Study Questions - The Old Man and the Sea - Part II
1. How does Santiago feel about the fish? Show support for your answer.
Santiago loves and respects the fish. He held a deep reverence for it, but he also desires to kill it, for his well-being and pride as a fisherman. “‘Fish,’ he said, ‘I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends’” (Hemingway 54).
2. Why does the fish jump? (Think about why Hemingway chose to make him jump!)
The fish jumps to fill the pouches on his back with oxygen. This, however, also allows the author to give the reader a view of the fish. It allows you to see the marlin, and the author is able to describe it.
3. How might the flashback of the arm-wrestling match also be foreshadowing?…show more content… Santiago had moments, during the arm wrestling match, when he was overpowered, but he never gave up, and eventually won due to tenacity. The same can be said for how he handles the marlin. He never lets up, only taking breaks when it is imperative to his health.
4. Does Santiago make the right choice when he kills the marlin? Support your answer.
I believe that Santiago regrets the decision to kill the marlin himself, so no; I don’t think he made the right choice. He endangers himself, the boat, and in the end, he doesn’t even gain meat from the fish. In fact, he really just feeds sharks with it. It is apparent that he wishes he hadn’t killed the marlin in his return journey, as can be seen in the this passage, “I am sorry that I killed the fish though, he thought” (Hemingway 103), as well as this quote, “‘“Fish that you were. I am sorry that I went too far out. I ruined us both’” (Hemingway 115).
5. Compare and contrast the marlin and the mako…show more content… Notice the (stream of consciousness) discussion Santiago has with himself on pg 116. What do you think Hemingway means by the phrase, “You violated your luck…”?
I think he is saying that, luck aside, if you take something too far, there is no going back. Santiago sailed far out, and his return journey is too long to bring a fish home in one piece. I believe this is made clear in the second half of the section on page 116, “You violated your luck when you went too far outside” (Hemingway 116). Santiago, in the heat of the moment, let himself go too far, and must pay the consequences.
8. Find and cite another example of the stream of consciousness writing style from the text. Show support for your answer.
“‘You think too much, old man,’ he said aloud. But you enjoyed killing the dentuso, he thought. He lives on the live fish as you do. He is not a scavenger nor just a moving appetite as some sharks are. He is beautiful and noble and knows no fear of anything” (Hemingway 105-106). This is stream of consciousness because it relays Santiago’s thoughts as they occur.
9. What is the reaction of the boy upon Santiago's return?
The boy’s reaction is that of being overjoyed to see him back, as he was obviously worried about the man. He cries as he goes back to the town to retrieve
