Brief Questions in “The Old Man and the Sea”

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.

Download Options

Download as PDF

The Old Man and the Sea

Contents

Brief Questions in “The Old Man and the Sea”

Download Options

From this writer

Ernest Hemingway

More Notes