You Set My Heart on Fire by Jessica R.

Liar, liar,

You set my heart on fire,

Then walked away

And left me to expire.

The heat is creeping through my veins,

The oxygen draining from my brain,

Adrenaline rising, I feel the rush,

As my blood begins to gush.

With my body violently shaking,

I feel my heart start aching,

The fire’s within my soul

And I’ll lose all self-control.

Please douse the fire away,

Before I begin to decay,

I know what I have felt

And I don’t want to melt.

Save me from the flames you’ve made

And all the little games you’ve played,

Just lay me in my grave to rest,

This is all at my request.

I’ll never forgive you

For what you’ve done,

Even though I thought

You were the one.

Liar, liar,

You set my heart on fire,

Then walked away

And left me to expire.

Rain by Sam C.

The brilliant sun dies like a rainy cloud

Raindrops fall into puddles on the street

Soon thunder might come and it will be loud

The water droplets and sidewalks will meet

Staring at the clouds in the sky above

The wind whips in a cold and bitter breeze

Dark clouds fit around the sun like a glove

Hopefully the furious wind will ease

Raindrops splash down intensely on a tree

When the rain goes away we can play

It seems to be all that children can see

When we get to waste the day away?

The brilliant sun will appear again

Through the gray clouds it will break through, but when?

Just Words by Melanie D.

Everything that is said is just words;

Words rule the world,

Words satisfy the heart,

Words are the aristocrats of vulnerability.

They seize our beliefs and take away pride,

and cause tears from the pits of our souls.

Words can’t be proven,

Words can’t be shown as true or false.

The only power they have is to manipulate our minds.

Just words, and words alone

will always mean nothing.

Action takes control of empty words,

Actions are what show the difference of truth and lies.

Actions seize the day,

Actions save people, save the world.

Actions are what cause change,

they inspire hope with proven miracles.

They tell our history,

they lead our decisions

and speak our future.

Take action and show that

your words are not hollow.

Dust by Julia L.

My angel, guardian, and keeper of peace

I lean on you in times of grief.

I need you, my angel, to keep me straight.

I need you more than ever, to keep me safe.

When filled with self-doubt,

You are dripping with hope.

You calm me, my angel,

Keep my anger at bay.

Please save me, my angel,

So I can see the light of day.

But what happens, little angel,

When you fly away?

When you disappear?

Or when you get preoccupied

With some other peer?

What happens, guardian,

When you turn to dust?

And leave me here to wither and rust!

Shall I wait for you, angel?

In this one little spot

Planted right here on this very dot.

I’ll wait, little angel, but don’t take too long

Or I might soon be gone.

Will It Always Be There? By Emma M.

As I go back into my past,

I wonder why it did not last.

I pass the park where I learned to swing,

I hope that it will always be there.

I pass the field where I flew my kite

Feeling once more that old dog bite.

See the balloon fly in the air,

I hope that it will always be there.

At the house with the lovely dove,

In my heart I still feel the love.

Where I had learned to sing and play,

I hope that it will always be there.

Lowered Down By Rachel L

People arrive wearing black clothing

They stare silently at the grave

Teardrops roll down their faces

And mascara runs down

Loving prayers are said

One last goodbye

The casket

Lowered

Down

First Sign of Spring by Danielle L

So beautiful for all to see

Everyone’s heart fills up with glee

Like soldiers ready and alert

Small signs of spring stuck in the dirt

Delicate seeds all fly away

Ready to sprout another day

Right above my dear Uncle Burt

Small signs of spring stuck in the dirt

Swaying in the nice, cool spring breeze

Until frost comes and makes them freeze

All the bees come over and flirt

Small signs of spring stuck in the dirt.

As I Swim… by Caulien Cockley

The cold water splashes my face,

while I swim at a steady pace.

The water is blue and clear,

as I swim, the finish is near.

Other swimmers are passing by,

but it’s only practice, so I sigh.

Those faster swimmers I do fear,

as I swim the finish is near.

Now I a swimming quite fast,

I don’t plan on coming in last,

The kids on the sides start to cheer,

as I swim the finish is near.

