The Old Man and the Sea Literary Devices

Explanation and Analysis—Fed to the Sharks:

The Old Man on the Sea's ending is an instance of situational irony writ large. As the reader learns from the very first paragraph of the novel, Santiago has gone 84 days without a catch. The reader is also privy to Santiago's humble life: for example, Santiago can not currently afford his own food and wears patchwork clothes. Santiago then spends three days working tirelessly to catch a marlin, which is "the biggest fish that he had ever seen and bigger than he had ever heard of." This fish could feed an untold number of people and "would bring the highest price in the market." Santiago risks his life to catch the marlin, and though he ultimately succeeds, the fish is dead and mangled by the time he gets it back to shore, meaning it will be of little use to him.

Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus

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:

I’m clear enough in the head, he thought. Too clear. I am as clear as the stars that are my brothers.

Unlock with LitCharts A⁺

The Old Man and the Sea: Situational Irony 2 key examples