Old Man and the Sea review

What does Manolin ask Santiago when he says he is going far out to see?

"But are you strong enough for a truly big fish?"

Who are the Yankees? Check out the info about them...They are pretty big...

"The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of two major league clubs based in New York City alongside the National League (NL)'s New York Mets. The team was founded in 1903 when Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the franchise rights to the defunct Baltimore Orioles (no relation to the current team of the same name) after it ceased operations and used them to establish the New York Highlanders.[7][a] The Highlanders were officially renamed the New York Yankees in 1913.[10] Arguably the most successful professional sports franchise in the United States,[13][14] the Yankees have won 20 American League East Division titles, 40 American League pennants, and 27 World Series championships, all of which are MLB records.[15][16] The team has won more titles than any other franchise in the four maj

What is a bone spur? What could it symbolize?

(osteophyte) a small, bony projection that grows along the edge of a bone or in bone joints It could symbolizes how we persevere despite setbacks.

Describe the steps Santiago must take in order to make sure the fish is caught.

1.securely hooked 2. add an extra line 3.puts line around shoulders 4. waits for the fish to tire

Distinguish the second shark attack from the first.

2nd= two sharks instead of one, shovel-nosed sharks swim in packs, they are scavengers

How old was Manolin when he first went fishing with Santiago?

5 years old

How long is 1 fathom?

6 feet...and his lines are going down 40 fathoms. That's pretty deep (240 feet to be exact)!

How many days has it been since Santiago caught a fish?

84 days

Santiago

A Cuban fisherman who has had an extended run of bad luck. He hasn't been able to catch a fish in 84 days. He is humble, but has pride in his abilities. He knows a lot about the sea, the creatures, and his craft. He has faced many trials to test his strength and endurance. The marlin that he struggles with for 3 days is his greatest challenge.

Joe DiMaggio

Although DiMaggio never appears in the novel, he plays a significant role nonetheless. Santiago worships him as a model of strength and commitment, and his thoughts turn toward DiMaggio whenever he needs to reassure himself of his own strength. Despite a painful bone spur that might have crippled another player, DiMaggio went on to secure a triumphant career. He was a center fielder for the New York Yankees from 1936 to 1951, and is often considered the best all-around player ever at that position.

Why can't Manolin fish with the old man?

B/c his dad doesn't think he has a lucky boat

"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 shoulders" (5). What does this quotation signify?

Care and compassion--Manolin for Santiago

Where does Santiago live?

Cuba

Who was Joe DiMaggio?

DiMaggio, whose 56-game hitting streak in 1941 remains one of baseball's most cherished records, was voted No. 22 among North American athletes of the 20th century by SportsCentury's distinguished 48-person panel. Even in his later years, Joe DiMaggio was never too far away from the spotlight of Yankee Stadium. Signature game: June 28-30, 1949 -- Though DiMaggio underwent surgery for bone spurs in his right heel last November, he still was experiencing pain through the first two months of the season and had yet to appear in a regular-season game. "There was considerable doubt that I'd ever play again," DiMaggio said. "Many believed the bone spurs in my heels spelled the finish." Finally, on June 28, he took a flight from New York to Boston and told first-year Yankees manager Casey Stengel, "I'm ready."

What is the significance of "the old man carried the mast on his shoulders"?

He is a Christ figure. Jesus carried his cross on his shoulders as well. "What happened when Jesus was carrying the cross? When someone was sentenced to die by crucifixion, they were required to carry their own cross on their back through the streets of Jerusalem. As Jesus carried His cross, he became so exhausted that he eventually stumbled and fell, unable to stand up" "The cross is not unique but representative of what life is. To carry your cross is to carry the choices and burdens and realities of a life that has made a certain commitment — a commitment to a way of life that is committed to bringing about the Kingdom of God here and now. That's certainly what it meant for Jesus." WorkingPreacher.org

What do the "brown blotches of benevolent skin cancer" say about Santiago?

It's an oxymoron. The sun is bad but he loves being in the sun despite the fact that it causes cancer. It also illustrates his history as a fishrman.

Main baseball player they talk about...

