读书报告 the old man and the sea

中国矿业大学外文学院2010 级读书报告

姓名罗煜

学号12105087

专业班级英语10-3班

读书报告题目The Old Man and the Sea

指导教师吴迪

职称助教

2012 年5 月30 日徐州

The Old Man and the Sea

Chapter1 Introduction

1.1 The Introduction to the Author

Ernest Hemingway, a famous writer both in America and the world, was born on July21, 1898, at Oak Park, Illinois. During World WarⅠhe worked as an ambulance driver in France and in Italy infantry and was wounded severely before his 19th birthday. During the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War, he served as a correspondent on the loyalist side. Then he settled in Cuba in 1945. In 1954, Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize of Literature for his “mastery of the art of modern narration”. Later, he was increasingly plagued by ill health and mental problems, and in July, 1961, he committed suicide by shooting himself.

Hemingway’s life seems like an unusual book which is filled with adventures. In the old man and sea, the old man called Santiago is actually the representative of the author.

1.2 The Introduction to the Novel

The novel The Old Man and Sea is based on a real story. The novel was first published in 1952, with 100,000 copies being sold and he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 because of this novel.

1.3 The Introduction to the Background

Hemingway’s life was adventurous and vivid but full of pains. Having experienced the two World Wars and suffered from the injuries, he was disappointed with the world at that time and became pessimistic about the future of human beings. Influenced by the greedy and heedless way of life, and also as a spokesman of “the Lost Generation”, Hemingway’s works were vivid records for the life of those physically and mentally wounded soldiers, illustrating their loneliness and desperation. And in The Old Man and Sea, Santiago, an old fisherman ventures into the Gulf Stream and hooks the biggest marlin that ever seen. Then he tries all his best to catch it all him alone with increasing exhaustion. He is compelled into a losing battle with sharks which leave him nothing but the skeleton of his marlin.

Chapter2 Plot and Character

2.1 Plot About the Story

The Old Man and the Sea can be regarded as a heroic tragic novel. In the novel, the hero

is a broken fisherman named Santiago who truly tries his best to fight against his fate. In the story, Santiago has not caught fish for 84 days, due to the fact that, Mandolin, a little boy, who used to sail with the old man, is forbidden from fishing with Santiago by his parents who forced him to catch fish in another “good-lucky” ship.

The old man insists on fishing alone, even though the boy asks for fishing tighter again. He goes into the deep sea with few person have been to and at last, he succeeds in hooking a giant marlin which is eighteen-foot long and also is the largest fish he has ever known before. However, for its giant size and great strength, it is extremely difficult to catch the marlin. It has been towed for almost 48 hours using the line on his back to bear the weight of the giant fish. The broken, poor old man, with little food and sleep, has to suffer from great pains and fight against the fish. To his great delight, he wins the battle. On the third day at sea, he finally catches the weakened marlin to the surface and harpoons it.

On his way home, he feels relaxed and a little proud of himself. He takes it for granted that he has already won the fight against fate. Maybe he is correct. He lashes marlin alongside his boat because it is too big to be put in the boat. But, unfortunately, the appearance of sharks makes the old man in despair. The sharks attack the old man and the giant marlin in different direction for four times. The old man fights to kill the sharks with all his strength and everything he can use, but only to find a giant skeleton of his marlin. Finally, the old man, nearly having lost everything he fought for, reaches the shore, struggles to his shack and falls into sound sleep. The most important thing is that he regains the respect from others and he is still a hero in people’s heart.

2.2 Characters in the Novel

2.2.1 The Old Man –Santiago

The old man is characterized as someone who fights against defeat. He chooses to sail out to where the big fish promise to be. He catches the marlin after a three-day fight and tries to prevent the sharks from stealing his marlin despite the fact that he knows it is useless. When confronted with a choice between defeat and endurance, he chooses the latter. In the end, the old man’s physical suffering leads to a more significant spiritual triumph.

2.2.2 The Marlin

In the story, marlin acts as the obstacle, that is to say, the ideal opponent. On the one hand,

he makes the old man feels desperate and hopeless, on the other hand, it is the marlin that makes the old man bring out the best in him--strength and courage. So the marlin is a great opponent which is worth being respected.

2.2.3 The Sharks

Sharks are also the opponent of the old man. However, they are greedy and graceless. Actually , they stand for destructive power of the community. The old man actually wins no glory in battling with them. They are not the great opponent.

2.2.4 The Lions on the Beach and the little boy

Santiago dreams of the lions at play on the beaches of Africa three times. Lions represent energy and passion. The little boy is considerate and full of admiration to Santiago, but in the meantime, the little boy actually brings the old man’s lost youth back, and make the old man recall the time when he was young. As a result, it is clear to know why Santiago call the boy’s name when he is truly exhausted for it can bring him strength to go on fighting. So the dreams illustrate his brave, energetic and passionate heart, which means nothing can beat him.

Chapter 3 My Views on the Book

3.1 Detailed Description and metaphor

In the novel, the author use lots of words to describe the old man’s hands, for one thing, to demonstrate his skills and experiences, for another thing, to indicate that it is the marvelous hands that make the dream and miracle. The author also put lots of efforts in describing his expression which is firm and persistent. Several descriptions about the weather not only suggest the situation where the old man involved in, but also illustrate the feeling of the old man. Besides, the lions in his dream stand for the passionate, energetic heart which would be young forever.

3.2 Perseverance, Endurance and determination

It seems that the old man is a loser. But according to the words of the old man in the novel: “a person is not born must be defeated.”and “people do can be destroyed, but cannot be defeated.” From my point of view, death and pain are inevitable, but the great man will refuse to give in to its power. Furthermore, the old man tells us it is truly possible to transcend the natural law and the destructive forces of nature through efforts and fighting. He proves his

perseverance, endurance and determination through fighting with the opponents he chooses to confront with, and both fate and marlin are worthy of a fight. The battle brings him honor and pride and it also enables him to realize his most dignified destiny.

3.3 Realism or Allegory

When I first finished reading the book, I truly thought it was a allegory which is filled with imagination and seemed unrealistic and what it tells us was persistence and endurance. To my surprise, beyond what I think about, it is actually a great work which reflects realism. In the story, the author gives a detailed description about the preparation before he goes far to the deep sea, how to deal with the marlin in almost three days, how to catch it and tie it alongside the skiff, and how to fight against the sharks, thanks to the minute description, we can easily get a clue in our mind. The whole process illustrate the limit of one’s endurance, they perfectly convey the dignity of soul without putting it into the story. We can endow Santiago’s endurance with bravery and grace.

Eventually, I tend to conclude my book report by quoting a judgment by Halls Tao Mu: the old man and the sea is an exception for strong and incredibly simple works, with a beauty that cannot be resisted.