My Bright Blue Kite by Melissa O.

My bright blue kite

It is very fine

It is all mine

It shines very bright.

What a sight

I think it’s a sign

My bright blue kite

It is very fine.

You can not see it at night

Not even a line

But it can shine

With a strong light,

My bright blue kite.

Ode to Eminem by Lauren B.

Raising your daughter Hailey,

Always dealing with the cops,

Divorcing your drug addict wife,

Man I give you mad props

Always getting shit,

And hated on for being white,

You proved yourself as a rapper,

And never gave up the fight

You grew up in the hood,

Your life wasn’t that great,

But then you started rapping,

And you knew it was fate

When you spit on the mic,

And rhymed about your daughter

You blew all the other rappers,

Out of the water

You went from rapping on the streets,

To sold out shows,

From rags,

To very expensive clothes

One of your songs is my ring tone,

I hear it when I get a call,

Posters of you and d-12,

Cover all my walls

You have tons of money,

And are known all over the nation,

Your songs are played non stop,

On my favorite radio station

You went from being unknown,

To the greatest rapper alive,

I know if you ever met me,

You’d want me to be your wife

You’ve got tons of girls,

Screaming your name,

Tons of money,

And tons of fame

You are the greatest person,

You could ever be,

Eminem,

Will you marry me?

Him by Jess G.

She looks at him from a distance

Not knowing what he thinks of her.

She is assuming the worst

So her heart doesn’t break.

She thinks he’s so cute

Has gorgeous eyes.

…..

He thinks the

same of

her.

Paradise by Melissa B.

The clouds are low and the sun is setting

The ocean is calm and it’s very clear

To my left there is some tangled netting

Schools been boring and I wish I was here--

I close my eyes and feel the soft, calm breeze.

I can see mountain peaks in the distance

If I were in Alaska I would freeze,

I wish my dream land was an existence

Me, myself, and I are away from things,

A bright sun is shining upon my face.

With a point of the finger…poof…there’s swings

I really home I can come back to this place.

Done daydreaming and finishing my test,

I studied hard so I can be the best.

Cali By Julia M.

The world I first saw,

full of shinning suns, and shimmering blue-green waves.

Famous for the twenty-four hour raves.

I long for this world, as I sit, waiting for this ground to thaw.

Memories by Erika D.

Footprints fading in the newly wet sand

The sun is now set low in the blue sky

Memories only we can understand

The laughter remembered will never die.

Holding hands and jumping the rolling waves

We smiled as we had read each other’s minds

We knew how to test if we were each brave

Diving under water for ocean finds

Collapsed together softly on our backs

We watched as the clouds transformed above us

Each of us are as equally relaxed

We found the simplest things that we discussed

Now I’m sitting here on the weathered dock

The time now passed is like a ticking clock.

ODE TO LEMONADE By Tessa H

Lemonade quenches my thirst

When I don’t have it I want to burst

Lemonade is fresh and tangy

I drink it even if it’s rainy

In the summer when it’s extremely hot

I like to drink my lemonade on the spot

On the swings or by the pool

Lemonade is refreshing and cool

I like it in a cup with ice

Oh, that lemonade tastes nice

taking it for granted by Olivia N.

we whine about ugly shoes

but what to wear? how can we choose?

our silly american blues.

we are blinded with ignorance.

i met kids, happy as can be,

with only sandals and a tee,

or pants with a hole in the knee.

we are blinded with ignorance.

how can we say, i won’t eat that!

when some know nothing about fat?

are so hungry they’d eat a cat?

we are blinded with ignorance.

Ode to Summer by Chloe S

It only comes once a year

When it does all the children cheer

People have lots of fun

out in the summer sun.

There’s swimming and sleeping in

Beach volleyball games to win

Vacations and popsicles too,

So many things to do.

The sky is sunny and bright

The air is fresh and light

Then just like a smack in the face,

School falls back into place.

Jason Varitek by Sam P.

Captain of the Red Sox,
leader of the team,
a great hitter in the box,
to be like him is a dream.

