I have read The Old Man and the Sea many times. Hemingway’s story is somewhat simple, yet much multitude hides underneath his simple story of an old man catching the fish of his life. While Hemingway’s novel is sometimes given guff by the literary elite, I think this novel has much to teach readers and is very much worth our time. We’ve all heard the epic fish stories. I know I certainly have. My husband has come home before telling of his epic catch. The fish stories I have heard, though, are nothing like the one Hemingway tells about Santiago. After going for over eighty days without catching a fish, Santiago finally catches one. The only problem is that this fish is much more than he bargained for and brings him much trouble. I try to teach this book to my 11th grade students, when I have time, and they always like that it’s short (about 120 pages) and about something physical they are familiar with. They usually have visceral reactions to Hemingway’s realistic descriptions, and I cannot blame them, having almost lost my appetite due to reading some of his details on how he cuts up a fish Even with the potential to have no desire to eat my lunch, I think this novel is one worth reading. Not only does it represent realistic fiction of the modern era of the early 1900s, but it also shares a lot about life experiences and what people are capable of when the odds seem to be against them. Our education system has been flooded with the words grit and growth mindset over the past few years, and I believe The Old Man and the Sea is a perfect novel to teach those concepts. Santiago does not give up or accept defeat in the face of struggle. Instead he keeps up his hope and muscles through pain knowing that he is capable regardless of what others might assume. Even if you don’t think you would enjoy reading a simple fish story, I recommend you go check out this classic American novel for the surprising lessons it can teach you today. Here’s to finding a good book!
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