Topics for Further Study
- Throughout The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago shares his thoughts on nature. Nowadays, environmental conservation frequently appears in the news. Research current environmental issues and write an essay comparing Santiago’s perspective on nature to contemporary environmental theories. Would Santiago be regarded as an environmentalist in today’s world?
- Manolin experiences a transformation from the start to the end of the novel. What do you believe triggers this change? Provide specific examples from the book to support your viewpoint. Then, write an essay comparing the “old” Manolin from the beginning of the story to the “new” Manolin who has evolved by the end.
- Ernest Hemingway’s protagonists are typically young men, but as the title suggests, Santiago is an elderly man. Why do you think Hemingway chose to narrate this story from the perspective of an older individual? How might the narrative differ if the protagonist were a young man? Share your thoughts in an essay, using examples from the text to back up your conclusions.
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