What do the old man's eyes reveal about his personality?
Though everything about Santiago is weathered and old, his eyes are "cheerful and undefeated
When Hemingway uses the simile of Santiago's scars being "as old as erosions in a fishless desert," what does it mean?
This is part of complex imagery that emphasizes the old man's age and hard life, and his lack of luck of late
What does the bird at sea tell Santiago?
Where to find fish
In the context of the story, what does the narrator mean when he says the old man "...was too simple to wonder when he had attained humility"?
The old man has developed the ability to be humble, and allows the boy to get fresh bait for Santiago
How alone is Santiago?
Santiago's wife is dead, and we don't know if he has any children, and so Manolin is his only family
Why does the boy Manolin feel such love and respect for Santiago?
Because Santiago treats the boy with such love and respect, and the boy sees the old man as a man to emulate
How does the other fisherman's treatment of Manolin contrast with the way Santiago treats him?
The other fisherman treats him like a child, and doesn't trust Manolin with equipment, as if the boy is inferior
What did Santiago dream about when he was younger?
In the past, he dreamed of storms, women, great events, great fish, contests of strength, and his wife
What does Santiago dream about in the present?
The coast of Africa and young lions playing on a beach
Why are the old man's dreams of the young lions significant?
The pleasant dreams represent the circular nature of life, and the predators are always playing in the dream, and seem to signify youth and harmony
How does the old man think of the sea as he rows out?
Santiago thinks of the sea as a woman, kind and beautiful, a woman who might give or withhold great things
Why is Santiago rowing out so far to begin his fishing expedition?
He rows out far because that is where the big fish, the marlin, are caught
What is one reason Hemingway might be giving us so many details and explanations as Santiago prepares for his trip?
Hemingway creates a sense of verisimilitude for the reader by giving such true details
How does Hemingway show that Santiago will do what is necessary for success?
The author provides great detail of Santiago's preparation to show us that the old man will do what he must to catch the fish
When the author describes Santiago hitting the tuna "on the head for kindness," what is meant by this paradox?
Though one doesn't hit something to be kind, hitting the tuna kills it quickly, ending its suffering, so the statement is really true
As the old man begins to talk to the fish, and to plead with him to take the bait, what does the reader infer about Santiago in this sequence?
Since Santiago can feel each little tug at the line, these signs indicate his intimate knowledge of fish, and how to catch them
Manolin is
The boy that Santiago teaches
What does the big fish do after he takes the bait?
The marlin begins towing the little boat further out to sea
La mar means
the sea
Why does Santiago keep the line across his shoulder rather than tying it to his boat?
If he tied it to the boat, a sharp pull from the fish could snap the line, and there is some give in it across his shoulders
Why does the old man talk to himself in the boat?
He's alone, and since it isn't bothering anyone, seems to help pass the time for him
What does Santiago repeat many times?
He wishes the boy was with him
Why does the thought of selling the fish's meat disappoint Santiago?
The people who will buy the meat are not worthy to consume it
Santiago remembers his great contest against "the great negro Cienfugos"--at what sport did the old man beat his challenger?
Arm wrestling
What does the old man remove and eat from the belly of the dolphin?
Two flying fish
How does Hemingway begin to equate Santiago to the marlin, to suggest that the two are equal?
Santiago says that the two of them are joined together, and that they are both engaged in an epic battle, suggesting that they are equals
What comparison does Santiago make between the fish and him that further shows that they are something of equals?
The old man says the fish is a male, and has no panic in him, much like one might describe a human man
Why does the old man keep wishing that the boy was with him?
He wants help, but thinks it would be good for Manolin to share the experience of catching the fish
Who was Santiago's hero?
Joe Dimaggio
When this novella begins, how many days has it been since Santiago caught a fish?
84 days
To whom--or to what--does Santiago speak while fighting the fish?
He speaks to himself, the boy, the fish, a bird that lands on the line, to God, his cut and cramped hand...he also talks to the sharks
Manolin cannot fish with Santiago anymore because
Manolin's parents think Santiago is bad luck or 'salao'
How does the old man think that no man is "ever alone on the sea"?
