The Old Man and the Sea.

Supplementary questions

Numbers in parentheses are the page numbers for the book with the Fish cover.

 

Use whatever ethical means necessary to answer these questions.
  1. Who wears the Fisherman's ring?
  2. Describe the decorations that adorn the walls of Santiago's modest house (section 1)
  3. What does Santiago promise to do should he catch the fish?
  4. Find out significant information about St. James the Apostle.
  5. How long does the fight with the fish last?
  6. How many sharks does Santiago Kill?
  7. Read and comment on the second paragraph on page 107 (last paragraph on 79)
  8. What are the "Stations of the Cross"? Find out, read them carefully, then reread from page 121 (page 90, second paragraph) to the end of the book. Make comparisons of the closing passage of TOMatS and the Stations.
  9. Find information on the literary device known as the "Christ Figure"

Now, revisit the quote from your section 1 questions:

Ernest Hemingway said the following in 1952 about the book The Old Man and the Sea:

There isn't any symbolism. The sea is the sea. The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish. The sharks are sharks, no better, no worse. All the symbolism people say is s**t. What goes beyond is what you see beyond when you know.

10. Do you believe Hemingway, or is he misleading you? Explain.

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