Maharashtra Board Class 10 English Kumarbharti Unit Four Chapter 4.5 The Old Man and The Sea Book Review PDF Download

The Old Man and The Sea: Book Review

Warming Up!

1. Pair up with your partner and answer the following questions:

(a) Which animal would you relate to yourself and why?

(b) Do you have a hero or a role model to look up to? Who is he/she?

(c) Do you have a passion you would fight for? Why?

(d) What is meant by a review?

(e) Have you ever read any book review? If yes, which one? If no, when are you going to read one?

2. Make a list of famous novels of Ernest Hemingway. Two are given to you.

(1) A Farewell to Arms

(2) For Whom the Bell Tolls

(3) _______________

(4) _______________

(5) _______________

(6) _______________

(7) _______________

3. Ernest Miller Hemingway was a famous American novelist, short story writer and journalist. Make a list of other famous American novelists. Complete the web filling the boxes with the names of famous American novelists.

Teacher's Note

Ernest Hemingway is an important American writer. You can read his simple and short stories. Many Indian libraries have his books.

Exam Trick

Remember: Hemingway wrote simple sentences but they have deep meaning. Just like a simple cup of tea can be very tasty!

Points to Remember

Ernest Hemingway was an American novelist and journalist.
He wrote simple sentences but they have hidden meaning.
He had real life experience that he used in his stories.
His most famous book is The Old Man and the Sea.

The Old Man and The Sea: Book Review

Story Summary

An old and experienced Cuban fisherman has a run of terrible bad luck and is unable to catch any fish for eighty-four days. His young and devoted apprentice, Manolin, has been forced by his parents to start working with another fisherman. The old man resolves to sail out farther than all the other fishermen and attempt to catch the really big fish. On the eighty-fifth day he succeeds in hooking a marlin with his bait but the marlin is too strong for him and starts pulling the boat. The Old Man and the Sea is the story of the old man's struggle with the marlin and his later battle against sharks.

Social/Historical Context

Hemingway's novel is based on real events and it also draws heavily on his own life. He had experience of fishing in the Cuban waters and like the old man he was also a fan of baseball. He worked for the Red Cross during the First World War and was injured by shrapnel when he was in Italy. Hemingway always talks about the need to struggle against defeat or death and how determination and endurance can help one to win in this struggle. The old man is at the end of the novel very near death, but we know that the story of his suffering and loss will live on in the memories of the people of his village. Ultimately his story becomes one of triumph because the tales of his life will live on even after his death. The novel was published in 1952, when people were trying to recover from the mass destruction wrought by the two world wars, and this tale of endurance and ultimate triumph immediately struck a chord with the readers.

Teacher's Note

This book shows how an old man never gives up fighting. In India, we respect old people who work hard even when life is very difficult.

Exam Trick

Remember: The old man's struggle = Hemingway's struggle = struggle against defeat. All three teach the same lesson!

Points to Remember

The old man could not catch fish for 84 days.
A young boy named Manolin was his apprentice.
The marlin was a very strong and big fish.
Hemingway wrote this book after the two world wars.
The book teaches us about courage and never giving up.

Writing Style

Hemingway's language is simple and pithy. He mostly writes in short and straight-forward sentences and practises an extreme economy in his use of words. This simplicity is deceptive and a reader can read his work again and again and find new layers of meaning every time.

My Thoughts

I first read this novel years ago, when I did not understand it at all and was left unimpressed. In spite of this a vivid image remained with me – an old man holding on to his fishing line with the last of his strength. Recently I read this book again and was extremely moved. The formidable strength of the old man's character, the quiet devotion of the empathetic Manolin and the relationship between the two are heartwarming. Hemingway's descriptions of the sea and the creatures of the water are beautiful. The marlin fights for its life desperately and it's hard to know whether our sympathies should lie with the old man or with the marlin. But as the novel progresses the old man and the marlin are inseparably linked because both stand for the same ideals, that is, a noble struggle against destruction.

Teacher's Note

Reading a book twice helps you understand it better. Just like eating a sweet twice makes you enjoy it more!

Exam Trick

Remember: Simple language + deep meaning = great writing. Hemingway's style is like a small box with big treasure inside!

Points to Remember

Hemingway uses simple and short sentences.
Each word is carefully chosen.
You can find new meaning every time you read it.
The story shows both human and animal strength.
Both the old man and marlin fight with courage.

English Workshop

1. Read the passage and name the following.

(a) Young and devoted apprentice

(b) The place where Hemingway had experience of fishing

(c) Hemingway was injured by during First World War

(d) Language of the novel

(e) In his first reading the review the writer was left

2. Correct the following sentences using facts from the review.

(a) Monolin's parents insisted on his working with the same old fisherman.

(b) This novel is a pure fiction.

(c) Hemingway's style of writing does not unfold the hidden meaning.

(d) The relationship between the old man and Monolin is coarse.

Teacher's Note

Learning to correct wrong sentences helps you understand the story better. It is like finding mistakes in your homework and fixing them!

Exam Trick

Remember: Read the passage carefully and find the correct words from it to fix the wrong sentences.

Points to Remember

Monolin's parents forced him to work with another fisherman.
The novel is based on real events, not pure fiction.
Hemingway's writing style unfolds hidden meaning.
The relationship is heartwarming and full of devotion.

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