The Old Man and the Sea Question 7

Most novels we have to read for English tend to be a tad boring.  Surprisingly, I enjoyed reading The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.  Hemingway was able to engage me by his writing techniques, the words he used and giving information. 

In the novel, Hemingway uses dialogue in different scenarios.  Santiago has conversations with Manolin but also with himself.  This allows you to see how he is feeling. I think it would be a good thing to keep you sane by talking to yourself.  Most people would think you were crazy. “’If the others heard me talking out loud they would think I am crazy,’ he said aloud.  ‘But since I am not crazy, I do not care.’”  Santiago does not think he is crazy and I don’t think so either.  Talking to himself helped him to stay with the marlin and not give up.  

Throughout the novel, Ernest Hemingway threw in Spanish words.  The words are italicized in the sentences.  You have to use context clues to figure out what they mean.  There are around twenty or so italicized Spanish words.  A couple of them are “dentuso” (Hemingway 103), “dorado” (Hemingway 74), “guano” (Hemingway 15) and “juegos” (Hemingway 68).  “Dentuso” means shark, “dorado” means dolphin, “guano” translates to shack and “juegos” means games.  So along with reading a classic, you are getting a Spanish lesson.

The last thing is, is Hemingway gives us tidbits of information.  “A turtle’s heart will beat for hours after he has been cut up and butchered” (Hemingway 37).  I had no clue that was true until I read this sentence.  “Shark liver oil was very good against all colds and grippes and it was good for the eyes” (Hemingway 37).  I am definitely going to have to find some shark liver oil. 

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.