The Old Man and The Sea : Book Review
Short Questions
1. Who is the main character in The Old Man and the Sea?
Answer: The old man, Santiago.
2.What is the name of the young apprentice?
Answer: Manolin.
3.How many days was the old man unable to catch fish?
Answer: Eighty-four days.
4.What fish does the old man hook on the eighty-fifth day?
Answer: A marlin.
5.Where does the story take place?
Answer: Cuban waters.
6.What sport did Hemingway enjoy, like the old man?
Answer: Baseball.
7.During which war was Hemingway injured?
Answer: First World War.
8.What injured Hemingway in Italy?
Answer: Shrapnel.
9.What is the writing style of Hemingway called?
Answer: Simple and pithy.
10.What does the marlin symbolize in the story?
Answer: A noble struggle.
11.Who forces Manolin to work with another fisherman?
Answer: His parents.
12.What does the old man fight after catching the marlin?
Answer: Sharks.
13.When was The Old Man and the Sea published?
Answer: 1952.
14.What theme does the novel focus on?
Answer: Struggle against defeat.
15.How does the reviewer describe the old man’s strength?
Answer: Formidable.
Long Questions
1. Why did the old man decide to sail farther than other fishermen?
Answer: He wanted to catch a big fish to end his bad luck. He believed going farther would bring him success.
2.What is the relationship between the old man and Manolin like?
Answer: They share a warm and caring bond. Manolin respects and supports the old man.
3.How does Hemingway’s life connect to the story?
Answer: He fished in Cuban waters and loved baseball. His experiences of struggle are reflected in the novel.
4.Why did the novel become popular after World War II?
Answer: People related to the story of endurance and triumph. It gave hope after the destruction of wars.
5.What makes Hemingway’s writing style special?
Answer: He uses simple, short sentences with deep meaning. Readers find new ideas every time they read it.
6.Why was the reviewer unimpressed when he first read the novel?
Answer: He was young and didn’t understand the story. Later, he found it moving and meaningful.
7.What happens to the old man after his struggle with the marlin?
Answer: He is very tired and near death. But his story lives on in the village.
8.How are the old man and the marlin similar in the story?
Answer: Both fight bravely for their lives. They share a noble struggle against destruction.
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