The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway Study Guide Assignments Read and annotate the novel (see SMCHS Guide to Active Reading and How to Annotate a Text ) Complete the study guide Background Author: Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) was born in Oak Park, IL. As a boy, he began his love for hunting and fishing. One of his first jobs was as an ambulance driver in Italy during WWI. After the war, he continued to live in Europe and experienced the life of an expatriate. One of his most famous novels, The Sun Also Rises, is about the Lost Generation s experiences following the war. Hemingway hunted bear in Wyoming and lions in Africa. He also lived in Key West, FL and loved deep sea fishing. His experiences there helped him write The Old Man and the Sea. This novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953. His life included much strife. He was wounded by shrapnel in WWI, some of which was never able to be removed. He was married four times. One of the main themes in his books is what it means to be a man. He is known for his Code Hero, a man who is stoic and stays strong against sometimes unbeatable odds. Setting: A small fishing village near Havana, Cuba; the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the 1940 s. Characters: Santiago, the old man, and Manolin, his young friend. The sea (La Mar) is also an important character in the novel. Conflicts An old man vs. the sea Old man vs. sharks The boy vs. his parents Age vs. youth Old man vs. himself (his mind and his hand) Symbols Lions: strength Santiago as a Christ figure Coast of Africa: dreams of Santiago s youth o He s a poor fisherman Turtles: strength, stoicism, not giving up o He s poor o Also for this one is Joe DiMaggio o He suffers for three days o The cross imagery at the end Vocabulary highlight all words/terms/people in your text Part I: Spanish vocabulary Salao guano bodega brisa calambre fuegos un espuela de hueso El Campeon dorado galanos San Pedro tiburon Que va agua mala Unlucky palm tree grocery store/warehouse breeze cramp games a spur of the bone the champion golden shovel-nosed sharks Saint Peter Shark Oh, no! bad water 1
Part II: Special places/people Havana Capital of Cuba Mosquito Coast East coast of Nicaragua and Honduras Virgin de Cobre The patron saint of Cuba, Virgin of Copper. Hemingway left his Nobel prize at this shrine. Joe DiMaggio Played for NY Yankees in the 1940 s Dick Sisler Played for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds in the 40 s and 50 s John J. McGraw Manager of the NY Giants in 1902-1932 Leo Durocher Player, later manager of Dodgers in the 1950 s Canary Islands Islands off the coast of Spain Catalan One from the Catalonia region in Spain Cienfuegos Town on the southern coast of Cuba Rigel Star in the constellation Orion Part III: Words and terms Skiff Gaff Benevolent Phosphorescence Albacore Fathom Ineffectually Iridescent Myriad Bitt Sounds (nautical term) Gunwale Undulation Ptomaine Bone spur Cross trees Mast head Sustenance Norther Interminable any of various types of boats small enough for sailing or rowing by one person an iron hook with a handle for landing large fish characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings the property of being luminous at temperatures below incandescence, as from slow oxidation in the case of phosphorus or after exposure to light or other radiation a long-finned tuna a unit of length equal to six feet: used chiefly in nautical measurements not effectual; without satisfactory or decisive effect; unavailing; futile; powerless; impotent displaying a play of lustrous colors like those of the rainbow a very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things also called bollard, a strong post of wood or iron projecting, usually in pairs, above the deck of a ship, used for securing cables, lines for towing, etc. to measure or try the depth of (water, a deep hole, etc.) by letting down a lead or plummet at the end of a line, or by some equivalent means the upper edge of the side or bulwark of a vessel a wavy form or outline any of a class of foul-smelling nitrogenous substances produced by bacteria during putrefaction of animal or plant protein: formerly thought to be toxic a bony growth formed on normal bone the two horizontal struts at the upper ends of the topmasts of sailboats, used to anchor the shrouds from the topgallant mast the head of a mast (noun); to hoist a yard to the fullest extent (verb); run up to the head of a mast (adj.) means of sustaining life; nourishment a wind or storm from the north incapable of being terminated; unending; having no limits 2
