How would you interpret this pronoun ‘those’ in the last sentence?
Does it refer to all the three ranges of mountains and the mountains beyond them?
Or does it only refer to the mountains beyond the three ranges of mountains?
Thanks. It’s from A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (Chapter Eight).

the context:
We went along the rough new military road that followed the crest of the ridge and I looked to the north at the two ranges of mountains, green and dark to the snow-line and then white and lovely in the sun. Then, as the road mounted along the ridge, I saw a third range of mountains, higher snow mountains, that looked chalky white and furrowed, with strange planes, and then there were mountains far off beyond all these that you could hardly tell if you really saw. Those were all the Austrians' mountains and we had nothing like them.

Question

How would you interpret this pronoun ‘those’ in the last sentence?
Does it refer to all the three ranges of mountains and the mountains beyond them?
Or does it only refer to the mountains beyond the three ranges of mountains?
Thanks. It’s from A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (Chapter Eight).

the context:
We went along the rough new military road that followed the crest of the ridge and I looked to the north at the two ranges of mountains, green and dark to the snow-line and then white and lovely in the sun. Then, as the road mounted along the ridge, I saw a third range of mountains, higher snow mountains, that looked chalky white and furrowed, with strange planes, and then there were mountains far off beyond all these that you could hardly tell if you really saw. Those were all the Austrians' mountains and we had nothing like them.

Answer

I'm so impressed Gordon with your interest and persistence in reading Hemingway. It's hope you are enjoying it!

From a purely grammatical point of view, he could be talking either about all four of the mountain ranges described in the paragraph, or just the fourth. The only way to understand his meaning is to read the context. Based on the paragraph that you have provided, it appears that he is talking about all the mountain ranges. By describing how the mountain ranges keep 'appearing' as he gets a better view of what he sees, he wants to describe a visual experience of a place (Austria) that is so different to his place, where 'we had nothing like them'. The point is to create an impression of wonder about Austria's mountains.

If he was just talking about the fourth and last mountain range being 'the Austrians' mountains' then the first three mountain ranges must be in another country (perhaps Italy). His car would be in Italy and he would be looking at the first three Italian ranges and then out seeing these mysterious fourth range, 'the Austrians' mountains'. This is extremely unlikely though. If the fourth range is so unclear that 'you could hardly tell if you saw' them, would you really know this fact, that they are 'the Austrians' mountains'? Probably not.

One last thing. The last sentence is 'Those were all the Austrians' mountains and we had nothing like them.' Having 'all' in the sentence also supports the idea that he is talking about all the mountain ranges in the sentences before. But even without this 'all', it would probably still be understood as all the mountain ranges. This is because of the context considerations I described above.

Answer

I just looked at your posting history Gordon and noticed that you have been diligently reading this book for months now. I have so much respect for your consistency and dedication to learning! Great work. This is the best way to learn a language in my opinion. Really hope you are enjoying the book.

Answer

Typo in first line; should be 'I hope you are enjoying it'. :)

Answer

I would say your second guess is correct:  the mountains beyond the first three mountain ranges.

Answers · 5

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