The old man and the sea 20 easy questions

Q. No. 01                                                        Main Points

Introduction:-            The old man and the sea is an interesting, inspiring and impressive novel of Hemingway. This representative novel won Noble Prize. The novel is simple in style and symbolic in nature. It shows man’s hidden qualities in the face of hardship. The hero of the novel, an old man, announces, “But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” It is a novel of character. Almost all the events of the novel revolve around the character of Santiago.

Background:-

            Santiago, and old fisherman, lived in a shack at the coast of the Gulf near Havana in Cuba. A young boy Manolin, also worked with him at his small boat. Once the old man could not catch a fish for forty days. Manolin’s parents shifted him to another boat. The old man had to fish alone. He could not catch a fish even for eighty-four days. The other fishermen considered him unlucky. Manolin however, loved respected and helped the old man. Santiago hoped that he could catch a big fish on the eighty-fifth day.

The Fist:-

                        On the eighty-fifth day went for out into the sea to try his luck. At noon he hooked a big fish. The fish started pulling the skiff away into the open sea. In spite of his best efforts, Santiago could not pull up the fish. He understood that he would get a tough time with the big fish. The fish was swimming deep down into the water. The sun set down but the fish was still swimming. The old man wished that he had the boy with him. At night he could not sleep.

Fight with the Big Fish:-

                        The next day the things were the same. The fish was swimming steadily. The old man was alone on the sea. He talked to himself. He did not lose heart. He said “Fish I will stay with you until I am dead”. The day passed and the second night came with no change in the behaviour of the fish. Santiago prayed to God for the death of the fish. On the third day, the old man was tired. He was feeling pain bravely. The fish began circling and the old man prepared himself for the final round. It was after a great struggle that he was able to kill the big fish. The old man himself felt faint and sick.

Fight with the Sharks:-

                                    The battle was not yet over. After an hour the first shark attacked the fish. Santiago killed the Shark but it went down with his harpoon and a big piece of the Marlin (the big fish). Then two more Sharks attacked. He killed them bravely but they tore away some quarter of the fish. The old man knew that there would more Sharks. But he decide that “But man is not made for defeat, he said, A man can be destroyed but not defeated”. The sun went down. At night the old man kept on beating the Sharks. But there was not much to be done.

The Result:-

                                    At dawn, he reached the shore with the skeleton of the big fish. He thought that he was beaten. But Manolin assured that the big fish had not beaten him. The old man fell asleep and dreamt of the lions and his past youth. Thus his adventurous three days at the sea had come to an end. The other fishermen were amazed at the big size of the fish Santiago had hooked.

Treatment: Moral:-

                                    Hemingway points are very simple. They are concerned with one or two main character, their disappointments and their struggle to achieve honour and dignity. Like his other novels, the old man and the sea also ends at a point where it begins. The old man loses his Marlin but what he achieves is far more valuable. He achieves dignity in our eyes. The novel is rightly considered the novel of character because it highlights the old man’s boundless resolutions and careless efforts.

Q. No. 02                    Symbolic Novel + Symbolism+ Success of failure.

Symbolism:-               The old man and the sea is an inspiring novel by Hemingway, the famous novelist and short story writer. It won him Noble Prize. Hemingway’s life was full of struggle. Most of his characters put in hard struggle to go through life. Life of man is beautifully symbol shed in this simple and short novel.

Setting of Novel:

                                    The setting of the novel is very simple. The hero of the novel, an old man, lives in a simple shack among other poor fisher men. This simple background is the symbol of humble situation in which a common man has to live. Big sea is the limitless universe that invites man’s courage. Man come and go but the sea of time remains here with its power. The man has to set foot on this sea of time and face the storms that arise in it. He must struggle with its waves to catch his big fish.

Santiago-Symbol of man:

                                    Santiago stand for man. As the sea of time is limitless, likewise is limitless the mid of man. H goes in the sea with great courage, faith and undefeatable determination. The skiff is the symbol of live. Man has to row this boat of life on the stormy sea of time. He is armed with harpoon, a gaff, oars his wisdom and skiff. This equipment are nothing as compared to the power of sea.

The Big Fish:

                                    The big fish is the symbol of man’s goal. Our big fish somewhere in the sea. We have to search for it for away from the shore. We are alone in our search for goal. We may wish that our Manolin had been with us but he is not there to help us out big fish pulls us away to test power. We have to fight hard tow our big fish. We must continue our struggle.

Manolin Symbol of Youth:-

                                    Manolin is the symbol of youth. The old man wished that Manolin were with him. He also dreams of lions. He wishes that he were young once again. But it is not the physical power that is necessary to face the hardship. It is the strong resolution. Man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but could not defeated.

Conclusion:

                                    We can rightly say that the old man and the sea is a symbolic novel, Santiago stands for man. Manolin stands for youth, the skiff for life, the big fish for the goal and the sea represents the permanent flow of time. The waves are the symbol of hardship. The sharks are enemy or the forces of nature. We can say that a man can be destroyed but not defeated.

Q No. 03.        Talk to himself, soliloquy, this aloud

                                    Talking to himself is a technique used by a writer to reveal the inner self of character. A character falls into talking to ‘self’ when her or she is alone. Talking to himself helps understand the inner working of the character’s mind and his future plans. The hero of the novel is also in habit of talking to himself. We see him talking to himself while on the sea hunting his big fish.

Santiago’s Loneliness:

                                    While hunting fish, the old man goes far out. He is alone in his small skiff. He feels loneliness. There is no one else to talk to. Thus he talk to himself to avoid his loneliness. He even talks to fish and birds. He knows that other people will think him crazy if they hear him talk aloud. He also thinks about the baseball and then talks aloud to the fish. He even addresses God and say aloud, God help him to take it. Then addressing the fish he says, “Eat it a little more, and eat it well.

  Talking a source of encouragements:

                                    Santiago knows that he is not physically as strong as he had been during his youth. He also knows the fish he had hooked was a big fish. He talks, “I wish I had the boy” it shows that he wants some outside help in his fight against the fish. Talking to himself give him courage, whenever, the old man faces uncertainty, he talks to himself. It provide him courage and confidence.

A source of consolation:

                                    The forces of nature are against the old man. The sea is vast and the old man is sitting in his small skiff without proper food without a friend or helper. He is unable to sea at night. He is not only fighting against the fish and forces of nature but also against the feeling of despair that arise in his own mind. He talks to comfort and console himself.

Challenge:

                                    After killing the fish, he had to face the sharks. The sharks attacked the big fish the old man fight against them bravely. He wanted courage and help. He address the sharks and said, “but a man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” He was reminding himself that the must fight suffer and courage, bravery and dignity.

Talking helps understand the character:

                                    This technique of soliloquy has been used by the writer to reveal the character of the old man. His thinking loud shows that he is man of strong resolutions and faith. He has strong faith in the dignity of man. The old man’s talking to himself is the only way a reader could judge his character.

Q No. 4.                      Emotional Attachment between Santiago and Manolin.

Manolin is needed:

                                    The old man and the sea is a short but powerfully effecting novel of Hemingway. This symbolic novel reveals the strong determination of the old man in fighting against the big fish and many sharks. During his struggle against the fish, the old man think, “I wish the boy were here, I wish I had the boy” The boy whom he wishes to be with is young Manolin. Whenever, the old man finds him in difficulty, he wishes that the boy had been with him. It shows deep emotional attachment between the boy and the man. This relationship between the two is very important.

Relationship between the two:

                                    In the very beginning of the novel we come to know that Manolin had been the old man’s student. He used to fish in the old man’s boat with him. When the old man could not catch a fish for forty days Manolin’s parents shifted him to another boat. Even the Manolin used to help Santiago. He inform him that he again wanted to go with him for fishing. The old man was his well-wisher. He told the Manolin, he should stay with the lucky boat. Manolin wanted to help the old man and learn from him. Their conversation shows the deep emotional attachment between the two.

Manolin a source of friendship:

                                    The old man’s wife had died and he was living alone in his small cottage. Manolin not only helped him in getting his boat ready for fishing but also brought him meals. He visited him and talked with him about the past. The old man needed company and friendship. The boy told Santiago that he should not lose heart. He remind him that he was a courageous man it deeply shows that both of them were emotionally attached to each other.

Emotional Attachment:

                                    The old man was in habit of thinking aloud. When the big fish was swam away with the boat, the old man wished that he had the boy with him. After his fighting against the Sharks he reached in his shack and fell asleep. Manolin came and started crying when he saw the hands of the old man. He told the other sailors, “Let no disturb him” He brought coffee for Santiago and encouraged him. When the old man said that the Sharks had beaten him the boy said, he did not beat you. Not the fish” The boy also said that they would again fish together. Santiago said that he was not lucky. The replied “The hell with luck, I will bring the luck with me”. It shows that both of them were deeply attacked to each other. This relationship of the youth and the Old Age is very impressive.

Q No. 05:        Describe the old man’s search for the fish.