NAME The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway Study Guide Hemingway s Use of Simile A simile is a comparison of two unlike things using like or as. Directions: Find three similes on pages 9-10 and complete the sentences below. 1. Hemingway uses the simile to suggest 2. Hemingway uses the simile to suggest 3. Hemingway uses the simile to suggest The Old Man s Dreams (pages 24-25) Directions: Answer the following questions. 1. What does the old man dream of? 2. What is the purpose of dreams in the old man s life? 3. What do the old man s dreams tell you about his relationship with nature? 3
The Presentation of the Sea (pages 26-30) Directions: Compare the different attitudes of the two generations of fishermen towards the sea. The old man s attitude La Mar The young generation s attitude El Mar The Old Man as a Fisherman (pages 30-40) Directions: Answer the following questions. 1. List the different depths to which the old man casts his bait and explain why he does this. 2. What simile does the author use to describe the thickness of the old man s fishing line? 3. How does the old man manage his lines in a way that makes him different to the other fisherman? 4. What does the old man describe as agua mala and why does he do this? 5. Why does the old man sympathize with the turtles? 6. What type of fish does the old man catch first? 7. What metaphor does the old man use to describe the shape of the fish he has caught? 4
The Old Man s Relationship with Nature (pages 41-61) Directions: Find quotations that support the following points about the old man s relationship with the marlin he has caught. Include page numbers where each quote is located. 1. He is intrigued by it -- 2. He communicates with the marlin -- 3. Both the old man and the marlin are isolated from everyone else -- 4. Like the old man, the marlin is very strong -- 5. Like the old man, the marlin is portrayed as intelligent and wise -- 6. Both the old man and fish are masculine -- 7. Both the old man and fish are injured -- 8. Both the old man and the great marlin are very determined -- 9. The old man is respectful of the marlin -- 10. Both fish and man are fighting for their own survival -- 5
Santiago: El Campeon (pages 68-71) Directions: Write down two quotations from these pages that illustrate the old man s prowess at arm wrestling. 1. (page ) 2. (page ) Explain why you think Ernest Hemingway included this story about arm wrestling. What purpose does it serve in the story? The Killing of the Great Marlin (pages 94-96) Directions: Explain the significance/meaning of the following quotations. 1. Then the fish came alive, with his death in him, and rose high out of the water showing all his great length and width and all his power and beauty. 2. There is very much slave work to be done now that the great fight is over. 3. I want to see him, he thought. But that is not why I wish to feel him. I think I felt his heart, he thought. 6
The Attack of the Mako and Galano Sharks (pages 102-112) Directions: Complete the table to help you explore the different attitudes the old man has towards the different sharks. Leave the shaded areas empty. Shark Mako Galano Adjectives used to describe them Similes used to describe it How it feeds and what this suggests about it How it swims and what this suggests about it How their heads are descried and why What we are told about their relationship with the turtles and why this is important Main similarities between them Main differences between them Old man s attitude towards them 7
Comparisons Between the Old Man and Jesus Christ Directions: Complete the table below to show your understanding of why the old man is compared to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ He had nail wounds in his hands The Old Man His head was wounded by a crown of thorns He carried his cross as he walked to the hill of Calvary He fell as he carried the cross He was a leader, a mentor for others He was crucified The Relationship Between the Old Man and the Boy Directions: Match each quotation with a key word to describe the relationship between the old and the boy. Respect Trust Love Faith Equality Paternal affection Understanding Concern Care Loyalty Honesty 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. But remember how you went 8 days without fish and then we caught big ones every day for three weeks. I must get him another shirt and jacket for the winter and some sort of shoes and another jacket. You are already a man. If I cannot fish with you, I would like to serve in some way. There was no cast net... They went through this fiction every day. There was no pot of yellow rice and fish and the boy knew this too. 8
6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.... you were nearly killed when I brought the fish in too green. I know you did not leave me because you doubted. I have not wished to open the container until you were ready. The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him. The boy took the old army blanket off the bed and spread it over the back of the chair and over the old man s shoulder. If you were my boy I d take you out an gamble. 9