English 12 Novel Study#1: A Classic Story
The Old Man and the Sea
“Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated.”
Part One: Before you read…..
What: Prediction Response
In a well-developed paragraph, answer the following: Why did you select this book? What are your expectations for the narrative? What predictions can you make, based on what you have heard or read, about this novel?
When: Completed and submitted today by end of class.
Value: 5 pts
Part Two: While you read….
A. What: Response Journal
The purpose of reading novels is to make connections: with the text, between the text and the world as a whole and between other texts. You are expected to be actively engaged in thinking about what you are reading. This is the rationale for the response journal.
An event might remind you of something you have read in another text; you may be able to relate to a character – or be completely unable to relate to a character. You may consider how a certain section of the novel develops one of the themes. Record the event, either with a quotation or a paraphrase, followed by an explanation as to what it made you think.
You are expected to complete a minimum of 5 entries. Each entry must answer the SO WHAT question: Why was this part of the novel important or significant. Simply describing what happened will not earn you any points.
When: On your own or during novel study classes; due with final assignment
Value: 25 pts (5 pts per entry)
B. What: Comprehension Questions.
As you read the novel, class time will be devoted to you engaging with the text. Part of the class will be for reading and part will be for working on your response journal and these questions. Desks will be grouped, if possible, so that you will be sitting with others reading the same book as you to facilitate discussion and problems of/with the novel.
When: On your own or during novel study classes; due with final assignment
Value: 10 pts (mark is based on completion and detail of responses)
Part Three: After you Read…
A. What: Critical Essay Response
Rather than complete your own critical essay on the novel, you will reading an essay written by a critic on some element of the novel. Your task will be to response to that essay, indicating whether or not you agree with the interpretation offered and whether or not the essay has given you any insight into the novel.
This assignment will require you to be actively engaged with the novel and the essay. You will need to use evidence from BOTH in order to support your argument. Evidence should include a minimum of 2 quotations per text.
Length: 400 words
Value: 25 pts.
B. What: Works Cited Page.
You will be expected to include a Works Page with your response
Value: 5 pts
Final Due Date: ______
Total Possible Points: 60
The Old Man and the Sea Comprehension Questions:
1. Based upon textual clues in the early part of the book, where do you think this story is taking place? What is your evidence?
2. Describe the old man’s (Santiago) relationship to the boy (Manolin).
3. As the book begins, how is the old man’s fishing career going?
4. What does the old man dream of?
5. What is the difference between la mar and el mar? Explain. (See pp. 29-30)
6. How does the old man use the man-of-war bird to help his fishing?
7. What does he think of the Portuguese man-of-war? Why does he feel that way? (See pp. 35-36)
8. Describe the first few moments of the battle with the marlin. How does the old man first notice him? How does he go about hooking him?
9. How does the marlin respond to being hooked? What happens to the old man during the afternoon and night as a result?
10. Notice the following sentence from p. 50: “The boy was sad too and we begged her pardon and butchered her promptly.” What does it mean? What does it tell you about the old man and his relationship with his natural surroundings?
11. Describe the preparations the old man makes (i.e., how he gets extra line) for the battle with the marlin.
12. What does the old man eat to replenish his strength? Describe the process by which he prepares his food.
13. Describe the fish as the old man sees it when it first jumps.
14. At this point in the story (through p. 67 or so), what seems to be the old man’s attitude toward the fish? How does he feel about the marlin?
15. What happened in the arm wrestling match the old man thinks of as the sun sets?
16. What is the old man’s next meal? How does he obtain it, and how does he prepare it?
17. Why doesn’t the old man just tie the line with the marlin on the end to his boat for a while so that he can get some sleep?
18. When the marlin starts jumping again and running, what happens to the old man as a result?
19. Describe the process by which the old man lands the marlin. (See pp. 86-96)
20. How does the old man attach the marlin to the skiff for the journey home? Why doesn’t he just toss the fish in the boat?
21. Describe the first encounter with a shark. What is the result?
22. On p. 105, about the marlin, the old man thinks to himself, “If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?” What does he mean? What do you think about the question?
23. Describe the second shark encounter, this time with the shovel-nosed sharks. After it is over, the old man says to himself, “It makes everything wrong.” (p. 110) Explain what he means.
24. By the end of the story, what has the old man lost? What has he won? Explain.
25. Why, do you think,is this book titled The Old Man and the Sea, as opposed to, say, The Old Man and the Boy, or the Old Man and the Really Big Fish, or The Old Man and the Sharks? Explain.
26. In what way(s) is the old man is conflict with nature? In what way(s) is he in harmony with nature?