Mrs. Bess Nordgren, teacher
Fort Dale Academy
Summer 2006

Assignment: Read The Old Man and the Sea
by: Ernest Hemingway

DIRECTIONS FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT:
On your own paper answer the following questions. Be sure to note whether you are to answer in complete sentences or in list form. Sloppy work WILL NOT BE GRADED! You may type this assignment if you wish. Use the capital letters and headings given below to organize your paper.

STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO TURN IN THIS ASSIGNMENT ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! THIRTY POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR LATE WORK.

A. BACKGROUND OF AUTHOR:

Research Hemmingway and find the answers to the following questions. These questions should be answered in COMPLETE sentences, using part of the question to begin the answer. Underline the answer. For example, question one would be answered as follows:

EX: Hemmingway’s nickname was ____________.

1. What was his nickname?

2. What was his middle name?

3. What was his father’s profession?

4. What sport(s) did he play in high school?

5. What duty did he have during World War I?

6. List 4 other Hemmingway novels.

7. In what Florida city did Hemmingway live?

8. How many times was he married?

9. In a false report, Hemmingway was reported dead. What was he doing when this reported surfaced?

10. How and when did Hemmingway die?

B. CHARACTERS

List and identify the following main characters:

1. Santiago

2. Manolin

3. the marlin

C. SETTING

In chronological order, list and describe the settings of this novel. Describe in details such things as the village, the restaurant, Santiago’s house, and the sea, ECT.

D. PLOT

In note form, list the main events of this novel. Note form means that you do NOT have to write in complete sentences. HINT: It will be much easier if you do this while you are reading the book.

Be sure to include specific details. For example, the first page of the book states that, “everything about the old man was old except for his eyes.” This is a specific detail that you must know.

E. THEMES

Listed below are the major themes presented in this book. Write each theme on your paper, and then list as many examples as you can find to support each theme.

1. The theme of courage and endurance

2. The theme of compassion for nature’s creatures

3. The theme of loneliness

4. The theme of Santiago as a Christ-like figure. The old man as a Christ-like figure is a widely accepted belief among critics. In a list or chart form, write at least 6 examples to support this. In other words, look for ways that Santiago is similar to Jesus Christ.

F. PERSONAL BELIEF:

Write a PARAGRAPH describing your personal opinion of this novel. Be sure to assume that the reader of your paper HAS NOT read the novel. In other words, do not refer to someone or something in the novel without explaining who/what it is. In this paragraph you must include the following:

· Name of novel

· Author’s name

· Why you enjoyed or disliked the novel

· Why you agree or disagree with the Christ-like figure theme.

OTHER GUIDELINES:

1. This may be typed or hand-written.

2. Your paper must be bound in some form.

3. Include your name and the date on the bottom of the last page

4. This assignment will count as two daily grades

5. THIS PAPER IS DUE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

***** You can also expect to have a quiz about this novel on the first day of school.

IN ADDITION: Students should be thoroughly familiar with the Eight Parts of Speech and the Parts of a Sentence ( subject, verb, direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative, and predicate adjective). These concepts have been taught to you for several years. If you have a deficit in this area, you need to practice this summer. You can search on the Internet under “grammar help” and find several sites to help you. We will spend one week reviewing these items, but this is something that I expect you to know upon entering my class.