Previous
Setting
Definition of Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often use the connecting words "like" or "as," but can also... read full definition
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often use the connecting words "like... read full definition
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often... read full definition
Key Examples in The Old Man and the Sea
Day Two
Explanation and Analysis—Man-of-War:
Hemingway describes the Sargasso weed and the Portuguese man-of-war (a sea creature closely associated with jellyfish) that Santiago sails by with imagery and a simile:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Nothing showed on the surface of the water but some patches of yellow, sun-bleached Sargasso weed and the purple, formalized, iridescent, gelatinous bladder of a Portuguese man-of-war floating close beside the boat. [...] It floated cheerfully as a bubble with its long deadly purple filaments trailing a yard behind it in the water.
Related Themes:
Day Three
Explanation and Analysis—Clear as Brotherly Stars:
Hemingway uses situational irony and simile when detailing Santiago's thoughts about whether or not he should sleep:
Unlock with LitCharts A+I’m clear enough in the head, he thought. Too clear. I am as clear as the stars that are my brothers.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—The Marlin Emerges:
Both imagery and simile is used by Hemingway as he describes the first time Santiago lays eyes on the marlin he has hooked:
Unlock with LitCharts A+He was bright in the sun and his head and back were dark purple and in the sun the stripes on his sides showed wide and a light lavender. His sword was as long as a baseball bat and tapered like a rapier and he rose his full length from the water and then re-entered it, smoothly, like a diver and the old man saw the great scythe-blade of his tail go under and the line commenced to race out.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Ocean Making Love:
Hemingway describes the movement of an island of Sargasso weed on the rolling waves with a somewhat elaborate simile:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Just before it was dark, as they passed a great island of Sargasso weed that heaved and swung in the light sea as though the ocean were making love with something under a yellow blanket, his small line was taken by a dolphin.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—As Stiff as Rigor Mortis:
Hemingway describes Santiago's cramped hand with both simile and personification:
Unlock with LitCharts A+“How do you feel, hand?” he asked the cramped hand that was almost as stiff as rigor mortis. “I’ll eat some more for you.” [...] “How does it go, hand? Or is it too early to know?"
Related Themes:
Day Four
Explanation and Analysis—Teeth like Fingers:
Hemingway describes Santiago's first shark sighting with imagery and simile:
Unlock with LitCharts A+His back was as blue as a sword fish’s and his belly was silver and his hide was smooth and handsome. [...] all of his eight rows of teeth were slanted inwards. They were not the ordinary pyramid-shaped teeth of most sharks. They were shaped like a man’s fingers when they are crisped like claws. They were nearly as long as the fingers of the old man and they had razor-sharp cutting edges on both sides.
Related Themes:
