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The Old Man & the Sea Study Guide
Easy-to-use, reproducible lessons on literary terms, comprehension and analysis, critical thinking, related scriptural principles, vocabulary, activities, plus a complete answer key.
60 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2000
About the author
Calvin Roso
6 booksDr. Calvin Roso is an assistant professor of graduate education at Oral Roberts University, specializing in Christian school curriculum and instruction. Active in education since 1991, he has worked as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, editor, and consultant. He has led workshops internationally, published curriculum guides with Progeny Press, and writes on educational practice and storytelling.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 29, 2008
My review
I rated this book as a three because it was enjoyable to read. He uses good imagery and the story really captured me. When I read this book, I left the dreariness of the day and escaped to the boat on the sea.
I hate fish; I do not eat them touch them or fish for them. The fish on the cover of the book was not what drew me to this book but I am glad I read it. “The Old Man and the sea” gave me a new perspective about fish. While I was reading the book, I sympathized with the fish and was fascinated with it. I am not sure I would call the fish my brother as the old man in the story did but I definitely have a new appreciation for this book. I think that is the key to a good book; it can be heart-warming and heart wrenching but a good book challenges what you believe. Even if your epiphany is that fish are not always nasty slimy beasts.
I appreciated that this book had only a few characters as it gave more time to establish the characters. By the end, I felt I had to know the characters of the old man and the boy even though I did not know their names.
Personal Connections
Though I passionately despise fishing, I could relate to the old man through his determination. I have never had to fight for my life but I believe myself to be a very determined person. I do not give up easily at tasks. If I did well I would not have done many of the things I have. The old man’s determination to get the fish was an honorable quality and he did get the fish. However, his determination ended up causing him more pain than reward. A personal connection I can make to the old man’s determination is math class. Yes, it may not seem a thing that takes great determination but I have toiled on the subject longer than the old man did to get his fish. I have taken math throughout high school but when math 12 started, I was stunned. I had moments of wavering faith when I wanted to get out of math, but partly my pride I convinced myself I could not quit. The labor I have put in has often left me fruitless but there are lucky days when things seem to be all right. I had a personal connection with the determination of the old man as he went through many trials to get little reward.
Worldview connection
I believe this is a modern worldview because he believes in progress, he is optimistic, he relies on logic, and he does not believe in God. It is shown that he believes that there is progress in life because while fishing he says things like, the fish’s circles will get smaller than I will be able to kill it or every minute we sail we get closer to land. He is very optimistic as a modernist is. In the beginning of the he has a lot of faith in his ability and his superior intelligence over the fish. Like a modernist, he relies on logic to tell him about how to fish, the weather, and his health. He has lost his faith in God when he thinks about his death he does not believe he will go anywhere after death.
However, near the end of the book, he does have a change in view and his worldview becomes more like a breakdown of modernity. I say this because he loses hope, he finds that his all that he relied on gave him pain and not reward, and he starts to ask questions about God. After all his determination to get this fish, sharks eat it. At this point, he has no strength left, he thinks he is about to die and he sees to reward from his life of labor. His hope is lost. He discovers that all he believed in caused seem to be worthless: his determination, intelligence, luck and pride. His view of what was important in life changed as what he relied on caused him pain. As he is fishing, he asks God to help him after he earlier declared that he did not believe in God. He has the realization that fishing and killing might be a sin. He tries not to think of sin but he cannot help himself. He questions what he has found true during his life as he comes to a near death experience where his beliefs seem worthless.
I rated this book as a three because it was enjoyable to read. He uses good imagery and the story really captured me. When I read this book, I left the dreariness of the day and escaped to the boat on the sea.
I hate fish; I do not eat them touch them or fish for them. The fish on the cover of the book was not what drew me to this book but I am glad I read it. “The Old Man and the sea” gave me a new perspective about fish. While I was reading the book, I sympathized with the fish and was fascinated with it. I am not sure I would call the fish my brother as the old man in the story did but I definitely have a new appreciation for this book. I think that is the key to a good book; it can be heart-warming and heart wrenching but a good book challenges what you believe. Even if your epiphany is that fish are not always nasty slimy beasts.
I appreciated that this book had only a few characters as it gave more time to establish the characters. By the end, I felt I had to know the characters of the old man and the boy even though I did not know their names.
Personal Connections
Though I passionately despise fishing, I could relate to the old man through his determination. I have never had to fight for my life but I believe myself to be a very determined person. I do not give up easily at tasks. If I did well I would not have done many of the things I have. The old man’s determination to get the fish was an honorable quality and he did get the fish. However, his determination ended up causing him more pain than reward. A personal connection I can make to the old man’s determination is math class. Yes, it may not seem a thing that takes great determination but I have toiled on the subject longer than the old man did to get his fish. I have taken math throughout high school but when math 12 started, I was stunned. I had moments of wavering faith when I wanted to get out of math, but partly my pride I convinced myself I could not quit. The labor I have put in has often left me fruitless but there are lucky days when things seem to be all right. I had a personal connection with the determination of the old man as he went through many trials to get little reward.
Worldview connection
I believe this is a modern worldview because he believes in progress, he is optimistic, he relies on logic, and he does not believe in God. It is shown that he believes that there is progress in life because while fishing he says things like, the fish’s circles will get smaller than I will be able to kill it or every minute we sail we get closer to land. He is very optimistic as a modernist is. In the beginning of the he has a lot of faith in his ability and his superior intelligence over the fish. Like a modernist, he relies on logic to tell him about how to fish, the weather, and his health. He has lost his faith in God when he thinks about his death he does not believe he will go anywhere after death.
However, near the end of the book, he does have a change in view and his worldview becomes more like a breakdown of modernity. I say this because he loses hope, he finds that his all that he relied on gave him pain and not reward, and he starts to ask questions about God. After all his determination to get this fish, sharks eat it. At this point, he has no strength left, he thinks he is about to die and he sees to reward from his life of labor. His hope is lost. He discovers that all he believed in caused seem to be worthless: his determination, intelligence, luck and pride. His view of what was important in life changed as what he relied on caused him pain. As he is fishing, he asks God to help him after he earlier declared that he did not believe in God. He has the realization that fishing and killing might be a sin. He tries not to think of sin but he cannot help himself. He questions what he has found true during his life as he comes to a near death experience where his beliefs seem worthless.
Displaying 1 of 1 review