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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Santiago consider as his principal friends on the ocean?

2. What does Santiago reply when the boy asks how much he suffered?

3. What does the fisherman say about the marlin to the boy?

4. How does Santiago justify killing the shark?

5. Why does Santiago wish the marlin would sleep?

Short Essay Questions

1. Show how Hemingway uses the literary form of personification as Santiago thinks about the great fish he has hooked.

2. Aside from the times that Santiago actually says, "I'm lonely", how does Hemingway emphasize that situation?

3. Why is it important for Santiago to see the fish he has caught?

4. Discuss the idea of luck in The Old Man and the Sea.

5. Why was it simple for Santiago to defeat the Negro of Cienfuegas when they had a rematch in the spring?

6. Santiago recalls that he used to sing on the turtle boats, whereas now he talks out loud to himself. When does he think the talking began?

7. What makes Manolin cry after he discovers the old man at his house?

8. Why can the old man not let go of the line as the big fish tows his skiff farther out to sea?

9. Describe Santiago's first sighting of the marlin.

10. There is something almost religious about Santiago's walk to his shack after landing with the bones of the marlin. Describe it.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the importance of self-confidence.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about loyalty. Use Manolin as your example.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about how Santiago took chances because of his bad luck.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample