‘The Old Man and the Sea’ Revision Session

What the exam question will be like? Extract Based (Two to three paragraphs) 30 Marks Relate to character and/or theme May also relate to pivotal section of the novella Must show whole text knowledge

Are there any example questions? ‘How does Hemingway reveal Santiago’s power of endurance here and in the rest of the novel?’ ‘What do we learn about Santiago’s thoughts and his conversations with himself from here and elsewhere in the novella?’ ‘How does Hemingway capture Santiago’s feelings about his role as a fisherman here and elsewhere in the novel?’ ‘In what ways is this an effective and appropriate ending to the novella?’ ‘How does Santiago reveal his respect for the sea here and elsewhere in the novel?’

What am I being marked on? Assessing a range of techniques used by the author Make reference to the techniques used Supporting points and analysis with textual evidence Showing a focussed response that links back to the question Show awareness of the text as a whole Show awareness of context

What techniques does Hemingway usually use, the ones that he consistently uses? Omniscient narrator –Hemingway controls our interpretation of the text. The shift from third person to first person framed narrator. –Impacts the level of personalisation, sympathy, empathy

What techniques does Hemingway usually use, the ones that he consistently uses? Pathetic fallacy –weather mirrors the mood of a character, foreshadows upcoming events –Weather is symbolic –Weather is a controlling force

What techniques does Hemingway usually use, the ones that he consistently uses? Imagery of Life/Death –Fish being personified, the ocean’s ‘life’

What techniques does Hemingway usually use, the ones that he consistently uses? Flashbacks –bring worth and show the prosperity of the Santiago –Impact level of sympathy

What techniques does Hemingway usually use, the ones that he consistently uses? Journalistic prose –every word has a purpose, concise –Reflects the character –Spare, charged style

What techniques does Hemingway usually use, the ones that he consistently uses? Sentence Beginnings/Types/Lengths –The lack of variation in the sentence beginnings and types, the rhythmic effect –PACE!!!

What techniques does Hemingway usually use, the ones that he consistently uses? Implied Personification –descriptions are so vivid, that the item described is a character. –The Sea

How does context relate to this Novella? Journalistic Prose The ambivalence towards Catholicism Cuban Poverty Code of per-sonalismo--like other Latin Americans, place a high value on the innate worth of the individual. Success in life is defined under the achievement of one's spiritual potential or personal destiny rather than one's financial or career status. Machismo, or maleness, is an important male goal in traditional Latin American society. Machismo is ideally developed in several ways, including military, athletic, and intellectual exercises, and sexual prowess. Most men are not expected to live up to the machismo ideal in practice.

What are the themes? Unity Heroism Manhood Pride Success Worthiness Duality

How can I revise? Reread the novella, identifying critical moments linked with themes Study and revise the techniques…Know how and why they are used Look over your notes, sparknotes, etc. Do timed writing…GET in the habit before you sit the exam Do a past exam question

Where can I find more information? Handouts on OCR Website>Qualification > by Subject> English>GCSE Current>Past Papers Number 2432/02 (Different Cultures, Analysis and Argument) se/english/english/documents/index.html se/english/english/documents/index.html