Santiago’s Faith in Struggle:

                                    The old man and the sea is a Nobel Prize winning novel by Hemingway. It is a story of an old Cuban fisherman, Santiago. Aged and alone, he is unable to catch fish for eighty-four days. But he does not lose heart and hope. He has learned to battle with difficulties.

Preparation:

                                    Santiago was optimist. While talking with Manolin he said, “Eighty-five is the lucky number.” He decided to go far out in the sea to try his luck. He was sure to catch a fish on the eighty-fifth day. He said he might not be a strong as he thought but he knew many tricks. The boy wished him good luck.

Target Places for Search:

                                    He heard the sound of the flying fish leaving the water. The surface of the ocean was flat. He threw his baits into the sea.

Far out into the Ocean:

                                    The old man went far out into the ocean. He thought that every day was a new day. He saw bird circling around and searching for fish. He thought that his big fish must be somewhere.

The Search is Successful:

                                    Watching his lines, he saw one of the projecting sticks dip sharply. He prayed to God to help the marlin in eating the bait. It was perhaps some experienced fish, which was hesitating to eat the bait. After a little while, the marlin did eat the bait. The old man had finally hooked his ‘big fish’.

Q No. 06 Describe Santiago’s struggle with big fish. OR How did he succeed in killing his big fish?

Santiago’s Resolution:

                                    Santiago, an old fisherman, could not catch fish for eighty-four days. He succeed in hooking a big marlin on the eighty-fifth day. He could not bring it out. The fish just moved away with the old man holding his end of the line. “I wish I had the boy, said the old man.

The Fish tows away the Skiff:

                                    Four hours later the fish was still swimming steadily out to the sea. Then he looked behind and saw no sign of the shore. He expected that the fish might come up before sunset, at night, or at the sunrise. Actually he was preparing himself for a long struggle. At night the fish kept on sailing steadily. He again wished that he had the boy to help him and to see that. The old man wanted someone to help him.

Santiago’s Determination:

                                    After the sunrise, he said to the fish, “Fish I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you before this day ends.” He noticed that his hand was bleeding. He dipped his bleeding hand into the seawater. Then he ate small tuna to give himself strength and energy. He had decided to fight.

The fish shows itself:

                                    The old man tried to soften the fingers of his hand. After a while the fish came on the surface. It rose its full length from the water and then re-entered it. The old man noticed that it was two feet longer than the skiff. He had never seen such a big fish before. He prayed to God to help him in killing it.

The second nigh:

                                    It was once again getting dark and the fish was still moving steadily. The sun set down. To give himself more courage. He dreamt of long yellow beaches and lions. The old man knew that it would soon start fish started circling. It was away from the skiff. Santiago felt faint and dizzy. He tried to keep his senses and endure pain.

The Final Round:

                                    The fish came close and closer with each circle. The old man gained the line steadily. “Be calm and strong,” he said to himself. He called upon his hands, legs and head to hold up. At each turn he hoped to get it but it moved away. He lifted the harpoon as high as he could and drove it down with all his strength into the fish. It rose high out the water and then fell into it with a crash. It had died. The old man had won the battle with hi big fish. He was rightly proud of his skill and resolution.

Q No. 7           Describe the old man’s struggle with sharks OR How did the old man fight against the sharks to save his ‘big fish’? What was the result of the fight? OR But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” Discuss it with special reference to the old man’s fight with the sharks. OR Nothing is easy,” says the old man in the novel. This is what Hemingway wants us to learn that every man has his challenges in life to meet. Discuss.

The Keynote:

                                    The Old Man and The Sea is an inspiring impressive and interesting novel by Hemingway. While fighting against the sharks. The hero of the novel touches the keynote. He declares, “But a man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated”. During his fight with the sharks, to prove it that even in case of losing the battle, a man may gain a lot. The great thing is not the victory but the struggle. The old man struggled honourably and bravely.

The first attack of Sharks:

                                    Santiago succeeded in killed the big marlin after a continuous struggle for 48 hours. After one hour, the first shark attacked the big fish. It was a big shark. The old man prepared the harpoon and watched it. He was full of resolution. The shark hit the marlin. The old man hit the harpoon down into the shark’s head. The shark went down slowly but it had snapped about forty pounds of the marlin’s flesh. It also took the harpoon with it and snapped the ropes.

The second attach:

                                    After two hours, he saw two more sharks coming to him. He took up the oar with the knife lashed to it. One shark went under the skiff and pulled on the marlin. The second hit the marlin where it had already been hit. The old man drove the knife into the second shark’s eye. The shark went down slowly. After a big war with those two sharks both of them had torn away a quarter of the marlin’s flesh. The Old Man felt sorry for the marlin.

