Question

To give himself confidence, Santiago remembers his contest with "the great negro of Cienfuegos." At what sport did the old man beat this challenger?

• A. Boxing
• B. Arm wrestling
• C. Baseball
• D. Fishing

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Arm wrestling

The Old Man and the Sea and Santiago's Trial of Strength

• The memory of the arm-wrestling contest serves as a crucial moment for Santiago to bolster his confidence and mental fortitude during his epic struggle with the marlin in Ernest Hemingway's novel, The Old Man and the Sea.
• The contest was an arm-wrestling match against a formidable opponent, referred to as "the great negro of Cienfuegos."
• This legendary match took place in a tavern in Casablanca when Santiago was a young man.
• The contest was an extraordinary test of endurance and strength, lasting for more than twenty-four hours, with both men locking their elbows on a table and gripping each other's hands.
• Santiago ultimately emerged victorious, earning him the title "El Campeón" (The Champion) among the local fishermen and solidifying his reputation for incredible resilience.
• This event is symbolic of Santiago's enduring spirit and his ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds through sheer will and determination, qualities he displays throughout his battle with the marlin.

Key Facts about The Old Man and the Sea:

• Author: Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961), a prominent American novelist and short-story writer.
• Publication Year: The novella was first published in 1952.
• Setting: The story is primarily set in the fishing village of Cojímar, Cuba, and the Gulf Stream.
• Awards: It earned Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and was cited as a major reason for his reception of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
• Literary Style: The novel exemplifies Hemingway's distinctive writing style, characterized by its concise prose, understated emotion, and the famous "Iceberg Theory" (or theory of omission), where much of the meaning is submerged beneath the surface.
• Themes: Major themes include the human struggle against nature, perseverance, honor, defeat, pride, dignity, friendship (especially between Santiago and the boy, Manolin), and the cyclical nature of life.