Interactive Questions
1. How many days had Santiago gone without catching a fish?
2. What did the villagers whisper about Santiago?
3. Who was Manolin?
4. Why did Manolin leave Santiago's boat?
5. What sport did Santiago love to talk about?
6. Who was Santiago's hero in baseball?
Drag the correct word to complete each sentence.
1. The villagers thought Santiago was ______ because he hadn't caught a fish in 84 days.
2. Manolin still spent his evenings with Santiago because of his ______ and respect.
3. Santiago's dreams of lions in Africa symbolize ______ and strength.
1. Hemingway uses Santiago's eyes to show his defeated spirit.
2. The patched sail symbolizes Santiago's past struggles and persistence.
1. When did Santiago wake up to prepare for his journey?
2. What food did Manolin bring Santiago in the early morning?
3. How did other fishermen react to Santiago as he passed?
4. What kind of boat did Santiago own?
5. Why did Santiago tell the boy not to come with him?
6. What number did Santiago call his “lucky number”?
7. What did Santiago believe about luck?
8. What did Santiago do after pushing the boat out?
9. What did Santiago say about hope?
Drag the correct word to complete each sentence.
1. Santiago told Manolin not to come with him because the boy's ______ wouldn't allow it.
2. Santiago believed that ______ was something you could control through skill.
3. The ______ sail symbolized Santiago's past struggles.
4. Manolin brought food to Santiago out of ______ and care.
5. Santiago chose to go farther than others to prove his ______.
6. The early morning setting shows Santiago’s ______ and discipline.
7. Santiago’s belief that “without hope, a man is nothing” shows his deep ______.
8. Santiago’s preparation shows the value of ______ and skill.
9. Some fishermen respected Santiago while others pitied him because of his long ______.
10. Santiago’s humility is shown when he ______ the boy’s help.
1. Santiago believed luck was more important than skill in fishing.
2. Santiago planned to go farther out to sea than the other fishermen.
3. The patched sail symbolizes Santiago’s past struggles and persistence.
4. Manolin’s loyalty is unimportant to Santiago’s dignity.
5. Santiago shows humility by refusing all help from the boy.
6. The number 85 is important because Santiago considers it his lucky day.
7. Santiago believes hope is unnecessary for survival.
8. Hemingway creates an atmosphere of despair at the start of Santiago’s journey.
9. Santiago’s skiff represents his simple, weathered, but enduring life.
10. Santiago’s belief in hope makes him a symbol of resilience.
1. What did the bird circling above the water signal?
2. What happened when the bird dived into the sea?
3. How did Santiago react when the line first moved?
4. What cut into Santiago’s hands?
5. Where did the fish pull Santiago’s boat?
6. What did Santiago eat to keep his strength during the night?
7. What memory gave Santiago courage to endure the pain?
8. How did Santiago support the line when he grew tired?
9. What did Santiago whisper about the fish?
10. At dawn, how did Santiago describe his connection with the fish?
Drag the correct word to complete each sentence.
1. The bird helped Santiago know that ______ were near.
2. Santiago waited to pull the line to avoid ______ the fish.
3. The tuna jumping revealed the ______ of the sea.
4. Santiago called the fish his “______” out of respect.
5. Santiago endured the pain by remembering his ______ in Casablanca.
6. Santiago wished the ______ were with him for help and comfort.
7. The night sky made Santiago feel both ______ and connected to the universe.
8. Santiago said, “May the best of us ______.”
9. Santiago ate raw fish to maintain his ______.
10. Santiago wrapped the line around his ______ to rest his bleeding hands.
1. Hemingway uses the bird to symbolize guidance and hope.
2. Santiago speaks to the fish as if it were human to show his loneliness.
3. The steady, deep swimming of the fish suggests it is calm and powerful.
4. Santiago compares his endurance to DiMaggio’s to feel inferior.
5. Santiago accepts pain as a natural part of the struggle for greatness.
6. The endless pull into the sea symbolizes life’s unpredictable challenges.
7. Santiago’s solitude makes the battle meaningless.
8. The sea acts only as an enemy in this chapter.
9. Hemingway describes Santiago as part of the sea and stars to show his harmony with nature.
10. Santiago is fighting himself — his limits, fears, and age — as much as the fish.
1. What did Santiago feel when he realized he was far from land and other fishermen?
2. How did Santiago rest his hands during the fight?
3. What food did Santiago eat to keep his strength?
4. Who gave Santiago inspiration to fight through pain?
5. What happened when the fish suddenly surged at night?
6. What dream gave Santiago strength during his loneliness?
7. What did Santiago see when the marlin first leapt into the air?
8. How did Santiago describe the marlin after seeing it?
9. How long did the battle last?
10. What did Santiago whisper at the end of the chapter?
Drag the correct word to complete each sentence.
