The Old Man and the Sea is a novel by Ernest Hemingway that was first published in 1952, and to this day remains one of his most famous works. The protagonist, a fisherman named Santiago, has gone 84 days without catching a fish. His struggle with a giant marlin proves the significance of sacrifice and indicates there's victory in defeat.

Summary

Read our full plot summary and analysis of The Old Man and the Sea, scene-by-scene breakdowns, and more.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in The Old Man and the Sea and in-depth analyses of Santiago, the marlin, and Manolin.

Literary Devices

Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in The Old Man and the Sea, from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more.

Quotes

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Quick Quizzes

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Essays

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Further Study

Test your knowledge of The Old Man and the Sea with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web.