Cape Cod by Kyle C.

Cape Cod is a wonderful place to be

It is beautiful and there are many things to see

I go there for vacation every summer

When we leave, it is always a bummer.

Ode to Naruto by Alex H.

A boy named Naruto

The demon residing within

A boy named Sasuke

Anger residing within

The copy ninja sees the anger

But is helpless to do anything

Naruto makes a promise

Will he be able to keep it?

Or will his word be broken

Like a vase dropped.

Itachi's words echo in Sasuke’s mind,

With his goal in mind he follows the curse

He has chosen his fate

He will revenge his clan

He knows he is wrong but he has gone too far

Can Naruto save him or will his choice be his demise?

Only time will tell.

Never Give Up by Taylor H.

I've never been the kind of person to give up on something I believe in, and I think that's something Santiago and I have in common. Santiago loves to fish, and he never once gave up on himself, or the fish. It takes a lot of strength, courage, and pride to stay out on the ocean, for cold endless nights just to catch the one fish of your dreams. “There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only one you." (23) Santiago knows how strong he is, and he’s never going to give up on what he loves.

When you want something really badly, you have to fight for it, and you can't give up on yourself or it no matter how hopeless it seems. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to become the best soccer athlete that I was capable of becoming. Days on end I would take my soccer ball to my back yard, and I'd just get a feel for it everyday, never giving up on my dreams.

My dad has always had a huge impact on how I play on the field. He's the one who made me have such a positive attitude towards the game and everything that I love. Since the day I stepped a foot onto the soccer field, I always knew that this was it. The soccer field was my home, my passion, and my place where I knew I could get away from everything. I not only looked upon all the outstanding athletes like Mia Hamm and David Beckham, but I looked further than that. I looked through the eyes of my seventh grade teacher. She was an amazing athlete who always knew exactly what words to say to keep me going. She drove her inspiring words into my head, and made me want to work harder, and become the athlete I am today.

After hooking the marlin Santiago realizes he can't kill the fish quickly, and it begins to tow him farther out to sea. The old man soon begins to recognize a bond between him and the marlin. "Now we are joined together and have been since noon. And no one to help either one of us" (50). This shows me that maybe the marlin could have been one motivate his mind, and keep him from giving up.

If there’s one lesson you should learn in life it’s to never give up on your dreams. No matter what you do, always tell yourself that you can do it, because if you set your mind to it, you can do it. If someone tells you that your dreams are too big and unrealistic, tell them that maybe there’s aren’t big enough. "Fish, I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends." (54) Even though Santiago loves the fish, he won’t give up his dreams to catch the big ones. If you have doubt that you can’t do something, or can’t be the best at something, overcome that, and proceed to doing your best, because the best things in life don’t come easy.

by Sam P.

As in many other stories, the main character faces many obstacles which they have to beat in order to reach their goal. This book is no different. The obstacles the Santiago manages to overcome are pretty impressive considering the conditions he was working in. The three main obstacles that Santiago is confronted with are his physical shape, equipment, and pride. All three of these took their toll on Santiago physically and mentally.

This fishing trip was extremely strenuous for the old man. First of all he was trying to complete this trip at the age of 84. I know of no other 84 year old who would even think about attempting this grueling trip alone. Also, Santiago suffers from rigor mortis in his left hand. The rigor mortis causes him a lot of pain during the trip. “God help me to have the cramp go,” (60). The pain that Santiago endures from the cramps is a major setback on a fishing trip. Another problem for Santiago was fatigue. Santiago is 84 years old and was out at sea for 85 days. He had very little food and very little water. With nothing to give Santiago energy, he grew very weak which made catching his dream marlin that much harder. Also, being out at sea for that long with little food and water made Santiago go a little crazy.

The Old Man and the Sea takes place in the late thirties early forties. The equipment that fisherman had back then was nothing compared to what it is now. Santiago really was unfortunate because not only was his equipment out of date but he was poor also so he couldn’t afford any new equipment. First of all Santiago’s boat is extremely small. The marlin was just as big as his boat. Boats today are much bigger and aren’t made of wood. “He is two feet longer than the skiff,” (63). Santiago also didn’t have the best fishing gear like rods and bait. All these things show what a disadvantage Santiago was at.