1. Santiago felt ______ instead of fear when far from land.
2. Shifting the line across his shoulders shows Santiago’s ______.
3. Santiago compares his endurance to ______ DiMaggio’s.
4. The marlin’s leap filled Santiago with ______ and awe.
5. Santiago admires the marlin even while trying to ______ it.
6. Memories of the ______ give Santiago strength in his struggle.
7. Santiago expresses both ______ and duty toward the fish.
8. Hemingway describes Santiago’s will as “like ______.”
9. Santiago whispers, “It is you or ______.”
10. Santiago balances food and rest to maintain his ______.
1. The sea serves as both a setting of danger and a stage of glory in this chapter.
2. Santiago speaks to the fish as if it were human to show madness.
3. The fish symbolizes both an opponent and a partner in the battle.
4. Santiago’s endurance highlights the theme of human weakness.
5. The marlin’s leap symbolizes its power, freedom, and nobility.
6. Admiration for the fish is unimportant to understanding Santiago’s character.
7. The stars and dreams connect Santiago to nature and the universe.
8. Hemingway suggests that suffering is necessary for greatness.
9. Santiago’s loneliness makes the fight meaningless.
10. Santiago believes a man is born to work, fight, suffer, and win.
1. How long had Santiago been fighting the marlin by this chapter?
2. What did Santiago notice about the marlin’s movement?
3. What did Santiago think about pain?
4. How did Santiago describe the marlin when it first rose?
5. What weapon did Santiago use to kill the fish?
6. How did the marlin die?
7. Why did Santiago cry after killing the marlin?
8. How did Santiago secure the marlin after killing it?
9. What did Santiago fear would be attracted by the blood?
10. What vision gave Santiago strength as he sailed home?
Drag the correct word to complete each sentence.
1. Santiago shows ______ for the marlin even as he kills it.
2. Santiago describes pain as something ______ — a sign of life.
3. The marlin’s size and beauty emphasize its ______.
4. Santiago cries after victory because he feels deep ______.
5. Tying the marlin to the side reveals its enormous ______.
6. Santiago’s vision of the villagers reflects his need for ______.
7. Santiago fears ______ will come for the blood in the water.
8. The lions of his youth continue to give him ______.
9. This chapter marks both ______ and tragedy for Santiago.
10. Santiago says the fish’s death gives him life but costs him his ______.
1. Hemingway blends pride and sorrow in Santiago’s victory.
2. Santiago views the marlin only as prey, not as a brother.
3. The marlin symbolizes nature’s beauty, power, and nobility.
4. The fight does NOT reflect the theme of man versus nature.
5. Hemingway describes the marlin as majestic and noble to elevate the battle’s meaning.
6. Santiago’s statement “They will not believe me” suggests human achievement is often unrecognized.
7. The presence of sharks foreshadows the next conflict.
8. Santiago’s victory is complete and satisfying at the end of this chapter.
9. This chapter connects survival, sacrifice, and honor.
10. Santiago is truly victorious because he conquered his greatest challenge.
1. What did Santiago fear as he sailed with the marlin beside the boat?
2. What kind of shark attacked first?
3. How did Santiago kill the first shark?
4. What happened to the marlin after the first attack?
5. What did Santiago do when his harpoon broke?
6. What kind of sharks attacked after the mako?
7. What part of the marlin remained by afternoon?
8. What did Santiago use after the oar-spear broke?
9. What was left of the marlin by nightfall?
10. What did Santiago say the sharks had beaten him, not the fish?
Drag the correct word to complete each sentence.
1. Santiago calls the first shark attack “the ______.”
2. Santiago shows ______ by fighting the mako shark alone.
3. The breaking of the harpoon symbolizes the ______ of his resources.
4. Santiago keeps fighting even when the marlin is nearly gone to protect his ______.
5. The galanos sharks are ______ and attack in a pack.
6. Santiago says he was beaten by ______, not the fish.
7. Hemingway describes Santiago using broken wood to show his ______.
8. Dignity plays a central role in Santiago’s battle with the ______.
9. The marlin is both a victory and a ______ in this chapter.
10. Santiago’s hope in the ______ gives meaning to his suffering.
1. The sharks symbolize mindless destruction, contrasting the marlin’s nobility.
2. Hemingway emphasizes the endless nature of Santiago’s struggle to show futility.
3. The skeleton of the marlin symbolizes the enduring value of the struggle.
4. Santiago’s refusal to surrender shows the theme of human dignity.
5. Hemingway describes the sharks coming “one after another” to build tension and inevitability.
6. This chapter sends the message that pride always leads to loss.
7. Santiago’s battle with sharks is different from his battle with the marlin — it’s defensive, not respectful.
8. Santiago still calls the marlin his “greatest friend” even after its death.
9. This chapter deepens the theme of man versus nature by showing nature’s cruel, indifferent side.
10. Santiago’s fight against the sharks was hopeless but heroic.