The Third attack:

                                    The next shark came after a while and hit the marlin. The old man drove the knife down into its brain. The shark snapped the knife as it rolled back. The old man was left with only the gaff. Just before sunset two more sharks attacked. He beaten them away as forcefully as he could. They slid down after snapping some pieces of flesh from the marlin. Anyhow, the old man was proud of his successful fight with the sharks.

Fight at night:

                                    More sharks came and attacked the marlin. The old man clubbed at their heads but he knew that he was fighting a los battle. He lost his club during the fight. He then took out the litter and beat the sharks with it. He fought desperately. When he reached the shore, his big wish was all but a skeleton.

                                    Although the sharks had deprived him from marlin. The old man was not defeated; at least it was not the fish that had beaten him. The old man had proved that it is not the victory that counts; it is the struggle.

Q. No. 08                    Discuss Santiago’s optimism OR Santiago is essentially and optimist. Discuss. Or Do you find the old man optimistic? Give examples from the novel.

                                    Santiago was an old man. Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same colour as the sea, confident and undefeated. Santiago’s hope ad confidence had never left him. He knew that he was a strange old man. Even because he knew many tricks. Thus in the very beginning of the novel we come to know that the old man is an optimist.

                                    Santiago could not catch as fish for eighty-four days. But he was neither disappointed nor hopeless. His optimism was clear when the remarked, wrong. Manolin rightly considered him the best fisherman. Even his dreams about the yellow beaches, lions. On the eighty-fifth day when Manolin asked him how he was feeling, the old man replied, “I feel confident today.” He was hopeful of catching a big fish. He was optimistic (Pur Umeed) that his bug fish must be somewhere, the old man hopefully said, “He can’t have gone. Christ knows he can’t have gone. When he realized that he would have to struggle hard against the fish, he decided to fight. He remarked, “But I will show him what a man can do”. He was ready to prove that he was a strange and optimistic old man.

                                    After killing the big fish, the old man knew that the battle was not yet over. Sharks attacked the big fish but he didn’t lose heart. He fought with the sharks and killed many of them. He remarked, “But a man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” He was still hopeful. And when it was all over and he was sleeping in his shack, he was still dreaming about the yellow beaches and lions.

                                    Thus we can rightly say that the old man was an optimist. He struggled with heroic spirit and dignity. The novel is full of hope, resolution and determination. It show the continuous struggle of the old man, It is, indeed, and optimistic piece of literature that present before us an optimist old man.

Q No. 09                     Discuss the old man and the sea as a parable (Tamseel Misal). OR Do you think that the novel is a parable? What moral truth does the novel describe? What are the moral values discussed in the novel.

What is a Parable?

                                    A parable is a story that is impressive in nature. It describes a religious or moral truth. The Old Man and the Sea is a fine example of parable. There are two currents of meaning running side by side in the novel. The novel is related about the sea, fishermen and fish. But it contains deeper meaning in it. It is in fact the story of man’s moral truth. During the war with sharks the old man declares, “But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”

The old man and sea is a Parable:

                                    The old man of the novel symbolically stands for Man. To a common reader it may appear that the sharks had beaten the old man. He could not save the huge marlin from them. But there is a lot of ‘gain’ in the ‘losses of the big fish. In his battle with the forces of nature, the old man is not defeated. He is winter who may not have taken anything but who comes with human dignity. He battles honourably, resolutely and confidently.

The Moral:

                                    The great thing is not the victory but the struggle. One may lose; what counts is how one behaves while one is being destroyed. The only failure is failing to try. The old Man keeps on trying resolutely. The winner sometimes takes nothing. The old man comes out of his conflict with no more that high human dignity and courage. Thus we can rightly say that the novel is a parable. We are all fishermen, searching for our Big Fish, trying to overpower it and then struggling against sharks-the forces of evil to save our marlin.

Q No. 10                     Write a critical appreciation of the novel The Old Man and The Sea OR Critically evaluate the novel.

I it Pessimistic? (Tareek Pehlo Dekhnay Wala):

                                    Some critics say that the novel is pessimistic. It presents before us a very poor and aged fisherman who is unable to make his both ends meet. Without the help of Manolin, the old man might have died. He lives in a humble shack and has no money to by his food. Even his companions make fun of him. When he finally hooks the bigh marlin, it takes him into the open sea. When he came back with his fish, the attacking sharks reduce it to a skeleton. Thus his entire struggle takes him nowhere.