The third obstacle that Santiago faces is pride. Santiago was only supposed to be gone for about three days. He stayed out much longer than that just so he could prove to everyone that he was still a skilled fisherman. “Santiago,” the boy said. “Yes,” the old man said. “Can I go out to get sardines for you for tomorrow?” “No. Go and play baseball. I can still row and Rogelio will throw the net.”(12). This quote shows that the old man didn’t want the boys offer because he didn’t want other people to feel sorry for him. Santiago still had some pride left and he wanted to keep it.

As you can see Santiago overcame the challenges he was faced with and proved to everyone that he was still a worthy fisherman. Santiago used courage, bravery, and toughness to get through his long, laborious fishing trip and has earned the respect of many people.

by Sabrina M.

In The Old Man and the Sea, one character struggles a lot through powerful forces and obstacles. That character is Santiago. Poor Santiago is an aged man that is born to be a fisherman. Little does he know that there is a fish out in the sea that will make him go through many obstacles. This fish is not your ordinary fish, this fish has a tremendous amount of patience that the old man doesn’t have. In the end, the old man never gives up catching the fish.

Santiago is a poor man. He struggles to get money and buy food. “Have another coffee. We have credit here.”(27) In this quote it shows that the old man can’t even afford a cup of coffee. Not being able to afford food affects him in many ways. One way is by not having food or water to get stronger; he will be a weak fisherman. Without food or water, there is no chance surviving. On his journey, he was able to catch some albacore and other little fish that kept him full while trying to catch the fish.

Fishing for this Marlin took a lot of strength out of the old man, which made him suffer in many ways. He became weak, he began to cramp all over his body and he ran out of food and water. But the main suffering was cramping. He could barely feel his hands from holding the fishing pole in one position for a long time. “God help me to have the cramp go.”(60) Santiago is at the point he is begging God for help. This goes to show you that Santiago doesn’t give up. He is still striving for what he wants.

Just as Santiago thought the Marlin belonged to him, it sure didn’t.” It was an hour before the first shark hit him.”(100) the Marlin is a gigantic fish that a lot of people would die to have. It could feed many people and sharks. And I guess you could say it did feed many sharks. On his way home, he had to face sharks. He didn’t have the appropriate weapons to do this. He only had a knife, harpoon, ore, little piece of rope and his bare hands. But each time a shark came around, Santiago prepared him self for whatever was coming next. Each shark had taken a piece of the Marlin whether the shark died or not. In the end, he was left with nothing.

To me, Santiago can’t get anymore successful then he has. I mean, I’d like to see someone today go out there on a little paddle boat and sit there chasing a Marlin for a number of days and at the same time try to survive and fight sharks. Also, he had to try to take care of himself. Honestly, I don’t think anyone could do it. That is why I think Santiago is a successful man. Even though he came back with no Marlin, he still came back with unforgettable memories

by Melissa B.

In the book The Old Man and the Sea Santiago faced many challenges. Santiago had bad luck for 84 days straight. But that didn’t bother him. He was so convinced that he will go out in the smallest boat beyond where the other fishers go and catch the biggest fish. A few of the challenges he had were, him trying to catch the big marlin, his rigor mortis in his hand and the boy Mandolin.

Santiago tried so hard to catch the marlin that he would do anything to get it. He had bad luck of catching one for 84 days then finally the 85^th day came. As Santiago reeled in the fish for hours he grew very tired, dehydrated, impaction and his rigor mortis started to get to him. “For an hour the old man had been seeing black spots before his eyes, and the sweat salted his eyes and salted the cuts over his eyes and on his forehead. He was not afraid of the black spots. They were normal at the tension that he was pulling on the line. Twice that had worried him. “I could not fail myself and die on a fish like this,” he said.”” (Pg 87) This quote is showing how he is getting dehydrated from all the hard work that he is doing to try to catch the marlin. But the part of the quote where he spoke shows that he is not giving up soon and will do anything to get that Marlin.

