The Old Man and the
Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Reader’s Response Questions Wynn
English 2007-2008
1.
Why
are there so many references to time and numbers in the first part of the
story? What does time represent to the
old man?
2.
What
sports do the old man and the boy talk about and what is the importance of all
the references to sports? Why is Joe
DiMaggio so important?
3.
What
are the old man’s dreams, and what do they mean?
4.
Why
does the old man row out so far, what consequences does that decision finally
have, and how does the old man view his actions?
5.
List
some details that point to the old man’s precision and care as a
fisherman. Explain what he means when he
says, “It is better to be lucky. But I
would rather be exact.”
6.
Tell
how each of the following reveals some aspect of the conflict between the man
and the fish: the old man’s physical condition, his feelings, his memories and
his dreams.
7.
Compare
the description of the first shark with the description of the marlin and the
old man’s attitude toward the two fish.
8.
How
does the old man first view the fish and what changes come over his view as the
story progresses?
9.
When
and why does the old man keep wishing the boy were there with him? Is he just feeling weak and inadequate or is
something more involved, and if so what?
10.
What
physical and mental resources does the old man summon to deal with the repeated
attacks of the sharks?
11.
In
the beginning, the old man is hoping for a big fish that will bring him a lot
of money. What is he hoping for at the
end?
12.
At
the end of the story, the reader learns the reactions of the old man, the boy,
the proprietor of the Terrace, and the two tourists. What is Hemingway’s purpose in presenting
these reactions?
13.
Why
does the story end with the old man dreaming about lions?
14.
What
is the difference between humiliation and humility? Which characterizes the old man at the end
and why?
15.
Is
the old man (