Joe Demachio

"He no longer dreamed of storms, nor of women, nor of great occurrences, nor of great fish, nor fights, nor contests of strength, nor of his wife. He only dreamed of places now and of the lions on the beach. They played like young cats in the dusk and he loved them as he loved the boy. He never dreamed about the boy. He simply woke, looked out the open door at the moon and unrolled his trousers and put them on" (8).

Longing for past, no conflict in dreams, only peace

Who is the boy who helps him?

Manolin

"Keep the blanket around you. You'll not fish without eating while I'm alive" (6).

Manolin illustrates care and compassion for Santiago.

Describe Santiago's and Manolin's differing reactions to the Yankees' defeat.

Manolin= disappointment Santiago still has hope. Tries to teach him attention in courage, faith, and endurance.

Where did you wash? the boy thought. The village water supply was two streets down the road. I must have water here for him, the boy thought, and soap and a good towel. Why am I so thoughtless? I must get him another shirt and a jacket for the winter and some sort of shoes and another blanket" (6).

Poverty...

"Que Va," the boy said. "There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you" (8).

Que va means "no way."

"In the dark the old man could feel the morning coming and as he rowed he heard the trembling sound as flying fish left the water and the hissing that their stiff set wings made as they soared away in the darkness. He was very fond of flying fish as they were his principal friends on the ocean. He was sorry for the birds, especially the small delicate dark terns that were always flying and looking and almost never finding, and he thought, the birds have a harder life than we do except for the ro

Respect for nature. Beautiful passage. His writing can be short and then you see these long passages that exhibit such simple beauty and reflection.

What picture is on Santiago's wall?

Sacred Heart of Jesus and Virgin of Cobre (Mary--mother of Jesus)--signs that he is/was Catholic and religious. Although, he says that he prays mechanically later, meaning perhaps he is no longer religious. *It says they were relics of his wife which would mean that they belonged to her. Also, there was a picture of his wife but he took it down because it made him too sad.

"He hasn't much faith" was said by _____about_____. page 2

Santiago about Manolin's father (a skeptical and pragmatic fisherman).

How does the last battle suggest Santiago's (and Hemingway's) respect for the fish?

Santiago calling the fish brother -thinks of the fish as an equal

"The old man looked at him with his sun-burned, confident loving eyes" means...

Santiago has affection and love for the boy. He also shows age. He's been on the boat for so long that his eyes are sunburned.

The Marlin

Santiago hooks the marlin, which we learn at the end of the novella measures eighteen feet, on the first afternoon of his fishing expedition. Because of the marlin's great size, Santiago is unable to pull the fish in, and the two become engaged in a kind of tug-of-war that often seems more like an alliance than a struggle. The fishing line serves as a symbol of the fraternal connection Santiago feels with the fish. When the captured marlin is later destroyed by sharks, Santiago feels destroyed as well. Like Santiago, the marlin is implicitly compared to Christ.

But, he thought, I keep them with precision. Only I have no luck any more. But who knows? Maybe today. Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready" (11).

Santiago is being positive and optimistic about the odds of him catching a fish.

What religious image appears in the description of the second shark attack?

Santiago makes a noise as if someone is being crucified

"I may not be as strong as I think. But I know many tricks and I have resolution" (8).

Santiago may lack strength but he still possesses cleverness and prowess when fishing.

Why is Manolin "already a man"?

Santiago says this about Manolin b/c he brought him a beer.

"I feel confident today" (9).

Santiago to Maonlin--confidence and what he can and will do. Says this before his fishing trip.

Manolin

Santiago's apprentice and devoted attendant. The old man first took him out on a boat when he was merely five years old. Due to Santiago's recent bad luck, Manolin's parents have forced the boy to go out on a different fishing boat. Manolin, however, still cares deeply for the old man, to whom he continues to look as a mentor. His love for Santiago is unmistakable as the two discuss baseball and as the young boy recruits help from villagers to improve the old man's impoverished conditions.

When I was your age I was before the mast on a square rigged ship that ran to Africa and I have seen lions on the beaches in the evening" (7).

Santiago's first mention of the lions...

In what month does the story take place?

September

What information do we find out about Santiago's wife?