The old man’s rigor mortis in his had got to him and made his hand cramp-up while fishing. He tends to talk to his hand and gets mad at it. Since his hand was so cramped up he could not catch the big fish. He had to try to straighten it out so the he could hold the line and catch the fish. “What kind of hand is that,” he said. “Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good.” (Pg 58) In this quote the old man is talking to his hand and he is questioning why it is cramping up because it is not helpful and there is no way he can use a cramped-up hand.

Santiago is always thinking about the boy. They have a very good relationship together. They spend a lot of time together talking about baseball and fishing. “The Yankees cannot lose.” “But I fear the Indians of Cleveland.” “Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio.” (Pg 17) This conversation between Santiago and Mandolin shows how much they talked about baseball together and share the love for the sport. Mandolin looks up to the old man and wants to fish just like Santiago when he grows up. Since Mandolin’s parents wouldn’t let him fish with the old man he went out to sea trying to catch fish by himself. He often thought about the boy when he was out there and wished that he was there with him. “If the boy was here he would wet the coils of the line, he thought. Yes. If the boy were here. If the boy were here.” This quote shows that Mandolin could have been a very big help to the old man and good company as well.

Santiago finally caught the marlin that he wanted so bad. Although a shark got to it he still had a big piece of the fish left. Santiago worked so hard to get the marlin; he never gave up. He also worked through his rigor mortis and had his hand cramped for days because of it. Santiago missed Mandolin a lot when he was on the boat. Because he was always thinking about Mandolin he never gave up. Mandolin kept the old man going while he was alone and fishing for his dream.

By Kyle C.

In real life and in novels, people battle conflicts that they must get through in everyday life. This is no different in The Old Man and the Sea. Santiago is an 84 year old man who has many obstacles in his way to conquer his dream of catching a marlin. Santiago has to overcome obstacles that are physically and mentally draining. Obstacles that Santiago must fight are fatigue, lack of equipment, and doubt. All three of these are bringing Santiago down and he wonders if he will ever capture the marlin.

While trying to capture the marlin, Santiago is affected by fatigue. Santiago is 84 years old and he is trying to capture a 1,000 pound marlin. Santiago does not have the strength that is equivalent to the marlin and the fish is slowly fatiguing the old man. “I’m tireder than I have ever been, he thought, and now the trade wind is rising.” (89). Santiago’s energy is also wearing down because he knows that either he or the fish will be injured from this incredible battle. Fatigue is only one of the many obstacles that Santiago must go through to capture the great marlin.

Another obstacle that Santiago is dealing with is lack of equipment. Santiago is a skilled fisherman, but his lack of equipment makes it tough for him to fish at his highest skill level. His fishing line is very thin and is not the size you want to capture a gargantuan marlin. Also, because of his lack of supplies, he had to use his hands to hold onto the line and he started to get cramps in his hand. “It was only a line burn that had cut his flesh. But it was in the working part of his hand. He knew he would need his hands before this was over and he did not like to be cut before it started.” (57). Having these cramps in his hand, Santiago was not 100 percent and struggled to fish with practically one hand. He has to create his own weapons to fight off sharks and other predators and this whole trip would be much easier if Santiago had the proper equipment.

Throughout Santiago’s long journey, he doubted himself and was unsure that he would ever catch the marlin. Santiago was extremely unlucky and the other fishermen at the tavern would make fun of him and laugh at him. This didn’t bring Santiago’s hopes down, but after being out on the ocean for so long, having cramps in his hand, and not having the correct equipment, he doubted himself. “I do not know, the old man thought. He had been on the point of feeling himself go each time. I do not know. But I will try it once more.” (93). Santiago had doubted himself many times, but he had a little determination left and he knew this was his best chance to catch a fish of a lifetime.

