The Old Man and the Sea Group

Question:

racegirl
racegirl
Student
High School - 12th Grade

How does the author use descriptive language and other literary devices to create the setting in The Old Man and the Sea? Quote two brief examples.

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Posted by racegirl on Sunday November 11, 2007 at 9:45 AM and tagged with setting, the old man and the sea.

Answers:


  1. malibrarian Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In describing Santiago's boat, Hemingway says,

    "The sail was patched with flour sacks and, furled, it looked like the flag of permanent defeat."  Beautiful but sad imagery to show Santiago's poverty.

    Concerning the climate/location, we get a description of Santiago himself:

    "The brown blotches of the benevolent skin cancer the sun brings from its reflection on the tropic sea were on his cheeks."

    And rather than coming out and saying, "This story takes place in the Caribbean Sea," Hemingway mentions fish being taken to market in Havana (Cuba).

    All of these examples were in the first three pages of the story.  Another close, careful read will give you even more examples to work with.  Good luck!

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/omas/style

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    Posted by malibrarian on Sunday November 11, 2007 at 10:18 AM