Brief Questions in “The Old Man and the Sea”

Answer

The Old Man and the Sea

• What was Hemingway’s peculiar habit of reading?

Ans: He used to read at night under a kerosene lantern in his tent.

• When did Hemingway win the Nobel Prize?

Ans: He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.

• When did Hemingway survive a plane crash?

Ans: He survived a plane crash in Africa in 1954.

• What kind of novel is The Old Man and the Sea?

Ans: It is a novella, a long short story without chapters.

• What is the main theme of The Old Man and the Sea?

Ans: It shows man’s struggle with nature and his courage to endure.

• What is the meaning of Santiago?

Ans: Santiago means Saint James, a fisherman in Christian tradition.

• How many days does Santiago fail to catch fish?

Ans: He fails to catch fish for eighty-four days.

• Who is Joe DiMaggio?

Ans: Joe DiMaggio was a famous American baseball player.

• How does Santiago set his lines on the eighty-fifth day?

Ans: He sets his lines at different depths with fresh bait.

• When does the marlin nibble at the sardines?

Ans: At noon on the eighty-fifth day of fishing.

• How does Santiago know the marlin is hooked?

Ans: He feels a strong pull on the line and knows it is hooked.

• What is meant by “the rapier bill”?

Ans: It means the marlin’s long, sword-like upper jaw.

• What does Santiago accuse himself of?

Ans: He accuses himself of treachery for making the fish suffer.

• What is the choice of the old fisherman?

Ans: He chooses to go far out to find a great fish.

• How does Santiago first see the marlin?

Ans: He sees it bright in the sun, two feet longer than his boat.

• How does Santiago capture the great marlin?

Ans: He drives his harpoon into the marlin’s heart and kills it.

• How does Santiago reflect upon sin?

Ans: He wonders if killing the fish is a sin, but accepts it as his work.

• What weapons does Santiago use against the sharks?

Ans: He uses a harpoon, knife, oars, club, and tiller.

• What does the marlin’s skeleton symbolize for Santiago?

Ans: It symbolizes his heroic effort and true manhood.

• How does Santiago resemble Christ?

Ans: He falls five times carrying his mast, like Christ carrying the cross.

• How does Manolin console Santiago after his defeat?

Ans: He says he will fish again with Santiago and bring new tools.

• In what sense is Santiago seen as triumphant?

Ans: The villagers admire his courage, and Manolin calls him a victor.

• How long is the marlin and who measures it?

Ans: A fisherman measures it, and it is eighteen feet long.

• What does the sea symbolize in the story?

Ans: The sea symbolizes life, struggle, and Santiago’s loneliness.

• What is the boat made of?

Ans: The boat is made of wood.

• Which prize did Hemingway win for this book?

Ans: He won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

• How does Santiago kill the Mako shark?

Ans: He strikes it with his harpoon, and it sinks with it.

• Who is the protagonist of the novel?

Ans: Santiago, the old Cuban fisherman, is the protagonist.

• What is the most tragic moment of Santiago’s life?

Ans: When he sees his marlin reduced to a skeleton by sharks.

• What is “The Virgin of Cobre”?

Ans: It is a holy figure worshipped in Cuba.

• What is the Gulf Stream?

Ans: It is a strong sea current near the north coast of Cuba.

• What does the sea stand for in the novel?

Ans: It stands for human life and its endless challenges.

• What was the length of the fish Marlin?

Ans: The marlin was eighteen feet long from head to tail.

• Who is Manolin?

Ans: Manolin is a young boy and Santiago’s devoted helper.

• What does Santiago dream of?

Ans: He dreams of lions playing on the beaches of Africa.