All three of Santiago’s obstacles while trying to catch the fish were all intriguing in different ways. They all show that if you want to achieve your goal, you are going to have to work hard for it. There are always going to be obstacles between you and your dreams, and you have to find away to get around them. That is exactly what Santiago did, finding different ways to catch the marlin with many disadvantages. He was fatigued with injuries and didn’t have the correct equipment, but was persistent and ended up catching the marlin. The Old Man and the Sea gave life lessons that are helpful in life. The book shows that if you have goals that you want to reach in life, you need intelligence, determination, and effort. Santiago had all three of these traits and that is why he was victorious in catching the great marlin

by Katie T.

Every good story has a good meaning to them that the reader can relate to and apply them to their own lifestyle. The message from this story, Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, is to never give up. You should stay with your goal and strive for the best. Giving up, in my eyes, is just an excuse for lazy people to say they don’t feel like it. I’ve never been the type of person to give up on something I am passionate about. Whether it’s with sports, school or life in general I am never giving up. I am always working my hardest to keep myself in line. I think that’s what Santiago and I have in common. He never gave up on the fish; he was determined to get the marlin. Most people usually would have given up on the second day but Santiago waited until the 82^nd day to get the fish and it took him three days to catch it. That shows a lot of dedication.

In the book, Old Man and the Sea, Santiago becomes very strong and helps himself through the hardest times. “You better be fearless and confident, old man,” Santiago says to himself, “You’re holding him but you cannot get line. But soon he has to circle” (84). He is convincing himself to stay with the fish with the conditions as hard as they are. Santiago is his own self motivator. The marlin is as strong as he and the marlin will put up a good fight so he has to stay strong and never give up.

I can relate to this theme a lot. I have never given up on something I love. For example, this week is lacrosse tryouts. Every day has been three hours long. It is long and painful. I am busting my butt to do everything right and not mess up so I can look good. I never even think about stopping or giving up. No matter how much I want to just stop and go home, I convince myself that I am here for a reason. To play lacrosse, it’s what I love to do. In the book, “Fish,” he said softly aloud, “I’ll stay with you until I am dead.” Santiago is telling the fish that he will do whatever it takes to kill him even if it means to kill himself. He is sticking with fishing just how I am with lacrosse.

Santiago faced a lot of struggles throughout the story as well and yet he still never gave up. He hurt his hand on the line. He was holding the line for to long and his hand got stiff and couldn’t move. Santiago had thoughts it was rigor mortis. On page 59, Santiago talks to his hand, “Now,” he said, “You can let go, hand, and I will handle him with the right arm alone until you stop your nonsense.” I consider this quote very important; it shows that through the physical struggles he still withstands the pressure of the ocean. Many people would have let go of the line by now. Santiago didn’t. Also, Santiago missed the young boy, Manolin very much. He wanted to be with the boy so he took charge of the marlin, so he could go home.

Every person around the world can take this message and apply it to their own life. This theme is very crucial to the book as well; even though Santiago was going through so much during his trip he took the risk and never gave up. I learned that you can’t give up whenever things go wrong; you have to stay calm and strong. It’s the type of thing that every person, everywhere, should keep in mind when things aren’t going the way they want. You have to believe in yourself and that’s the one thing that you have to understand to not ever give up.

by Jess G.

In our life we are faced with many challenges that affect everything we do from that point on. In The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, this is very true for Santiago. Throughout the novella, Santiago, a poor fisherman barely getting by, is faced with almost death situations and somehow finds the will power to come out alive. Some of these crucial situations are struggling with fatigue, having to face killer sharks without the proper equipment, and having no food or water.

In the novella there were many times where Santiago struggled with fatigue. “But he felt faint again. He lifted some water with his left hand and put it on his head. Then he put more on and rubbed the back of his neck.” (88). This quote shows that the sun was really getting to him and he was probably going to pass out soon. “The old man felt faint and sick and he could not see well.” (94). This quote also shows how he was getting close to being dehydrated. The old man suffered because he was so despite to catch a fish. He wanted it to prove to himself that he wasn’t unlucky; he also needed to prove to the other fishermen that he still had it in him. He needed the respect back.

