To: From: Re: Incoming 513 English students Mr. Greco (and 513 team members) Summer Reading Assignment Greetings all, Welcome to Calvert Hall! I hope this letter finds you well. All students at CHC are required to complete summer reading assignments for English classes so that your brain gets plenty of exercise. On the following pages, you will find information pertaining to the summer reading assignment selected particularly for you. Essentially, it is to read a book, The Old Man and the Sea, answer questions, and write a multiple paragraph essay. All work should be completed prior to the first day of classes. You will be expected to upload electronic copies of your work during the first cycle of classes; but, have a hard copy of your work just as a responsible thing to do. There will also be a test administered during the second cycle of school, specifically on the summer reading book, The Old Man and the Sea. If you ever have any questions you may contact any teacher at Calvert Hall simply by knowing his/her last name and first initial followed by the domain @calverthall.com. For example grecog@calverthall.com is for me, Mr. Greco, the current 513 team leader. I hope you have a happy and safe summer, and I look forward to seeing you all in the fall. Best Wishes, Mr. Greco
The Old Man and the Sea Summer Reading Part 1 English 513 Reading Guide Directions: Save this to your device and then record your typed responses in the space provided. Answer each of the following questions with a detailed response. Be sure to indicate the page number where you found your answer. NOTE: The page numbers listed are an approximation. Your version of the novel may have different page numbers. Day 1 Preparation (pp. 9-25) 1. How is Santiago (the old man) described/characterized early in the story? 2. How is luck important to Santiago and Manolin (the boy)? 3. What is the relationship between Santiago and Manolin? 4. How is Santiago separated from or different from the other fishermen? 5. Describe how Manolin treats Santiago. Why does he behave this way? 6. How are the nightly precautions Santiago takes with his fishing equipment both realistic and optimistic? 7. Identify some details of Santiago s house. How is Santiago s house described? What do these details reveal about him? 8. What do Santiago and Manolin pretend? Why do they do this? 9. Describe Santiago and Manolin s differing reactions to the Yankee s defeat. What might this suggest about each character? 10. Why won t Santiago borrow money? What does this reveal about him?
Day 2 The Voyage Out (pp. 26-52) 11. How does this day s trip differ from Santiago s usual pattern? 12. Why does Santiago call the sea la mar? What might this indicate about Santiago? 13. What are Santiago s feelings for creatures of the sea including the birds? 14. Describe ways in which Santiago demonstrates his fishing skill. Explain why this might be important for Santiago to be a Code Hero. 15. What two signs indicate that there are fish nearby? 16. What might the Portuguese Man-of-war symbolize? 17. Why doesn t Santiago worry about talking to himself? 18. Describe the steps Santiago must take in order to make sure the fish is caught: 19. How does Santiago know he has caught a fish of extraordinary size? 20. How does Santiago feel about the marlin? Describe his feelings: Day 3 The Struggle (pp. 53-85) 21. Why does Santiago wish mandolin was there? 22. What does the fish s course tell about his strength? 23. Why does Santiago want the fish to jump?
24. Explain how Santiago can love the fish yet wish to kill it? 25. In what ways are the fish and Santiago and the fish alike? 26. Describe Santiago s right and left hands: 27. Why does Santiago say the fish is more noble than he? Explain: 28. Some critics see Santiago as a Christ symbol. What about Santiago s current physical condition supports this idea? 29. In which direction does the fish turn? What does this tell Santiago? 30. What does Santiago think of while the fish pulls? What do these thoughts have in common? 31. Identify two (2) things Santiago does to preserve his strength: 32. What does Santiago dream of? What is the dream symbolic of? What might Santiago s dreams show about his present situation? Day 4 The Catch (pp. 86-121) 33. How does Hemingway stress the endurance of Santiago? How do we know Santiago is working hard? 34. How is the fish s size described? Does the description make it easier or harder to visualize the fish? 35. What is the slave work?
36. Hemingway surprises the reader by placing the first appearance of the sharks in the middle of a sentence in the middle of a paragraph. Why does Hemingway want to surprise the reader here? 37. Does Santiago despair? How might his reactions help define the behavior of Code Hero? 38. What is Santiago s question about sin? What is his answer? 39. Distinguish the second shark attack from the first. What is different about the second attack? 40. Why do the attacks come in this order? 41. What does Santiago conclude even when things are hopeless? 42. As Santiago is returning home, what happens to him that reinforces the idea that he is a Christ symbol? Day 5 The Return (pp. 122-127) 43. How has the attitude of the other fishermen changed? 44. What is the confusion between the tourist and the waiter in the restaurant? What effect does the tourist s comment have on the story s meaning? 45. What premonitions (predictions) of Santiago s death are there? 46. Is the ending hopeful or discouraging? Explain:
The Old Man and the Sea Summer Reading Part 2 English 513 WRITING ASSIGNMENT Background: Many of Ernest Hemingway s greatest novels include a unique character, the Code Hero. His novel, The Old Man and the Sea is no exception. Santiago fits the profile of a code hero in many different ways. Assignment: In a well written, multi-paragraph essay with introduction, topic sentences and conclusion, explain how Santiago fits the mold of a Hemingway Code Hero. Make sure you identify and explain 3 Code Hero characteristics (below in bold) and provide examples explaining how Santiago fulfills these characteristics. Be sure to choose characteristics you understand, can explain and can provide examples for from the novel. Notes: In preparing for this assignment, consider the following definition: HEMINGWAY CODE: Hemingway's protagonists are usually "Hemingway Code Heroes," i.e., figures who try to follow a hyper-masculine moral code and make sense of the world through those beliefs. Hemingway himself defined the Code Hero as "a man who lives correctly, following the ideals of honor, courage and endurance in a world that is sometimes chaotic, often stressful, and always painful." This code typically involves several traits for the Code Hero: (1) Measuring himself against the difficulties life throws in his way, realizing that we will all lose ultimately because we are mortals, but playing the game honestly and passionately in spite of that knowledge (2) Facing death with dignity, enduring physical and emotional pain in silence (3) Never showing emotions (4) Maintaining free-will and individualism, never weakly allowing commitment to a single woman or social convention to prevent adventure, travel, and acts of bravery (5) Being completely honest, keeping one's word or promise (6) Being courageous and brave, daring to travel and have "beautiful adventures," as Hemingway would phrase it (7) Admitting the truth of Nada (Spanish, "nothing"), i.e., that no external source outside of oneself can provide meaning or purpose. This existential awareness also involves facing death without hope of an afterlife, which the Hemingway Code Hero considers more brave than "cowering" behind false religious hopes. The Hemingway Code Hero typically has some sort of physical or psychological wound symbolizing his tragic flaw or a weakness of his character, which must be overcome before he can prove his manhood (or re-prove it, since the struggle to be honest and brave is a continual one). Also, many Hemingway Code Heroes suffer from a fear of the dark, which represents the transience or meaninglessness of life in the face of eventual and permanent death. Requirements: 5 paragraphs, typed, double spaced. This essay should be uploaded to turnitin.com during the beginning of the school year. Also, print out a hard copy to hand in during the first cycle.