The LitCharts ThemeTracker is a mini-version of the entire LitChart. The ThemeTracker provides a quick timeline-style rundown of all the important plot points and allows you to track the themes throughout the work at a glance.
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Day 1
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- Elderly fisherman Santiago returns from his 84th day without catching a fish. Manolin helps Santiago carry his gear and buys him a beer at the Terrace.
- Manolin offers to join Santiago’s boat again, but Santiago knows Manolin’s parents will not allow Manolin to fish with such an unlucky fisherman.
- Manolin walks Santiago to his shack, and they talk about baseball. Manolin reminds himself to bring Santiago clothing and supplies for the winter.
- Manolin goes out to get Santiago dinner and some bait for the next day. When he returns, Santiago is asleep on the porch. Manolin wakes him up and gives him dinner.
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Day 2
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- Santiago walks up the road to Manolin’s home and wakes him up for work. Manolin helps Santiago load his boat.
- Santiago rows into the ocean alone and decides to fish farther out than he has been fishing the previous week.
- Santiago sees a bird dipping into the sea, having spotted fish, but he arrives at the spot too late. Finally he is able to catch a small tuna.
- In the afternoon, Santiago feels a tug on his line and realizes that a huge marlin has caught his hook. Santiago tries to pull the marlin up, but he is not strong enough.
- The marlin drags Santiago’s skiff northwest, away from land. As night arrives, Santiago continues holding the line so that the marlin will not break it.
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Day 3
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- Santiago holds onto the line through the night. He cuts all other lines and focuses only on landing the marlin.
- A bird lands on the line. Santiago talks to it. The bird flies away when the marlin lurches suddenly, cutting Santiago’s hand.
- Santiago finally sees a glimpse of the marlin and is astonished at its size.
- Santiago uses all his failing strength to hold the line.
- Santiago recalls how when he was a young man he was known for his strength and his ability to arm wrestle.
- Santiago prays to God to give him the strength to kill the marlin.
- Santiago lets out a small line and catches a dolphin to eat.
- When night arrives, Santiago rests for a few hours and dreams of porpoises, his cold bed, and lions.
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Day 4
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- Santiago wakes up to the marlin jumping frantically. Santiago realizes the marlin is tired, but he too is exhausted and growing weaker.
- As the sun rises, the marlin stops towing the boat and begins circling it instead, close to the surface. Santiago prays to kill the marlin.
- When the marlin passes close to the boat, Santiago harpoons the marlin in the heart, killing him.
- Santiago ties the marlin to the side of his boat and begins sailing home.
- An hour after he turns homeward, a giant Mako shark attacks the boat, trying to eat the marlin. Santiago kills it but loses his harpoon in the process.
- A few hours later two more sharks attack. Santiago kills them both with his knife attached to the oar. But by the time the sharks are dead they have eaten half of the marlin. Santiago apologizes to the marlin for catching it.
- At midnight, a pack of sharks attack. Santiago wards them off, but they have eaten all of the marlin.
- Santiago pulls into the harbor, utterly exhausted. He removes the mast from the boat and carries it back to his shack, where he falls asleep.
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Day 5
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- Manolin comes to Santiago’s shack in the morning and cries at Santiago’s injuries. A group of fisherman marvels at the size of the marlin’s skeleton.
- When he wakes up, Santiago tells Manolin to give the marlin’s head to Pedrico. Manolin tells Santiago he has decided to fish with Santiago again no matter what his parents say.
- Manolin goes out to get Santiago some food. Tourists marvel at the skeleton of the marlin. Santiago goes back to sleep and dreams of lions.
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Resistance to Defeat
Pride
Friendship
Youth & Age
Man & Nature
Christian Allegory
