the others are signaled through the
following items : two Americans, people, and artists, did not know any ; the
medium of communication is a written form by the writer himself.
8
 The concept of problem is communicated through the direct lexical items
crouched, dripping, compact, and the negative lexical item not dripped in.
The Solution offered has been introduced by a pre- Solution which is an
alternative Solution immediately preceding the final Solution. This is largely
intended to assist the readers’ expectation concerning the nature of the
adopted evaluation. Thus (3 and 4) provide the writer’s pre- Solution which
lexically signaled by the item ‘get’. The last Solution is followed by a positive
evaluation which is signaled by the items ‘don’t get wet’ which means he is
convinced that his wife should get the cat. In the above type of problem
Solution –pattern there is a chained progression in which each Solution or
evaluation results in a different problem. Unlike the linear progression which
ends with a positive evaluation, in the chained type a negative evaluation
signals another problem. This accounts for the multi-layering phenomenon
in discourse, or the existence of more than one problem-Solution pattern.

PATTERN (1)

The text PSP-COM

There were only two Americans stopping at the hotel. They situation
did not know any of the people they passed on the stairs on
their way to and from their room. Their room was on the
second floor facing the sea. It also faced the public garden
and the war monument. There were big palms and green
benches in the public garden. In the good weather there
was always an artist with his easel. Artists liked the way the
palms grew…The American wife stood at the window
looking out.
Outside right under their window a cat was crouched under problem
one of the dripping green tables. The cat was trying to make
herself so compact that she would not dripped on.
‘I’m going down and get that kitty,’ the American wife said. Pre-solution
‘I’ll do it.’ Her husband offered from the bed. Pre-solution
‘No, I’ll get it.’ The poor kitty out trying to keep dry under a solution

9
table
The husband went on reading, lying propped up with the P-evaluation
two pillows at the foot of the bed. ‘Don’t get wet,’ he said.

The situation here is presented to symbolize the problems arising from lack
of understanding between spouses. These problems may affect the
marriage to the point of making it miserable.

Right from the title of the story one senses the existence of a problem. Cats
hate water therefore exposure to water means an unsatisfactory situation
that requires avoidance so the cat seeks shelter to avoid being "dripped on"

The public garden in the opening of the story may be taken to mean the
ideal state of marriage or how should an ideal marriage be, whereas the war
monument refers to conflict and tragic events that may spoil the ideal state.
The Paradise of the public garden is spoiled by war and thus marriage of the
American Adam and Eve was spoiled by conflict which does not necessarily
need to be violent.

A conflict of ideas, attitudes and lack of common vision and understanding is

symbolized by the rain falling on the public garden.

The cat may be taken as resembling the American woman stuck in a hotel
room with a careless and not very sympathizing husband puts the wife in a
position similar to that of the cat which indicated that the situation is
already problematic.

An attempt to solve the problem is shown as the wife decides to rescue the
"kitty".

The husband meekly offers to help but reclines as he is engrossed with

reading.

The wife takes the initiative to solve the cat's problem thus unconsciously
attempts to solve her own.

10
 The term "kitty" is childish reflecting a childish yearning in a grown up
woman. The problem in Pattern one remains unsolved and the only positive
remark the wife receives is that of "Don’t get wet."

PATTERN (2)

The text PSP-COM

The wife went down stairs and the hotel owner situation
stood up and bowed to her as she passed the
office. His desk was at the far end of the office. He
was an old man and very tall
‘Il poive ,1’ the wife said. She liked the hotel-
keeper.
‘Si.Si, Signora, brutto tempo.2 It is very bad
weather’
He stood behind his desk in the far end of the dim Problem
room. The wife liked him. She liked the deadly
serious way he received any complaints. She liked
his dignity. She liked the way he wanted to serve
her……… She liked his old , heavy and big hands
Liking him, she opened the door and looked out. Solution
It was raining harder. A man in a rubber cape was N-evaluation
crossing the empty square to the café.
The cat would be around to the right Problem
Perhaps she could go along under the eaves Pre-solution
As she stood in the doorway, an umbrella opened Solution
behind her. It was the maid who looked after their
room. ‘You must not get wet,’ she smiled,
speaking Italian. Of course, the hotel –keeper had
sent her.
1
‘It’s raining.’
2
‘Yes, yes, Madam, awful weather’

11
 In this part of the story the situation begins as the wife descends the stairs.
The hotel owner stood up and "bowed" to the American wife. The problem
arising is that of the hotel owner. He is old, very tall with heavy hands thus
representing wisdom, strength and capability; all that her husband lacks.

At this moment the writer presents the second problem: the wife's liking for
the hotel owner.

The problem is soon solved when the wife opens the door to go outside.

