The Old Man and the Boy Themes

Robert Ruark
This Study Guide consists of approximately 34 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Old Man and the Boy.

The Old Man and the Boy Themes

Robert Ruark
This Study Guide consists of approximately 34 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Old Man and the Boy.
This section contains 900 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy The Old Man and the Boy Study Guide

Coming of Age

The book starts out focusing on Bobby's early childhood, and although it is not told in strictly chronological order, it generally progresses toward adulthood. The first symbol of Bobby's increasing maturity is that he gets more powerful guns as he shows that he can handle them, and not kill someone in an accident. At the beginning, Bobby thinks that the Old Man knows everything about the world, yet Bobby wants to ignore the philosophy, and just concentrate on what he can learn about hunting and fishing. As he grows, Bobby is trusted with hunting on his own, and he starts doing some of the jobs that his grandfather typically does. His coming of age is especially symbolized when he climbs on the back of Aphrodite, the sea turtle, and rides her out to sea. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of sexual love, and Bobby rides the...

(read more)

This section contains 900 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy The Old Man and the Boy Study Guide
Copyrights
BookRags
The Old Man and the Boy from BookRags. (c)2024 BookRags, Inc. All rights reserved.