He refers to fish as brothers, and obviously finds the ocean and all it represents a source of companionship
Why is it so difficult for Santiago to fight this fish?
The fish is two feet larger than his boat, and must weigh a ton
An example of personification from the novel
Santiago calling the marlin "brother
Does Santiago think the fish is more noble and more able than the intelligent people who fish for it?
Yes, and he doesn't think that the people who will eat of the fish are worthy of him
What simile does Hemingway use to describe the old man's cramping hand?
His hand is like the gripping claw of an eagle, both crippling and containing immense strength
Manolin cries when Santiago returns because
He feels bad the old man has suffered
Versimilitude is
showing real ways of life
Why doesn't Santiago just cut the line and quit after days of fighting the fish?
The old man would never just give up, and seems to feel that either the fish will die or Santiago will
Religion comes into this story frequently, but why is it unusual when Santiago adds a prayer that Mary will kill this fish?
Asking a religious entity to kill seems somewhat blashphemous
When Santiago accepts his suffering "against the wood," of what is this reference just one example?
Hemingway seems to compare his hero to Christ and His struggles frequently
Why does the old man admire Joe DiMaggio?
DiMaggio plays Santiago's favorite sport very well, even when injured, and his father was a fisherman just like the old man
How does the story about the arm-wrestling contest add to the credibility of the main plot?
Since Santiago was once known as El Campeon for winning the contest, it suggests he has the strength and will to defeat the fish
What is an allegory?
A story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral one
What mixed feelings does Santiago start to have about his brother the fish?
He thinks the fish must be hungry, but that Santiago will outlast the marlin, and he compares the dignity of the fish with the sun and the stars
When the author tells us "...that he is up against something that he does not comprehend is everything," what is this an example of?
This is anthropomorphism because the fish cannot comprehend or think
On page 94 of the book, the author expresses a paradox--what is it?
Hemingway writes, "Then the fish came alive, with his death in him....?
Why does Santiago mention Joe DiMaggio's bone spur more than once?
The bone spur represents any physical handicap, and a Champion overcomes those challenges
How does Santiago express his oneness with the fish after he has killed it?
He wonders if he is bringing the fish in, or if the fish is bringing Santiago in
When the author tells us, "It was an hour before the first shark hit him," why is this sentence a shock to the reader?
The simplicity and abruptness of the sentence makes the reader take notice
How does Santiago feel about the shark attack?
The old man is a realist, and knows the sharks will get at least part of his catch, but he'll fight back
When Santiago concludes, "But man is not made for defeat....A man can be destroyed but not defeated," what does this mean?
Defeat is something that only happens when one gives up
The old man sails "too far" out in the ocean on this trip--is this a sign of pride?
Some might think so, but it seems more to be a sign of both confidence and desperation
What allusion is the author making when he describes the old man falling with the mast, and then falling asleep with his arms straight out and his palms up?
This seems to be another attempt by Hemingway to liken the struggles of Santiago to the suffering of the Christ
Why does Manolin cry several times near the end of the story?
He's relieved his friend has returned, but is upset by the pain and suffering endured by Santiago
When Manolin decides to go against his father's wishes and return to sea with Santiago, what motif does this seem to touch on?
Motifs are repeated images or ideas, and Manolin is described almost like an apostle following the Christ-like figure of the old man
Why does Hemingway show the tourists believing that the carcass is a shark?
Though the locals understand that there will never be another fish like this, the greater world inhabited by the tourists is unaware of the feat
How might Santiago resemble a tragic hero?
Like the Greek god or man who suffers a serious setback because of a fatal flaw, the old man is going to lose his fish, partially because he was so persistent in the first place
How is Manolin a dynamic character?
He decides that he will rejoin Santiago despite the wishes of his parents
What parts of the book relate to the five plot elements?
The setting is exposition, the fish taking the bait is the rising action, the climax is when the old man finally kills the fish, the sharks introduce the falling action, and the boy brings about the resolution when he decides to go back to Santiago
What do many critics think the sharks symbolize?
The sharks are ugly and mindless, and symbolize the destructive laws of the universe
What is the point of view of this novella?
Third-person omniscient