The Old Man and the Sea Literary Qualities

This Study Guide consists of approximately 73 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Old Man and the Sea.

The Old Man and the Sea Literary Qualities

This Study Guide consists of approximately 73 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Old Man and the Sea.
This section contains 174 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)
Buy The Old Man and the Sea Study Guide

Hemingway focuses on Santiago's consciousness in this quest story. Very much in the way that a traditional soliloquy or an interior monologue serves to reveal character, this novella functions as one long exploration of the old man's character.

Hemingway's symbolism suggests that Santiago is a Christ-figure. After the sharks attack his fish, for example, Santiago says, "Ay"; Hemingway writes that "there is no translation for this word and perhaps it is just a noise such as a man might make, involuntarily, feeling the nail go through his hands and into the wood." At the end of the book, Santiago struggles up the hill with the mast on his shoulder, a symbolic echo of Christ carrying the cross. Many "religious" images contribute to this symbolic pattern, while other patterns of symbolism center on baseball and dreams of youth.

The book's simple plot contains some element of suspense...

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This section contains 174 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)
Buy The Old Man and the Sea Study Guide
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The Old Man and the Sea from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.