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YMS Liberal Arts The Saunterers Level

The Old Man and the Sea
A Study in Style, Stoic Beauty, and the Power of Simplicity

The old man and the sea.jpg

The Old Man and The Sea, Book Cover May Vary

Course Description

This course explores Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, focusing on its minimalist style, themes of endurance and human struggle, and its place in modern American literature. Students will explore how Hemingway uses symbolism, scenes and signs, and a distinctive prose style to portray the deep connection—the symbolic doubling—between the old man and the great marlin.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, students will: 

  • Understand the historical and literary context of the novel 

  • Analyze key themes such as perseverance, isolation, and human condition 

  • Explore Hemingway’s writing style and use of the iceberg theory 

  • Evaluate the novel’s symbolism and allegorical elements 

  • Develop critical essays and reflections on the text 

Calm Sea

Course Details

Course Length

Level 

Instructors

Course Modality 

15-20 weeks 

High School or College-Level Literature 

Alex Lee 

Online 

Week-by-Week Breakdown

This is a tentative syllabus. It very likely that the instructor would require more than 20 weeks to complete the novella and all the assignments designed for the course.

We will add or remove content as the course develops.  

Week 1: Who Was Ernest Hemingway? 

  • Biography and literary career overview 

  • Historical context: Post-WWII America and Cuba 

  • In class close reading: pp.  

Week 3: Opening the Novel 

  • Setting the scene: Santiago’s life and struggles 

  • Relationship between Santiago and Manolin 

  • Assignment: Journal entry from Manolin’s perspective 

Week 5: Literary Techniques in Hemingway’s Writing 

  • Use of short sentences, repetition, and understatement 

  • How does Hemingway create depth with simple prose? 

  • Assignment: Write a passage in Hemingway’s style

Unit 1: Introduction to Hemingway and the Novel (Weeks 1–5) 

Week 2: Themes and Structure of the Novel 

  • Overview of major themes: isolation, perseverance, nature 

  • Discussion: How does structure impact storytelling? 

  • Assignment: Create a thematic mind map 

Week 4: Santiago as a Hero of Endurance and Dignity 

  • Examining his beliefs, dreams, and personal philosophy 

  • Discussion: Is Santiago a tragic hero? 

  • Assignment: Character analysis chart 

Unit 2: Santiago’s Journey and the Natural World (Weeks 6–10) 

Week 7: The Marlin and the Hunt  

  • The marlin as a noble adversary 

  • Hemingway’s depiction of struggle and respect in battle 

  • Assignment: Write an essay comparing Santiago with the marlin

Week 9: Symbolism in the Novel 

  • The marlin, the sea, Santiago’s hands, and lions 

  • How do these symbols shape our understanding of the story? 

  • Assignment: Create a visual project on the novel’s symbols

Week 6: The Role of the Sea 

  • Nature as a character in the novel 

  • The sea’s dual nature: provider and destroyer 

  • Assignment: Symbolism analysis of the sea 

Week 8: Santiago’s Code of Honor 

  • What does honor mean to Santiago? 

  • Connections to the Hemingway Code Hero 

  • Assignment: Write about a real-life figure who embodies Santiago’s perseverance 

Week 10: Midpoint Reflection and Debate 

  • Is Santiago a hero or a fool? 

  • Debate Hemingway’s perspective on success vs. failure 

  • Assignment: Write a defense of Santiago’s choices

Week 11: The Arrival of the Sharks  

  • The sharks as symbols of destruction and inevitability 

  • Discussion: Does nature ultimately win? 

  • Assignment: Creative writing—rewrite the shark attack scene from a different perspective 

Week 13: The Final Return

  • Santiago’s homecoming—what has changed? 

  • Discussion: The role of Manolin at the end of the novel 

  • Assignment: Write a letter from Manolin to Santiago 

Unit 3: Conflict, Resolution, and Meaning (Weeks 11–15)

Week 12: Defeat or Victory?  

  • Examining Santiago’s mental and physical state 

  • What does it mean to be truly defeated? 

  • Assignment: Write an alternative ending to the novel

Week 14: Themes of Endurance and the Human Condition 

  • What does Santiago’s journey teach us about human resilience? 

  • How do these themes apply to today’s world? 

  • Assignment: Personal essay on overcoming challenges 

Unit 4: Critical Analysis and Modern Connections (Weeks 15–20) 

Week 16: Comparative Literature Study 

  • Connections to other works about endurance (Moby-Dick, Beowulf, etc.) 

  • Assignment: Compare Santiago to a character from another work 

Week 18: Film and Artistic Interpretations 

  • Watching a film adaptation of the novel 

  • Discussion: How does the film interpret the novel differently? 

  • Assignment: Write a review of the adaptation 

Week 15: Hemingway’s Critical Reception 

  • How was The Old Man and the Sea received when published? 

  • What do modern scholars say about it? 

  • Assignment: Research and summarize a literary critic’s perspective 

Week 17: The Novel’s Place in American Literature 

  • Where does The Old Man and the Sea fit in Hemingway’s legacy? 

  • How has the novel influenced later writers? 

  • Assignment: Write an essay on the novel’s impact on American literature 

Week 19: Final Projects and Reflection 

  • Presentation of final projects (essay, creative work, multimedia project) 

  • Course wrap-up and discussion 

  • Final Paper: Choose a major theme and analyze its significance in the novel 

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