The true yardstick:

                                    The arguments of these critics seem logical and convincing. But the fact is that they judge things from their appearance. The great thing is not the victory, but the struggle. One may lose; what matters is how one behaves while one is losing. The only failure is failing to try.

Symbolic:

                                    Actually, the novel is highly symbolic. Its theme is Man’s continuous struggle against the forces of nature. The writer has shown the dignity of Man under adverse circumstances. The old man struggles againt the big fish and says; “I ‘will show him what a man can do and what he endures.” He is confident and resolute.

Heroic struggle:

                        His battle is not yet over. The sharks attack the marlin. The old man fights against them honourably. He says, “But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”

Man’s Dignity:

                                    The sharks deprive him of his hard-earned fruit. But they can’t defeat his faith, courage and resolution. He is proud of his fight. He does whatever is possible to save his marlin. He behaves with courage and endurance. The great human virtue is the dignified behaviour while fighting even a losing battle. Santiago is a winner who may not have taken anything but who comes out of his conflict with high human dignity. Thus we can rightly say that the novel is piece of literature. It is full of hope and optimist. The theme is universal. The language is very simple, Events are logical and convincing.

Q No. 11   Justify the end of the novel. Do you find the end of the novel convincing? If yes, give reason.

Success of Struggle:

                                    Some critics say that the end of the novel is not justified. The struggle of the hero should not have ended in smoke. But most of the readers and critics find the ending logical. His heroes face death and destruction with courage and dignity. Victory in itself doesn’t matter: it is the struggle that counts Fighting against the sharks, the hero declares, “But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated. “ This could not have proved true if the old man had not lost the big fish. Hence the end is convincing, logical and justified.

Man’s Fight:

                                    The old man symbolically stands for Man. The writer has shown the continuous struggle of Man with the forces of nature through the old fisherman. Man has ever fought against the hostile forces of nature. Sometimes he succeeds in defeating these force; sometimes he is beaten. The winner may not take anything like the old fisherman but he comes out of his conflict (Kasmkash) with high human dignity. So does happen with the old man. He can’t save his marlin from the sharks but he enjoys his fight with them. He loses his marlin but still retains his dignity and resolution. This is what the writer wants to prove. It could only be proved with the ending that he has given to the novel.

Logical:

                                    A part from the symbolic novel, practically the loss of the marlin is necessary. When the old man killed the marlin, he was far out into the sea. As the blood of the marlin spread, it was but natural for the sharks to pick up the smell and attack the marlin. It was impossible for the old man to row his boat as fast to reach the shore. Sharks had more than enough time been quite unnatural, unconvincing, and illogical if he had been able to reach the shore with his marlin safe and sound.

Conclusion:

                                    The dignified struggle of the Old Man is the central idea of the novel. Success of failure doesn’t matter. Thus, practically, symbolically, and naturally this can be the only convincing and logical ending. The writer is fully justified in giving this ending to the novel.

Q No. 12                     What is the importance of dreams in the novel? OR Write a note on the old man’s dreams. OR Why does the old man dream of the lions and yellow beaches.

                                    The Novel is highly symbolic. The hero of the novel sees lions and golden beaches in his dreams. Let us discuss the importance of his dreams.

Dreams about Lions:

                                    The Old Man could not catch a fish for eighty-four days. At night he slept in his shack. He dreamed of places and of lions on the beach. They played like young cats and he loved them and he loved the boy. Actually, both the lions and the boy stand for Youth and strength. The old man wanted to get back his youth and strength. His dreaming about lions provided his confidence. On the second night of his heroic fight with the fish, he fell asleep and once again dreamed of lions, “He began to dream of the long yellow beach and he saw the first of the lions come down onto it in the early dark and then the other lions came and he waited to see if there would be more lions and was happy.” Under pressure and pain, the old man once again longed for his youth and happiness.

                                    In the end of the novel the old man was asleep and dreaming about the lions. It showed that in spite of the loss of the big fish, the old man still retained his confidence and resolution. He had decided to fight life and its hardships. For this he needed youth and strength. He dreamed about lions to fulfil his hidden desire of getting back his youth so that he could fight against the heavy odds of life.

Dreams about Beaches and Islands:

                                    The old man’s dreams about the golden beaches, high mountains, and the white peaks of strength. He wanted to attain power and to rule over vast areas consisting of the sea, the mountains and the islands. Thus it is clear that the old man had a strong desire to regain his youth, strength and energies to face the hardships of life more bravely and more powerfully. The dreams of the old man also show that Hemingway was a master of human psychology. He knew what was happening in the old man’s mind. The writer has shown his deep insight (Baseerat Kirdar) into human psychology. He can peep (Jhankna) into the old man’s mind and see the inner forces and desires working there.

