Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea

Novella Set in Cuba, near Havana, about 1950 Originally published 1952 in LIFE magazine Pulitzer Prize – 1953 Hemingway’s last book in his life Santiago – the old man Manolin – the boy Martin – owner of the Terrace Pedrico – a fisherman from the village Rogelio—a fisherman from the village 2 tourists & the waiter at the Terrace Who was Gregorio Fuentes? What was the Pilar ?

About the Old Man Based on Gregorio Fuentes (EH’s Cuban fishing companion) Very old (specific age is not specified) 84 days of very bad luck (salao) A Catholic widower Penniless fisherman Lives in a dirt-floored shack made of palm fronds (guano) Fishes alone; taught Manolin how to fish Resolves to go out very, very far Brings only water w/him on the skiff At noon (the 1st day) Santiago hooks the marlin Over 1600 pounds & 18 feet long An epic battle: Santiago vs. the sharks Does the old man die at the end?

More about the Old Man What does the old man eat for sustenance? Why does he worry so much about his fishing line? (Catalan cardel) Which creature is the old man’s #1 friend at sea? What is Sargasso seaweed? Plankton? Phosphorescence? Which fish is called the “golden one” (dorado) ? In addition to the boy, name 2 things the old man wishes he had w/him. Describe the hand injuries that the old man sustains. Give several important facts about Mako sharks. # of shark attacks? Any meat left on the marlin? # of days & nights the old man is gone?

More about the Old Man How does the old man feel about prayer? Why does he like to read American newspapers? Which baseball team is his favorite? And which player? At the end, how many times does the old man have to sit down while he’s carrying the mast to his shack? Who will get the fish’s head for bait? Why does he dream of the lions in Africa at the end? Do you think the old man will go fishing again? If you think he will, will he fish alone or w/Manolin? Does he die at the end? Explain the 2 tourists & waiter near end What does that “digression” mean?

About Manolin Manolin’s name means “little man” At 5 he learned how to fish from the old man Used to fish w/the old man & loved it Manolin’s parents insist that he fishes w/another fisherman Many acts of kindness for the old man Loves the old man as if Santiago were his father The old man’s “caretaker” and “son” Manolin gets the spear (rapier) of the marlin as a keepsake Weeps at the end for what the old man has suffered Unanswered question: does the old man die at the end?

Looking Back: 1. Does Santiago get well and go fishing w/Manolin? 2. Does Santiago wake up from his dream of the lions? 3. Why did EH include the vignette w/the tourists? What does it add to the ending? 4. What has Santiago learned from his experience? 5. Agree/disagree w/Santiago’s ideas about Luck. 6. Summarize the shark attacks. 7. How do the shark attacks affect the book’s theme? 8. How is the “chain of being” part of the book’s theme? 9. Give 5 key facts about the writing STYLE in this book. 10. How important are “interior monologues” in this book? 11. Is the narrative technique of “stream of consciousness” used in this book? Explain. 12. What is your favorite passage? Why?

Some of the Spanish Words in the Book: salao espuela de hueso juegos brisa guano dentuso galanos bodega dorado