She died and the pictures of Jesus and Mary were "relics" of hers, meaning she may have been religious but not him. Maybe, he stopped begin religious when she died.

What does it mean when Santiago "was holding his glass and thinking of many years ago"? page 2

The description illustrates nostalgia. Santiago longs for the past where he was younger and more capable.

He was asleep in a short time and he dreamed of Africa when he was a boy and the long golden beaches and the white beaches, so white they hurt your eyes, and the high capes and the great brown mountains. He lived along that coast now every night and in his dreams he heard the surf roar and saw the native boats come riding through it. He smelled the tar and oakum of the deck as he slept and he smelled the smell of Africa that the land breeze brought at morning" (8).

The theme of dreams, dreaming, escapism, holding onto the past.

"There was no cast new and the boy remembered when they had sold it. But they went through this fiction every day. There was no pot of yellow rice and fish and the boy knew this too" (4). What does this mean?

These examples illustrate poverty and also indicates that they create this false narrative in order to endure difficult times

What does Manolin remind Santiago about regarding what happened on the 85th day one time?

They caught big fish every day for 3 weeks! Message: you need to be patient. Good things come to those who wait (that's a cliche but true...)

At a cafe on the terrace, what do the other fishermen do?

They make fun of Santiago...

What did Manolin give Santiago to eat on the boat?

Tuna!

What baseball team does Santiago like?

Yankees

What things does Santiago think of while the fish pulls? what do these thoughts have in common?

baseball, lions, and arm- wrestling -strength and youth

In what ways are the fisherman and the fish alike?

both strange, old, and wise with the same determination

"El Campeon" means...

champion

How is luck important to Santiago and Manolin?

each day he might get lucky-Manolin still has faith, but his father doesn't- went 84 days without fish

What two things does Santiago do to preserve his strength?

eat flying fish, dolphin, and tuna and sleep

What is the relationship between Santiago and Manolin?

father/son- Manolin's teacher- best friends- enjoy each other's company

How does Santiago feel about the marlin?

feels bad -marvels about the power of the fish -respects and loves it -feels sorry for himself

How does he know he has caught a fish of extraordinary size?

fish has been pulling the boat for hours; when it comes out of the sea, it comes out "interminably"=endlessly

What are Santiago's feeling for creatures of the sea (including birds)?

friends small=pity man o' war (jellyfish) and shovelnose shark=hate respects birds and the marlin

How does this day's trip differ from Santiago's usual pattern?

goes out further- past the deep wells

In which direction does the fish turn? What does the turn tell Santiago?

going with the current (east) -fish is getting tired and is coming closer to the surface

How does the fish finally die? How does this forecast trouble?

harpooned to the chest -blood attracting sharks

What does the fish's course tell about its strength?

has been pulling the boat and Santiago for hours against the current. When have you had to "swim against the current" in your own life?

How does Santiago know that the fish is about to circle?

he has studied the fish -can tell because of the struggle

Why does Santiago continue even when things are hopeless?

he is determined

How are Santiago's thoughts as he prays the thoughts of a "code hero"?

he respects and admires his opponent (the marlin)

How does Hemingway stress the endurance of Santiago?

he sees black spots and gets dizzy but he keeps trying and does not quit

Why does Santiago rebuke himself? Is the rebuke just?

he went out to far -yes, he should have known not to go out that far

How is Santiago set off from the other fisherman?

he's poor and unlucky- younger=laughter older=respect they feel bad

What part of Santiago's body is not weak?

his eyes

What two features are most striking about Santiago?

his eyes and hands

What are the premonitions of Santiago's death are there?

his luck ran out -said his chest felt weird -spat something strange -after Manolin leaves the shack, he cries

How does Santiago's comment about the fish's pain help portray his own physical condition?

his own back aches-both getting weaker

Is the ending hopeful or discouraging?

hopeful= Manolin might become a great fisherman because of him or it could be used as a learning experience for Manolin discouraging=hints Santiago will die-marlin's death is foreshadowing his own

Why does Santiago want the marlin to stop jumping once its air sacks are filled?

if it keeps jumping, it will tear loose from the hook

What in Santiago's character makes him a hero?

intelligent- doesn't give up- role model- patient and precise

Why does Santiago rebuke his left hand?

it failed him when he needed it most

What significance might Santiago and Manolin?

it's Spanish for St. James (Christ's disciple that was a fisherman) "Manolin is the diminutive form of Manuel. This is also a very popular Spanish name that can be traced back to the Bible. Its root is Immanuel. In Hebrew, it means, ''God is with us'' and it is often used as another name for Jesus since Immanuel is the name given in the Old Testament for the child conceived by a virgin."