Q No. 13 What is the importance of the past memories in the novel? OR What role do the memories of the past play in the novel.

Memory of the Old Big Fisht:

                                    Talking with young Manolin, the old man asked him if he remembered how a big fish had once nearly torn the boat into pieces. Manolin still remembered how the old man had clubbed the big fish which might have killed him. Then the old man talked about Africa, lions and baseball. All these memories of the old man about his youth show that he was preparing himself for some critical contest.

Memory of A Male and A Female Marlin:

                                    During his struggle with the big fish he had much time to think and recall. He remembered the time he had hooked a female marlin. The male had stayed with her. Then he jumped high into the air beside the boat to see where the female was. Here the old man was recalling his adventures with the boy. Soon after this he said aloud, “I with the boy was here.” He wished that the boy had been once again by female marlin. The thought of the boy symbolically stood for his youth. It encouraged him in struggle against the big fish.

Memory of the Hand Game:

                                    On the second evening of his struggle with the fish, Santiago was tired out. He was much worried. He was left by himself on the vast sea with the fish. To give himself more confidence, he remembered how he had played the hand game with the great Negro. They had gone one day and one night with their elbows on a chalk line on the table. Each one was trying to force the other’s hand down onto the table. He defeated the Negro after 24 hours. He was called the champion. The memory of his victory gave him great confidence. It refreshed his resolution.

                                    Thus the memories of the past played an important role in providing strength and courage to the old man. While under pressure, the old man recalled the past event to give himself more confidence. Hemingway has shown his firm grip not only on the events but also on the hero’s mind. He has communicated his knowledge of human psychology to the reader skilfully.

Q No. 14                     Discuss Santiago as code hero OR Compare and contrast the code hero and the Hemingway Hero. Write an exhaustive note on the moral values of the Old Man.

Hemingway Hero:

                                    The heroes we meet in Hemingway’s stories and novels can be divided into two categories, the Hemingway Heroes and the Code Heroes. Energetic, educated, intelligent, and sensitive youths were wonder struck and the ruthless killing in the World war. Hemingway himself took part in both the great wars. His stories are based on his personal experiences.

Code Hero:

                                    The code hero is usually an old and experienced man. He has become what he had to become or what he should have become. Santiago is an old Cuban fisherman. Wilson, Romero and Santiago belong to his class. Santiago is an old Cuban fisherman. He is not in search of any code of life, rather he has realized the code of life. He is dignified in his behaviour. He says about himself, “I may not be as strong as I think. But I know many tricks and I have resolutions.” He show strong resolution and confidence in all circumstances like other code heroes.

Sets Standards:

                                    The code hero, or the tutor as he may be called, sets standard of behaviour of others. He sticks to his principles at all costs. Santiago struggles honourably with the big fish. In spite of his old age, hunger, wounds (               ), and the knowledge that he was ultimately bound to lose his marlin to the sharks, he does not let it escape. He defends his big fish against the sharks with high sense of honour and dignity. He very confidently declares, “But a man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” Thus he sets a code of conduct and ethics for others to follow and act upon.

Regains Dignity:

                                    After a hard struggle for three days, Santiago is as empty-handed as he had been on the eighty-fifth day when he set out for hunting his big fish. He has taken nothing out of his struggle. He still retains his dignity. He is satisfies because he had done whatever was humanly possible. He did not companions. It’s not victory that is important; it’s the struggle. True failure is failing to try. The old man is still resolute, confident and hopeful. He is the best example of the Code Hero.

Q No. 15 Write a character sketch of Santiago. Was he a religious person? Discuss Santiago as the hero of The Old Man and the Sea. OR Discuss Santiago as a Christ figure.

                                    Santiago is the hero of the novel The Old Man and The Sea by Hemingway. Hemingway’s heroes are simple, manly, fighting, and resolute. Santiago was an old Cuban fisherman. He lived in a small cottage near Havana. He contested heroically with his big fish and the attacking sharks. We may study his impressive and inspiring character under the following beadings.

Appearance:

                                    Santiago was thin and gaunt (Dubla Patla) with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck. There were brown blotches on his cheeks. His Hands had the deep-creased scars (Zakham ka Nishan) from handing the heavy fish on the cords (Rasi, Dori). Everything about him was old except his eyes, and they were the same colour as the sea. They were cheerful and undefeated.

His Loneliness:

                                    Santiago’s wife had died and he was living alone. In order to overcome his feeling of loneliness alone, He had formed the habit of talking to himself. He thought aloud and talked to himself to encourage, console, and comfort himself. He talked to the sea, birds and fish.

