Iceberg theory The facts float above water; the supporting structure and symbolism operate out of sight Just as the visible tip of an iceberg hides a far greater mass of ice underneath the ocean surface, so does Hemingway s dialogue belie the unstated tension between his characters EA The Art of the Short Story Hemingway: " You could omit anything if you knew that you omitted and the omitted part would strengthen the story and make people feel something more than they understood The more a writer strips away, the more powerful the iceberg, or story, becomes$ Iceberg theory The facts float above water; the supporting structure and symbolism operate out of sight. Just as the visible tip of an iceberg hides a far greater mass of ice underneath the ocean surface, so does Hemingway’s dialogue belie the unstated tension between his characters. Hemingway: "You could omit anything if you knew that you omitted and the omitted part would strengthen the story and make people feel something more than they understood." The more a writer strips away, the more powerful the “iceberg,” or story, becomes. The Art of the Short Story