In this part readers are presented with the problem of the rain outside
getting harder therefore implying subconscious comparison between
husband and hotel owner on the part of the wife.

Assuming the location of the cat she sets to solve the first problem. Readers
are encountered with a solution for the hard rain when an umbrella is
opened right behind her.

The solution here is provided by the maid who must have been sent by the
masculine hotel owner.

PATTERN (3)

The text PSP-COM

With the maid holding the umbrella over her, she situation
walked along the gravel path until she was under their
window.
The table was there, washed bright green in the rain, problem
but the cat was gone. She was suddenly disappointed
The maid looked up at her.
‘Ha perduto qualque cosa, Signora?’3
‘There was a cat,’ said the American girl.
‘A cat?’
‘Si , il gatto.’
‘ A cat?’ The maid laughed. ‘A cat in the rain?’
‘Yes, -’, she said, ‘under the table.’ Then, ‘Oh , I wanted

12
it so much. I wanted a kitty.’
When she talked English the maid’s face tightened.
‘Come, Signora,’ she said. ‘We must get back inside. solution
You will be wet.’
‘I suppose so’, said the American girl. P-evaluation
3
‘Have you lost something, Madam?’

In this pattern the situation presented is that of a woman sheltered from

rain walking along a gravel path.

Hemingway may have sought to refer to women sheltered by the umbrella

of marriage while walking along the path of life or the umbrella could be
taken to refer to American superiority and the inclination to be served for
having superior financial status. Either way the situation leads to the
problem of the missing cat. To the wife's Disappointment, the cat is no
where to be seen. Knowing the creature's hatred for water the maid
laughingly inquires how can a cat possibly remain under the rain?

The problem persists though the wife actually admits her need to have
found the cat.

The solution presented is for the rain problem when the maid decides that
they "must get back" and the wife reluctantly agrees ". I suppose

PATTERN (4)

The text PSP-COM

They went back along the gravel path and situation
passed the door. The maid stayed outside to
close the umbrella. As the American girl passed
the office, the padrone bowed from his desk.
Something felt very small and tight inside the problem
girl. The padrone made her feel very small and
at the same time really important…….
13
She went on up the stairs She opened the door solution
of the room.
George was on the bed, reading. N-evaluation
‘Did you get the cat?’ he asked, putting the Pre-problem
book down.
‘It was gone.’ problem
‘ Wonder where it went to,’ he said ,resting his
eyes from reading.
She sat down on the bed.
‘I wanted it so much,’ she said. ‘I don’t know solution
why I wanted it so much. I wanted that poor
kitty. It is’nt any fun to be a poor kitty out in
the rain.’
George was reading again P-evaluation

The situation is presented when the American woman goes inside and
passes the Padron's office. The maid remains outside to take care of the
umbrella. The problem arises when she feels "tight", "very small" and
"important". The problem shown in Pattern 2 of "liking" is expanded by the
above mentioned feelings. These feminine inclinations exist in one way or
another in almost every female. Thus the American girl becomes an
archetype. Women usually seek shelter in the arms of wise masculinity
which provides an "umbrella" to protect her from life discomforts. This is
similar the cat's case using a wooden table for shelter. For the American girl
the hotel Padron is as solid as the wooden table. The solution is provided by
going upstairs to her room.

The husband's negativity is reflected in his passive role, though there is a

slight change when he puts his book down, but the original problem remains
unsolved.

The wife admits wanting the cat but ignores the reasons behind this want.
She subconsciously finds her as an equal and expresses concern over the
"Kitty's" miserable situation. All this is met by carelessness on the husband's
part.
14
 PATTERN (5)

The text PSP-COM

She went over and sat in front of the mirror of situation
the dressing table looking at herself with the
hand glass. She studied her profile, first one side
and then the other. Then she studied the back of
her head and of her neck.
‘Don’t you think it would be a good idea if I let my problem
hair grow out?’ She asked, looking at her profile
again.
George looked up and saw the back of her neck, Pre-solution
clipped close like a boy’s.
‘I like it the way it is.’ solution
‘I get so tired of it.’ she said, ‘I get so tired of N-evaluation
looking like a boy.’
George shifted his position in the bed. He hadn’t
looked away from her since she started to speak.’

‘You look pretty darn nice,’ he said.

She laid down the mirror down on the dresser N-evaluation
and went over to the window and looked out. It
was getting dark.
‘I want to pull my hair back tight and smooth and problem
make a big knot at the back that I can feel,’ she
said.’ ‘I want to have a kitty to sit on my lap and
purr when I stroke her.’
‘Yeah?’ George said from the bed. N -evaluation
And I want to eat at a table with my own silver problem
and I want candles. And I want it to be spring and
I want to brush my hair out in front of a mirror
and I want a kitty and I want some clothes
Oh, shut up and get something to read,’ George solution
said

15
He was reading again. His wife was looking out of N-evaluation
the window. It was quiet dark now and still
raining in the palm trees.
‘Anyway , I want a cat,’she said, problem
I want a cat now. If cannot have long hair or any
fun, I can have a cat.
George was not listening. He was reading his solution
book.