His Love and Compassion:

                                    He was loving and kind by nature. The other fishermen made fun of him but he didn’t mind. He was very loving to young Manolin. He felt sorry for the small birds that could not catch flying fish. He asked a small bird to take rest in his boat. He thought that fish were man’s brothers. He loved the marlin and felt sorry for it.

His Sense of Religion:

                                    He was not particularly a religious man. However, he was a true believer in God. He requested God to help the fish in eating the bait. When he was tired after a great struggle with the big marlin, he prayed to God to help him killing it. He promised to make a pilgrimage if he could catch the fish. He also promised that he would say then Our Fathers and ten Hail Marys.” I am not religious,” he said. “But I will say ten Our Fathers and ten Hail Marys that I should catch this fish, and I promise to make pilgrimage to Virgin De Cobra if I catch him. That is a promise.” He was very honest. 

Q No. 16 Write a Character sketch of Manolin:

                        Manolin is the second important character in the novel The Old Man and the sea. He was a young boy.

Loving and Considerate:

                                    Manolin was Santiago’s student. He respected and loved the old man. He was very grateful to him as he had once saved his life from a big fish. He wanted to serve him in some way. When his parents sent him to another boat, he didn’t like it. He wanted to stay with the old man. He helped the old man and brought meals for him. On the eighty-fourth day he brought meals for him. On the eighty-fourth day he brought supper for the old man and said, “keep the blanket around you. You’ll not fish without eating while I’m alive.” These remarks of Manolin show how loving and considerate he was. He also thought that he should get Santiago another shirt and a jacket and some sort of shoes and another blanket. When the old man landed after spending three days at the sea and fell asleep in his hut. Manolin looked after him. He felt extremely sorry for him.

The only source of Friendship:

                                    Manolin was the only source of friendship for the old man. He helped him in carrying his gaff, harpoon, sail and mast. He also helped him in hauling up the skiff. He brought food, coffee and beer for him. He encouraged him in his misery. The old man loved to talk with him about baseball. He considered him his son. Manolin also considered the old man his adopted father.

His estimate of the Old man:

                                    Manolin had very high opinion about Santiago. He considered him the best fisherman. When the old man said that there were others who were better than he was. Manolin said, “ There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you.” His remarks made the old man happy. Mandolin knew that the old man was very skilful and master of his profession. He was confident that the old man could handle even the largest fish.

Symbolic Importance:

                                    Manolin is symbolically very important in the novel. He stands for Youth. When the old man hooked the big fish and it sailed out with the old man’s skiff, he wished, “I with the boy were here. I wish I had the boy. “Actually, the old man recalled the days of his youth. He longed to get back his youth and the energies that he possessed. Thus the boy helped him in man felt that h teas beaten, Manolin encouraged him. We can rightly say that Manolin plays very important role in the novel. It is through him that the character of the old man is revealed to the reader.

Q. No. 17                    Compare Santiago and Manolin

                                    The Old Man and The Sea is a novel of character. It highlights the character of Santiageo, an old Cuban fisherman. Manolin is his student who had been fishing with in his boat. His parents shifted him to another boat when the old man could not catch a fish for forty days. Manolin loves and respects the old man.

                                    Actually, there is no comparison between the two characters. Manolin is much younger than the old man is. He stands in no comparison to his teacher. He loves the old man, but he needs a lot of experience and training to become a skilled fisherman. He is not happy in the other boat. He wants to remain with Santiago so that he could learn from him.

                                    The old man, on the other hand, is much more experienced and advanced in age. He has gone through fire and water to gain matchless experience. Manolin has to travel a long distance to realize what life is. But the old man has become what he should have become. We can rightly say that Manolin is in the workshop whereas the old man is the engineer. Both of them are considerate.

                                    Manolin is loyal to his teacher. He wants to help and serve him. He firmly announces, “The hell with luck. I’ll bring the luck with me.” On his part, Santiago is also his well wishing patron. Symbolically, Santiago stands for Old age and Manolin stands for Youth. In his old age loneliness, the old man draws friendship and company from Manolin. If Santiago is good teacher, Manolin is a good learner. We can rightly say that both the characters are real and life-like in their behaviour, actions, and re-actions.

Q No. 18                     Is the ocean in the novel a living being? OR Do you think that the ocean in the novel is also a living character like Santiago?

                                    Santiago refers to the ocean as he in the novel. He takes it as a living being. This Nobel Prize winning novel contains very little outside activity and very few characters. It is a symbolic novel. One of the main characters is the Ocean on which the whole action takes place. It acts as a living being. It is not only a living character; it also provides means of life to countless creatures living in it, and human beings living on its shores.

