Question

How does the old man know immediately the size of the great marlin he has caught?

• A. He feels the weight and resistance on the line
• B. He sees the marlin jump out of the water.
• C. He pulls and pulls on the line and nothing happens.
• D. He measures the length of the line

Answer 1

Answer:

C. He pulls and pulls on the line and nothing happens.

Understanding Santiago's Intuition in "The Old Man and the Sea"

• In Ernest Hemingway's novella "The Old Man and the Sea," the protagonist, Santiago, immediately understands the immense size of the marlin he has hooked due to its sheer, unyielding resistance.
• When Santiago hooks the marlin, he pulls on the line with all his might, but the line remains taut and unmoving, indicating an enormous weight that cannot be budged by his strength. This complete lack of movement signals to him that he has hooked something truly monumental.
• This immediate recognition highlights Santiago's profound experience and deep understanding of the sea and its creatures. Having spent his entire life fishing, he possesses an intuitive knowledge that allows him to interpret the subtlest cues from the ocean.
• The marlin's refusal to budge establishes it as a worthy adversary from the very beginning, setting the stage for Santiago's epic, days-long struggle against it.
• The physical stalemate between Santiago and the marlin symbolizes the "man vs. nature" theme prevalent throughout the novella.

Key Facts for Competitive Exams:

• Author: Ernest Hemingway.
• Publication Year: The novella was published in 1952.
• Literary Award: It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953.
• Nobel Prize Connection: Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954, partly in recognition of his masterful storytelling in this work.
• Genre: It is often categorized as a novella, a work of fiction longer than a short story but shorter than a novel.
• Setting: The story is set in the Gulf Stream, off the coast of Havana, Cuba.
• Main Themes: Key themes include struggle, perseverance, defeat, victory, man's relationship with nature, dignity, and the honor in a fight.
• Symbolism: The marlin symbolizes the ultimate challenge, the grandeur of nature, and Santiago's personal quest for greatness.