Accompany a reading of Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea with a thorough literature packet. Although the materials are meant to prepare readers for a timed essay, the background information and the activities are sure to engage any reader in the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Concepts

literary themes, ernest hemingway, the old man and the sea, characterization, author's style, diction, syntax

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Incorporate the activities into a unit that uses Hemingway's novel as a core text
• Have groups research Hemingway's Code Hero, his Iceberg Theory, his ideas about grace under pressure, and his involvement in the hunt for German shipping in the Caribbean

Classroom Considerations

• The materials are intended to prepare learners for a timed essay examination but would be appropriate for any study of the novel
• Test takers may used the novel while crafting their essay
• British English spellings are used throughout the resource
• Page numbers refer to the Heinemann New Windmills edition of The Old Man and the Sea

Pros

• The 16-page packet includes a brief biography of Hemingway, information about his activities in Cuba, and his fascination with Cuba culture
• Also included is a synopsis of the novel, activities, advice on how to respond to the essay question, and a practice exam question

Cons

• No rubric is included

Common Core

RL.9-10.1 RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.5 RL.9-10.6 RL.11-12.2 RL.11-12.3 RL.11-12.5 RL.11-12.6 RI.11-12.1