Who is Santiago? Describe him.
Santiago is the main character in The Old Man and the Sea. He is an old, thin fisherman with deep wrinkles, blotches on his skin, faded scars on his hands, and bright, cheerful blue eyes.
Who is Manolin?
Manolin is a boy Santiago has known for a long time. He used to go fishing with the old man and they've grown close because of it.
Why is the boy not fishing with the old man anymore? Does he want to?
The boy is not fishing with the old man anymore because his father believes the old man doesn't bring good luck since he hasn't caught a fish in eighty four days. Manolin, however, disagrees with his father and wants to go fishing with the old man, but since he is a boy he has to obey his father.
What did the other fishermen think of the old man?
Although most fishermen would make fun of Santiago, the others would feel sorry for him.
Describe Santiago's house.
Santiago lived in a small, one room shack which had one bed, a chair, and a place for charcoal to cook food in. The walls were made with brown palm leaves called guano and on the walls was a colored picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and another picture of the Virgin of Cobre.
What's the point behind the conversation about yellow rice with fish and the cast net?
Everyday Manolin asks if he can take the cast net in. Santiago replies with yes yet there is no cast net since they have sold it. Also when Manolin asks what there is to eat the old man says yellow rice with fish even though there is no yellow rice with fish. They know that both the cast net and the meal are made up however it's an everyday routine where the have this conversation.
Why is there so much talk about baseball, specifically DiMaggio?
Santiago is fond of specifically DiMaggio because his father was a fisherman and even says he'd want to take him fishing because maybe he would understand.
There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you." What does the boy mean?
When Manolin says "There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you," he is saying that the old man is a one of a kind fisherman.
What is Hemingway's point to having the old man say, "I may not be as strong as I think..."?
When the old man says "I may not be as strong as I think," he means that he is no longer as strong as he was when he was younger. He continues by saying "But I have many tricks..." which means although he is old and weak, he knows old tricks most of the younger fishermen don't know.
What did the old man dream about?
Santiago dreamed about the beaches, mountains, and lions he saw when he was in Africa as a boy.
How did Santiago think of the sea? (To what does he compare it to?)
Santiago sees the sea as a woman and calls her la mar which is what people call the sea when they love her.
It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes, you are ready." Explain.
When the old man says he'd rather be exact he means he'd rather know for sure. Luck is something that he can't be sure of, but if he believes in luck he can prepare and be ready.
What fish did the old man catch first?
The first fish the old man caught was an Albacore tuna.
If the others heard me talking out loud, they would be think that I am crazy... but since I am not crazy, I do not care." What does that tell us about the old man's character?
Santiago is an isolated old man who doesn't talk much to others. He doesn't care if people think he's crazy because he knows that he isn't and to Santiago that's all that matters to him.
What happened when the old man first tried to pull in the bill fish?
When Santiago tried to pull it in, the fish was so strong that it started to pull the boat.
What does the old man think of porpoises and flying fish, and the pair of marlin he had hooked before?
Santiago thinks of porpoises and flying fish like they are our brothers since they play and love each other. A memory he has was when he hooked a female marlin and as he was lining her, a male marlin was swimming by the boat the whole time. Before the boy butchered the fish, the male marlin jumped over the boat and looked at the female marlin laying in the boat. The old man says it's the saddest thing he's ever seen.
Santiago often wishes the boy were there. Why?
The old man wishes the boy was with him so he could help him hold the line as the fish is pulling it and to have him experience what was happening.
His choice had been to stay in the deep dark water far out beyond all snares and traps... my choice was to go there and find him beyond all people... in the world." Explain the importance of this passage.
Santiago is thinking out of all people in the world and of all fish in the sea, him and this fish have come together and have been traveling together for a while. This fish and the old man are both alone and have no one to help either of them. This passage can be seen as fate.
Why did Santiago want the fish to turn and swim in the current?
He wanted the fish to take the current so he'd know that the fish was becoming tired, making it easier for him.
Explain the significance of "Take a good rest, small bird... then go and take your chances like any man or bird or fish.
Santiago tells the bird to take a quick rest and good luck to finding fish for the bird to eat.
What happened when the fish lurched?
When the fish lurched the bird flew away and the old man almost went overboard. Since he was holding the line, his right hand began to bleed.
What was Santiago's problem with the left hand?
Santiago's left hand started to cramp.
How big was the fish?
The fish was two feet longer than the boat.
But thank God, they are not as intelligent as we who kill them, although they are more noble and more able." What is Hemingway saying?
Hemingway is saying that animals, fish in this example, don't overthink things like people do, but because of that they are able to do more things. They react or act on instinct, not with intent or motivation to do evil, unlike humans.
He settled comfortably against the wood and took his suffering as it came..." is one of the many religious references in the novel. To whom is Santiago compared to in this one?
Santiago is being compared to Christ on the cross.
Santiago feels he must "prove himself" to the fish and the boy. "Now he was proving it again. Each time was a new time..." What is the implication in broader terms; do we EVER stop having to prove ourselves (according to Hemingway)?
In modern society we always feel like we have to prove ourselves, but in reality it never matters if we do or don't. In this example, Santiago tells the boy he is a strange man and he thinks in order for the boy to think that he is, he has to prove it somehow. He looks back at the other times he's proved himself and realizes it never mattered then so why should it matter now.
Who was El Campeon? How did he get that name?
El Campeon was Santiago's old nickname from when he beat a man in an arm wrestling contest that lasted a day.
What second fish did the old man catch, and what will he do with it?
The old man caught a dolphin and decided to gut it later to save the blood in the meat.
Santiago tries to justify killing the big fish by thinking of how many people he will feed. What does the old man conclude?
Santiago concludes that no one is worthy enough to eat the honorable fish.
What woke Santiago up from his dream?
The line suddenly jerked and the old man felt the line burning his hand.
When did the fish start to circle?
The fish started to circle when the sun rose for the third time since the old man went out to sea
How did the old man kill the big fish?
After waiting over an hour for the fish to stop circling, the old man got the fish on his side. Then he grabbed the harpoon and stabbed the fish through its side.
How did Santiago intend to take the fish back to port since the fish was bigger than the boat?
Santiago ties the fish to the side of the boat since it is bigger than the boat.
Santiago asks himself "...is he bringing me in or am i bringing him in?" What does he conclude?
The old man concludes that the fish is bringing him in although they are side to side. He feels that the fish didn't mean any harm to him and wanted the fish to have the glory.
What problem did the old man have getting the fish home?
As the old man was getting home, sharks started to eat the fish because they could smell the blood from miles away.
What are the old man's arguments with himself about whether or not killing the big fish is a sin? (What arguments does he make for and against it being a sin
Santiago thinks it wasn't a sin to kill the fish because he did it to keep himself alive and to feed many people. He then argues with himself saying he only killed the fish out of pride and because he loved him when he was alive and when he was dead.
The old man apologizes to the big fish. ("I am sorry that I went too far out. I ruined us both") Why?
The old man apologized for going too far out because he feels like he destroyed the brave fish. They both went on a great journey together and now the fish is dead and the body is in pieces and Santiago feels that part of him has been taken.
What of the big fish is left by the time Santiago reaches home?
There was no more meat on the fish, only the skeleton.
With the mast on his shoulder, Santiago had to stop and rest five times on his way home. What is the symbolic reference?
Santiago carrying the mast on his shoulder symbolizes Christ carrying the cross.
Why does Manolin cry?
Manolin was crying because he saw the scars and cuts on the old mans hands.
What is the conclusion of the story?
In the end of the book, a couple mistake the fish skeleton for a shark skeleton, and the old man is asleep dreaming about the lions.