As the novel opens, Santiago has not caught a fish for........days
A72
B100
C60
D84
Answer:
D. 84
Read Explanation:
The Old Man and the Sea: Key Facts and Context
- At the opening of Ernest Hemingway's novella The Old Man and the Sea, the protagonist, Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman, has gone 84 days without catching a single fish. This period signifies his extreme run of bad luck, often referred to as 'salao' by other fishermen.
The Significance of the Number 84/85:
- The 84 days symbolize his prolonged struggle and misfortune, pushing him to the brink of despair and isolation from the fishing community.
- On the 85th day, Santiago sets out alone, determined to break his streak, leading to his epic battle with the giant marlin. This turning point highlights themes of perseverance, struggle, and human spirit.
About the Novel:
- Author: Ernest Hemingway, a prominent American novelist and short-story writer.
- Publication Year: 1952.
- Setting: The Gulf Stream off the coast of Havana, Cuba.
- Genre: Novella, often considered an allegory.
- Key Characters:
- Santiago: The old fisherman.
- Manolin: Santiago's young apprentice and loyal friend, who is forced by his parents to leave Santiago due to the old man's bad luck.
- Marlin: The giant fish Santiago battles.
- Major Themes:
- Man's struggle against nature.
- Perseverance, courage, and resilience in the face of defeat.
- The nobility of the individual.
- Friendship and loyalty.
- Pride and humility.
Awards and Recognition:
- The Old Man and the Sea was an immediate critical and commercial success.
- It earned Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953.
- It was explicitly cited when Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954, recognizing his mastery of narration and the influence he exerted on contemporary style.
- The novella reinforced Hemingway's literary reputation, becoming a significant work in American literature and a subject of extensive literary analysis for its symbolic depth and simple, yet profound, narrative style.