... motif, symbol, parallel, or reference. Earnest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea shows much of these features. It is a story so simply written that it challenges the reader to "fish" for the religious parallels and symbols. The deeper you read, the more indirect references to Christianity and religion you find. The story of Santiago, the old man, involves many parallels to the story of Jesus Christ at different points throughout the story. Crucifixion imagery is used many times ... throughout the story. In almost all of Earnest Hemingway's literature, he either puts a bit of his own l...

• Word Count: 812
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... a man suffering willingly, Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" allegorically parallels a fundamental part of Christian mythology, Jesus Christ. Both Santiago and Christ have general similarities, for Hemingway recreates Jesus as the old man in the novel. He is very patient and suffers willingly just as Christ did. When both are in plain, they don't complain but do it voluntarily for themselves and others. The love for nature and life is in both the old man and in Jesus. When fishing in the sea, the old man ... them as both utter a common sigh. In "The Old Man and the Sea" by Hemingway...

• Word Count: 975
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... Hemingway uses religious symbolism throughout the novella, The Old Man and the Sea to depict the life of Jesus. The use of Hemingway's symbolism is very obvious in the certain periods of time chosen, as well as through Santiago, and the marlin. The reader gets to go for a ride on a self-defining journey as he or she reads about Santiago's defeat and his undying pride. The symbolism Hemingway uses in the days and numbers of the ... book are very important. Hemingway ... call her in Spanish when they love her" (Hemingway 29) The organisms of the sea express all Santiago knows about life. H...

• Word Count: 999
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... themes and personality traits. The Old Man and the Sea" is a heroic tale of mans strength pitted against forces he cannot control. It is a tale about an old Cuban fisherman and his three-day battle with a giant Marlin. Through the use of three prominent themes; friendship, bravery, and Christianity; the "Old Man and the Sea" strives to teach important life lessons to the reader. The relationship between the old man and the boy is introduced early in the story. They are unlikely companions; one is old and the ... slept face down on the newspapers with his arms out straight and the palms ...

• Word Count: 1434
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... to a special category of forces which man has been unable to tame. Ernest Hemingway's novella "The Old Man and the Sea" and Jack London's short story "To build a Fire" put both powers on display. Man tragically struggling against the elements is the key theme to both stories. In a struggle, or battle, true men will show honor in defeat and serenity in death. Death will inevitably come, and the comparison of death with life makes up ... will destroy righteousness in this world. Hemingway also uses the sharks in a more realistic sense. It was often been said that Hemingway's sharks are sy...

• Word Count: 1216
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The novel Old Man and the Sea contains many elements of symbolism. One of the greatest and most obvious symbolisms in the story is Christianity. From the beginning of the story the reader is shown a unique relationship between Santiago and Manolin. Their relationship parallels that of Christ and his disciples. Manolin is Santiago's disciple and Santiago teaches Manolin about fishing and life. One of the greatest lessons that Santiago gives is that of a simple faith. "Have faith in ... are prevalent numbers in the bible and Hemingway places them throughout the book as symbols of this connect w...

• Word Count: 370
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... though he is not a religious man. Even before the journey, he is a man of strong values and seems to know his place, but understanding how life feeds into life strengthens Santiago as a hero. Although Santiago remarks that he is not religious, his character in Old Man and the Sea bears several distinct allusions to Christ. The clearest passage that shows this is ... when Santiago sees the first of two sharks. He exclaims "Ay" and the words is described as having "no translation" (Hemingway ... 107) and "perhaps [being] just a noise such as a man might make, involuntarily, feeling the n...

• Word Count: 730
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Figure On its surface, Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea tells the story of Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman who has been 84 days without a catch; Manolin, the young man who loves him; and Santiago's tremendous struggle with a gigantic marlin. Far from port, and against great odds, Santiago battles for two days to bring the fish alongside his boat, where he harpoons it. Soon sharks appear, and the old man breaks his knife after he kills ... . Like Jesus of Nazareth, Santiago teaches his knowledge to others, displays deep faith in things greater than himself, and consciously endu...

• Word Count: 1677
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School