What does agua mala mean?

jellyfish

Describe ways in which Santiago demonstrates his fishing skill and explain why this is important to Hemingway hero?

knowing how to row in the currents and how to hide his hook- mastered the skills of a fisherman- has to be exact

How are the nightly precautions Santiago takes with his fishing equipment both realistic and optimistic?

knows no one will take them, but he doesn't want to take the chance- doesn't want to tempt people

"He always thought of the sea as la mar which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her. Sometimes those who love her say bad things of her but they are always said as though she were a woman. Some of the younger fishermen, those who used buoys as floats for their lines and had motorboats, bought [29] when the shark livers had brought much money, spoke of her as el mar which is masculine. They spoke of her as a contestant or a place or even an enemy. But the old man always thought of

la mar vs. el mar=the sea as feminine meaning respect for it. Motorboats=

In what new ways does Santiago demonstrate his knowledge of the sea as he begins his journey home?

lashes the fish's mouth shut, so the water won't get into its mouth and weigh the boat down -goes home without a compass -forges food from the gulf's weed

"The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy_________ _______." (page 1)

loved him; they have a father-son bond

What qualities of the first shark are emphasized?

mako shark= worthy opponent -ruthless

Describe Manolin's character and discuss why he might behave as he does;.

more mature-responsible for his family- caring, concerned, and loyal towards Santiago

Why doesn't Santiago worry about talking to himself?

no one is there for him to bother -he knows he isn't crazy

At what time does the fish die? Do you suppose Hemingway chose this time for a special reason?

noon on the third day of the voyage -relating to the Bible

How is the shark's appearance announced?

out of no where -surprise -an hour after he took sail for home

In what ways are the negative qualities of Santiago emphasized?

poor, old, unlucky, worn-out, run down, less desirable

What do the details of Santiago's house reveal about him?

poor- religious for luck- pictures of his dead wife

What might the Portuguese men-of-war symbolize?

problems with nature and the conflict of beauty vs. treachery

What qualities of the fish are stressed by the description of his jump?

purple, the color of royalty and strength. huge, grace, beauty -queen/king fish

Describe Santiago's right and left hands.

right-string cut (stronger) left=cramp (weaker)

What bait does Santiago use?

sardines

What is Santiago's answer to his question about sin?

sin= kill for pride not a sin= to kill for food -puzzling question

What is the strangeness Santiago feels after harpooning the marlin?

something like this has never happened to him before -feels like a dream after battling so long and hard -the feeling like waking up and not knowing where you are

Why does Santiago say that the fish is more noble than he?

the fish is having a harder time surviving than he is -doesn't want the fish to know he's cramped

What effect does the tourist's comment have on the story's meaning?

the tourist didn't know what the fish was making it seem like his struggle wasn't important -made him wonder if it was worth going out

How has the attitude of the other fisherman towards Santiago changed?

them giving him more respect -proprietor pities him

What might Santiago's dreams show about his present situation?

to take a break from all of his pain into a peaceful dream -dreams of the sea and his arm falling asleep

How does Santiago know he has hooked a marlin?

took the bait at the depth of where a marlin would normally live -marlin also carefully nibbles the bait

Why, do you suppose, does Santiago dream about lions?

vigor, youth, freedom, strength -Manolin reminds him of his childhood- longing to be free- he might be ready to die

Why does Santiago wish the boy were there?

wants him to see how big the fish is -Santiago enjoys the boy's company -a lot of work -he's lonely and wants the boy's help

Does Santiago despair? How does his reactions help define the behavior of "code hero"?

yes -even though he is hopeless, he doesn't give up