Bab-ul-Ilm Institute of Languages, Computer & Natural Sciences (Bilcans)
BILCANS
THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA
CRITICAL NOTES
For
Bachelor of Arts
(English Classes)
By
SYED MUHAMMAD WAQAS
Prepared at:
BAB-UL-ILM INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGES, COMPUTER &
NATURAL SCIENCES
(BILCANS)
SOHAWA, MANDI BAHAUDDIN
Now at Bab-ul-Ilm Public School Campus
(An Educational Wing of BAB-UL-ILM RESEARCH FOUNDATION®)
Contact us:
Cell: 0322-778-7338, 0321-774-6647
Email: Birf.Pakistan@hotmail. co m
To Download B.A. English (PU) Notes & Grammar Book, Visit Our Website
www.birf.weebly.com
1 The Old Man and the Sea (Critical Notes)
, Bab-ul-Ilm Institute of Languages, Computer & Natural Sciences (Bilcans)
Q.1: Describe the Old Man’s struggle against the sharks in your own words.
Or “Man can be destroyed but not defeated.” Comment on Old Man’s heroic
struggle against the sharks.
Or Of all the challenges faced by the Old Man, fight against the sharks is the
greatest. Discuss
Or Fight against the sharks is a real test of the Old Man’s mettle. Elaborate
Or Which is the greater challenge for the Old Man from the struggle with the
big fish and fight against the sharks?
Answer:
The o ld Cuban fisherman, Sant iago, faces two major challenges in this
novel apart from many minor ones. The first challenge is his contest with the big fish,
marlin, whereas the second being his battle against the sharks. Crit ically viewing, the
fight against the sharks appears a rather challenging task than the catching of marlin.
Sant iago is by far extremely exhausted due to his nerve-racking fight with the
giant fish, Marlin. He has been in a state of fight for some two days, all alo ne and wit hout
much food. However, he is reso lute and diligent against every impending danger.
Sharks, the hunter-beasts of the sea, are the real challenge between the old man’s
actual victory and its acknowledgement. Sant iago, after having been t ired owing to a
constant fight against the marlin wit hout much food and sleep, is no more a strong old
man. It has been only one hour since the victory of the o ld man over marlin that the first
sharks attacks him. He calls it “Dentuso”. As soon as this shark tears away so me fort y
pounds o f marlin’s flesh, the o ld man furiously strikes its head with his harpoon, and the
shark is doomed. However, with it s death, the shark also takes away the o ld man’s
harpoon and rope. Thus, the old man is now unarmed.
The first shark proves only the precursor of a large-scale shark-attack on the
marlin. T he o ld man uses his gear and every other possible means to kill the attacking
sharks, and, in fact, he manages to kill so me of them. But the sharks prove too stubborn
for the old man, as they do not give up in spite of o ld man’s st iff resistance. They are
countless indeed.
The marlin began to be eaten up gradually. T he sharks were snatching away ever y
bit of its flesh, time and again, and the old man could do nothing. However, it was against
the dignit y o f this aged sea-hero to become a mere spectator; therefore, he continues his
struggle against the hostilit y o f opposite forces to save the achievement of his life. He
kills many o f these hunter beasts in a constant fight using his oar, tiller and knife.
However untiring his struggle, the old man is unable to save his belo ved big fish,
marlin, fro m the sharks. He reaches back to the coast with only skeleton. Nevertheless,
crit ically speaking, he proves his utterance true that “a man can be destroyed but not
defeated.” Like a true hero, he does not give up in the face overpowering danger unt il the
last mo ment—even when he has no hope for the marlin to be spared. Interestingly
enough, he does not mind the loss of the fish and, when asked by the bo y, he expresses
his will to go back for fishing.
2 The Old Man and the Sea (Critical Notes)
BILCANS
THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA
CRITICAL NOTES
For
Bachelor of Arts
(English Classes)
By
SYED MUHAMMAD WAQAS
Prepared at:
BAB-UL-ILM INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGES, COMPUTER &
NATURAL SCIENCES
(BILCANS)
SOHAWA, MANDI BAHAUDDIN
Now at Bab-ul-Ilm Public School Campus
(An Educational Wing of BAB-UL-ILM RESEARCH FOUNDATION®)
Contact us:
Cell: 0322-778-7338, 0321-774-6647
Email: Birf.Pakistan@hotmail. co m
To Download B.A. English (PU) Notes & Grammar Book, Visit Our Website
www.birf.weebly.com
1 The Old Man and the Sea (Critical Notes)
, Bab-ul-Ilm Institute of Languages, Computer & Natural Sciences (Bilcans)
Q.1: Describe the Old Man’s struggle against the sharks in your own words.
Or “Man can be destroyed but not defeated.” Comment on Old Man’s heroic
struggle against the sharks.
Or Of all the challenges faced by the Old Man, fight against the sharks is the
greatest. Discuss
Or Fight against the sharks is a real test of the Old Man’s mettle. Elaborate
Or Which is the greater challenge for the Old Man from the struggle with the
big fish and fight against the sharks?
Answer:
The o ld Cuban fisherman, Sant iago, faces two major challenges in this
novel apart from many minor ones. The first challenge is his contest with the big fish,
marlin, whereas the second being his battle against the sharks. Crit ically viewing, the
fight against the sharks appears a rather challenging task than the catching of marlin.
Sant iago is by far extremely exhausted due to his nerve-racking fight with the
giant fish, Marlin. He has been in a state of fight for some two days, all alo ne and wit hout
much food. However, he is reso lute and diligent against every impending danger.
Sharks, the hunter-beasts of the sea, are the real challenge between the old man’s
actual victory and its acknowledgement. Sant iago, after having been t ired owing to a
constant fight against the marlin wit hout much food and sleep, is no more a strong old
man. It has been only one hour since the victory of the o ld man over marlin that the first
sharks attacks him. He calls it “Dentuso”. As soon as this shark tears away so me fort y
pounds o f marlin’s flesh, the o ld man furiously strikes its head with his harpoon, and the
shark is doomed. However, with it s death, the shark also takes away the o ld man’s
harpoon and rope. Thus, the old man is now unarmed.
The first shark proves only the precursor of a large-scale shark-attack on the
marlin. T he o ld man uses his gear and every other possible means to kill the attacking
sharks, and, in fact, he manages to kill so me of them. But the sharks prove too stubborn
for the old man, as they do not give up in spite of o ld man’s st iff resistance. They are
countless indeed.
The marlin began to be eaten up gradually. T he sharks were snatching away ever y
bit of its flesh, time and again, and the old man could do nothing. However, it was against
the dignit y o f this aged sea-hero to become a mere spectator; therefore, he continues his
struggle against the hostilit y o f opposite forces to save the achievement of his life. He
kills many o f these hunter beasts in a constant fight using his oar, tiller and knife.
However untiring his struggle, the old man is unable to save his belo ved big fish,
marlin, fro m the sharks. He reaches back to the coast with only skeleton. Nevertheless,
crit ically speaking, he proves his utterance true that “a man can be destroyed but not
defeated.” Like a true hero, he does not give up in the face overpowering danger unt il the
last mo ment—even when he has no hope for the marlin to be spared. Interestingly
enough, he does not mind the loss of the fish and, when asked by the bo y, he expresses
his will to go back for fishing.
2 The Old Man and the Sea (Critical Notes)