                                    The ocean is Santiago’s friend and source of satisfaction for him. It is living with millions of creatures living in it. The sea offers food and company to them. Santiago’s wife had died and he felt lonely. On the vast surface of the sea, he had no one around him. It was the ocean that provided him means of life and company. It sometimes behaved in friendly manner and sometimes in an unfriendly manner. In both the cases the ocean behaved as living being. So, the ocean in the novel is rightly considered as living being.

Q No. 19 Do you consider The Old Man and The Sea a tragedy? OR Discus the fish as a hero.

                                    A tragedy is a tale of fears, recital of death, and description of deadly deeds. It is a story of suffering and sorrow. Judged from that angle, “The Old Man and The Sea does not come up to the definition of tragedy. Neither the events are catastrophic nor is the language sublime. At the end of the novel, the old man is not only alive, but he is also dreaming of the lions and yellow beaches. Anyhow, tragedy does not necessarily mean the physical death of the hero. Let us see whether the miserable plight of the old man and the events of the novel arouse feeling of sympathy and pity in the minds of the readers. The vast sea, a weather-beaten old man and no one around arouse feeling of fear and pity. The fish is constantly dragging the boat. The old man has run short of food and water. Not a single soul is there to help, comfort, appreciate and encourage him. Isn’t all this tragic? Yes it is.

                                    Judged from another angle, the novel is real tragedy. For whom? For the big fish marlin. The marlin is not an ordinary fish. He is a real hero. He is hooked, but he fights heroically. He tows the boat steadily and confidently for two days. The fight the marlin puts in against the old man definitely wins our praise and sympathy.

                                    The way both of them struggle against each other show the unflinching faith of Man as well as the honorable and dignified struggle of the Fish. Both of them are heroes. The fish was bound to lose before Man. It would not have been tragedy. But both the heroes are beaten, rather humiliated by sharks. Thus, “The Old Man and the Sea” is symbolically a great tragedy. It results in the death of a hero-the fish. The other hero feels humiliated at the hands of luck. He cries: They beat me Manolin, he said, ‘They truly beat me.’ The old man pays tribute to the courage of the Fish and feels sorry for it. “I am sorry that I killed the fish, though, he thought.” Never have a seen a greater, a more beautiful, or a calmer or nobler thing than you, brother. Both the contenders knew the rules of the game and behaved in a dignified manner. We feel for both of them. We can call the novel a tragedy.

Q No. 20                     Describe the adventures of the old man at the sea.

                                    Hemingway was a great adventurer. The old man and the Sea is full of adventure. Perhaps, Hemingway himself is the Old man busy in adventures. May be, the old man stands for Man, whose whole life is full of adventures. Physically and symbolically, the novel is full of adventure. After 84-Luckless days, the old man decides to go far out into the sea on the 85^th day. He wants to try his luck. He is optimistic when he says, “My big fish must be somewhere. “ It was a real adventure to go so far out into the sea where he could not see the green of the shore. The old man hooked a tuna, had an interesting interaction with a small and delicate bird, and talked to himself. His adventure became full of suspense when the big marlin started dragging the skiff. The adventure attained its height when the big marlin started dragging the boat. It was something unusual and extra-ordinary. The old Man’s shoulders and hands were cramped. He wished that he had the boy with him to share his adventure and to appreciate his struggle. Alone on the surface of the sea, bound in an adventure with the big fish, Santiago remembered the adventures of his past life. He remembered how he had killed a female fish, and how the male had stayed with her. Santiago also remembered his fight with the Negro. During his sleep, he dreamed of lions, Canary Islands and yellow beaches. It was all very adventurous.

                                    The old Man had fight desperately against the marlin. He was tired. The moments of struggle between the two are full of suspense and adventure. No one could predict what would be the result of the fight between the two giants. When the sharks attack the marlin, fight of the old man with the sharks is ideal adventure of adventures. Santiago had shown what a man can do and what a man endures. But now was the real test. He had to fight against the forces of nature-the sharks. They wanted to deprive him of his hard-earned reward. It is here that Santiago touches the keynote of the novel. He declares, ‘But man is not made for defeat’ “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” He was determined to fight. He is hopeful of his victory. He encourages himself and fights against the attacking sharks.

                                    The adventures of the old man end at the loss of the big marlin. He is as empty handed when he comes back. Success of failure does not matter. It is the struggle for success that anything but who comes out of his conflict with high human dignity.