His wife looked out of the window where the N-evaluation

light had come on in the square.
Someone Knocked at the door. problem
‘Avanti, George said.
He looked up from his book.
In the doorway stood the maid.
She held a big tortoise-shell cat pressed tight
against her and swung down against her body
‘Excuse me,' she said, ‘the padron asked me to solution
bring this for the Signora’

The final situation is presented when the wife sits in front of the mirror. The
hand glass she uses to see her profile is like self analysis as she moves it
from one side to the other.

The major problem brewing inside is expressed through the simple question;
"Don't you think it is a good idea if I let my hair grow out?" When the
husband, now called "George" replies, a solution for the superficial problem
is provided.

The widely used name "George" is used here to resemble the majority of
American men and the husband becomes an archetype.

George is "Adam" who ignores "Eve".

The wife's concise evaluation of her problem is fully expressed when she
admits to "getting tired" of it meaning tired of such life.
16
She manages to draw her husband's attention for a short while but his
evaluation is once more negative. "George" does not realize the depth of
the problem he is only interested in the apparent meaning of his wife's
complaint not realizing the problem brimming inside.

Readers realize the existence of a major problem when the wife cites the
minor problems one after the other. She wants to wear her hair "long" to
pull it back in a "tight" knot. This hairdo resembles the sheltered calm
female of nobility often portrayed with a cat on her lap. This is supported by
her desire to have silverware and candles. The American woman is tired of
practicality and equality with men represented by "short hair". She longs for
being taken care of and seeks some romance through wanting it to be
"spring". Thus her apparently childish needs carry a much deeper meaning.
All her efforts are curbed when George tells her to "shut up" and "get
something to read" thus emphasizing the idea of equality, yet killing all her
aspirations. His negative evaluation for the point she tries to make sends her
back to the window. The unsolved problem is more persistent as it gets dark
and the rain continues. The wife ceases to follow reason "Anyway I need a
cat", "I want a cat now", "If I cannot have long hair or "any fun", I can have a
cat."

The husband solves the problem by ignoring it and going back to his book.

The lights come on outside foretelling a solution. This is provided through a

knock on the door and the appearance of the maid holding a big cat.

Though the cat may not have been the same and probably a substitute for
the original, the wife had seen from her window, but it solves the problem.
A substitute solution is provided by the "Padron" assuming George's
protective role.

17
Conclusions

The analysis of the story has shown the following results:

1. Hemingway followed a conventional order in presenting the

information i.e. situation, problem, solution and evaluation. This
proves the first hypothesis that the problem-solution pattern works
with literary texts.

2. He communicated the rhetorical pattern to the reader through his

clever use of the lexical items. This proves the second hypothesis in
which the lexical items marked in bold signal the structure of the text.

3. The solution is always preceded by a pre-solution.

4. The positive solution signals the end of the discourse and the negative
solution signals another problem which confirms the expectations of
the reader.

18
 References

Hemingway, Ernest. (1987). The Complete Short Stories of Ernest

Hemingway. Simon & Schuster inc. New York.

Hoey, Michael. (1983). On the Surface of Discourse. Allen and

Unwin, London.
-----------------. (1983). ‘some text properties of certain nouns’, in Tony
McEnery and Simon Botley (eds.), New Approaches to Discourse Anaphora:
Proceddings of the second Colloquium on Discourse Anaphor Resolution
DAARC2, University of Lancaster.

-----------------. (1991). Patterns of Lexis in Text. Oxford University Press.

-----------------. (1993). Data, description, Discourse: Papers on the

English Language in Honour of John McH Sinclair. Harper Collins, London.

----------------. (2001). Textual Interaction: An Introduction to Written

Discourse Analysis. Routledge, London.

Winter, Eugene. (1977). ‘A clause-relational approach to English

texts’. Instructional science (special edn.), 6,1-92.

-----------------. (1982). Towards a Contextual Grammar of English: The

Clause and Its Place in the Definition of Sentence. Allen and Unwin, London.

----------------. (1992). ‘the notion of Unspecific Versus Specific as One

Way of Analysing The Information of a Fund-Raising Letter’, in William C.
Mann and Sandra A. Thompson (eds.), Discourse Description: Diverse
Linguistic Analyses of a Fund-Raising Text, Amesterdam: John Benjamins, 131-
70

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