The Old Man and the Sea Questions:
1.
p.16- Why do they go through the motions of pretending?
2.
Why is the old man optimistic? Is the boy? Is the boy for the old man?
3.
p.18-What does it mean that anyone can be a fisherman in May?
4.
p.25-What is the significance of the lions at the beach? Why is he only dreaming of them?
5.
Christ-like imagery
6.
p.29-Who do the birds parallel and why?
7.
p.29-How is the ocean described?
8.
p.29-30-What is the difference of opinion of the sea between old/young men?
Why is this significant?
9.
Fathoms=6 feet
10.
p.35-36-Portugeuse aqua malas versus turtles. Why does the old man like one and not the other?
11.
p.37-Why does the old man feel a connection to the turtles?
12.
p.40-What does Santiago say he was born for? Do you agree/disagree? Why?
13.
p.41-Begin talking to the fish
14.
p.43-Again discussion of luck. What is luck? Why does the old man believe in it?
15.
p.45-What is the fish doing? Has Santiago’s luck changed?
16.
p.46-Define endure . Who is enduring , man or fish?
17.
Describe the struggle between man and nature.
18.
p.47-The fight is even.
19.
p.48-49-Why must the fish be male? Why does Santiago feel sorry for the fish? What does this say about him?
20.
Why does the old man keep wishing for the boy to be with him? What does the boy provide the old man with?
21.
p.52-Not both can live; one must die
22.
p.54- What is the bird described symbolic of?
23.
p.56-57-What happens with the old man and the fish? Symbolism of the old man as a Christ-like figure.
24.
p.58-Left hand versus right hand
25.
p.59-What is the old man’s connection with the fish? Why is this significant?
26.
p.61-“No man is ever alone on the sea”-Meaning? –Importance?
27.
p.64-What is the importance of the old man’s will and intelligence?
28.
p.65-What issue presents itself? Lack of water.
29.
p.66-Enduring of man; relate to quote that man can be defeated but not destroyed.
30.
p.66-68- Why is the old man thinking of other things? What will the distraction do for him?
31.
p.68-What would sharks do?
32.
p.70-What does the arm wrestling battle show? What does it symbolize?
33.
p.71-Left hand versus right hand symbolism
34.
p.74-List the advantages and disadvantages of the old man versus the fish; who has the upper hand?

35.
p.75-Why aren’t people worthy to eat the fish?
36.
p.77-What is the danger in not sleeping for the old man?
37.
What does Santiago call mankind’s “brothers”? Fish Why does he characterize the fish as this?
38.
p.81-What does it mean the right hand is used to punishment? What does this symbolize?
39.
p.81-Lion’s dream
40.
p.83-Wishing for the boy? Why?
41.
p.84-Pain does not matter to a man (Christ-like)
42.
p.86-What’s “the fight” mentioned at the top of the page?
43.
p.87-What is wrong with the old man
44.
p.88-Man versus nature
45.
p.89THIRD turn he sees the fish (religion)
46.
p.90-why is the old man sweating?
47.
p.91-Head versus heart, what is the symbolism?
48.
p.92-CODE HERO??
49.
p.92-What does the struggle between the fish and Santiago look like? Who’s winning?
50.
What does it mean to suffer like a fish? Like a man?
51.
p.93-Perserverance
52.
p.94-Fish’s death
53.
p.96-Man versus nature is over
54.
p.97-Weight of the fish. Joe DiMaggio would be proud.
55.
p.99-Parts of his body as entities. What does this symbolize?
56.
p.100-Mako shark
57.
p.101-Luck
58.
p.102-103-What are the sharks doing? What could this symbolize?
59.
p.105-What is a sin? What theme does this go with?
60.
p.105-Bottom question in the book. “If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him.
Or is it more?”
61.
p.106-What is coming? What do they symbolize?
62.
p.107-Christ-like imagery
63.
p.107/108-What sharks are these? What do they symbolize?
64.
Describe the characterization of different sharks. Why is this significant?
65.
p.110-What makes everything wrong? Why?
66.
p.111-Why does he wish it were just a dream? What occurs in Santiago’s dreams? What’s the connection?
67.
p.115-What’s the new fight to the death between man and nature?
68.
p.117-What keeps the old man going? Why?
69.
p.119-What is the fate of the fish? What’s the old man’s reaction?
70.
p.121-Christ-like imagery
71.
p.125-Describe the interaction between the old man and Manolin.
72.
p.127-Dreaming of lions. What could this symbolize?

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Vocab in a neat index card format --- interactive - http://quizlet.com/2985560/the-old-man-and-the-seavocabulary-flash-cards/