Having to face killer sharks is one thing, but having to do it without the proper equipment is totally different. Santiago had only what he needed to fish and that wasn’t a lot at all. Santiago, being so intelligent though, didn’t need all fancy things to protect him. All of it would have been nice but it was just unfortunate that he was on the poorer side, and didn’t have it. Santiago killed the sharks that came to get his prized fish with his harpoon, a little knife, ore, a little rope, and his bare hands. “He prepared the harpoon, and made the rope fast while he watched the shark come on. The rope was short as it lacked what he had cut away to lash the fish.” (101).

Not eating for four days is pretty harsh. For Santiago it was even worse seen as with trying to catch the fish he was losing energy that his body couldn’t replace. “He leaned over the side [of the boat] and pulled loose a piece of the meat of the fish where the shark had cut him.” (106). He was so desperate for food that he started to eat a little of his marlin. Even though he could really use the money he needed to live more, and that was the only food he had..

Santiago struggled more in those four days than most people do in their lifetimes. From fatigue to sharks, and then to not having any food or water Santiago didn’t have it too well.. Through all of this though, he didn’t lose hope. He kept at the marlin. He was determined to get it and earn his respect back. Almost dying wasn’t in his mind at all. He was always only thinking about what people would say when he brought back the monster fish.

The Struggles of Santiago by Chloe S.

Everyone struggles with powerful obstacles that affect their character, and determine what kind of a person they really are. Such is true for the old fisherman Santiago in Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Old Man and the Sea. After 84 days of bad luck, Santiago ventured out on the ocean and was faced with loneliness, his own physical limitations, and dangerous sharks. These troubles help shape who Santiago is.

Santiago used to be married, but his wife was gone. In his small home “Once there had been a tinted photograph of his wife on the wall, but he had taken it down because it made him too lonely to see it” (16). The other fisherman in the village ignored or made fun of him. Santiago’s only friend and companion was Manolin, a young boy who he fished with. After all Santiago’s bad luck however, Manolin was forbidden to fish with him. When Santiago went out on the sea to catch the giant marlin, he had no one to help him, and no one to talk to. At various times during the story, Santiago commented on how he wished Manolin was there. But he didn’t let his loneliness bring him back to shore, which shows his bravery. Sometimes the journeys you take by yourself are the most important, because everyone needs time alone to think.

Santiago was not exactly a young man, unlike the other fisherman in his village. During his battle with the marlin however, the labor Santiago struggled with is labor intended for younger men. The marlin pulled the boat for a long time, while Santiago tightened and gripped ropes. He got cramps and rigor mortis in his hands from working so hard. He was especially frustrated by his physical limitations when “He could feel the steady hard pull of the line and his left hand was cramped. It drew up tight on the cord and he looked at it in disgust” (58). He also went long periods of time without food or sleep, and had to deal with fatigue and exhaustion. Other men would have given up, but for Santiago it seemed as if the wearier he was, the harder he tried.

When Santiago finally did hook the marlin and was taking it back, he was faced with something more dangerous. Sharks, attracted by the marlin’s blood, began to swarm his small boat. They weren’t nice either, “They were hateful sharks, bad smelling, scavengers as well as killers. And when they were hungry they would bite at an oar or the rudder of a boat” (107). They began to gnaw at the dead marlin that Santiago had tried so hard to catch. Santiago exerted tremendous effort to ward them off, and he was fighting for more than just a fish. He was fighting for respect, and for a broken streak of bad luck. But the sharks came in groups, and were enormous. Pretty soon the marlin was reduced to bones. Santiago had to accept the fact that the marlin was gone.

Even though in the end, the sharks destroyed the marlin, Santiago was not defeated. He had done what he’d wanted to do from the start. He faced the deep, immense ocean with no one but himself to talk to, but wasn’t scared about being alone. Santiago didn’t think twice about old age, cramps, or fatigue. He risked his life without hesitation, and showed amazing strength. And when the sharks came, Santiago gave everything he had to prevent them from eating the marlin. When he got home he realized that it wasn’t about actually catching the marlin. It was about how he did it, with courage and determination. The obstacles affected him positively, because if there hadn’t been anything to overcome, his voyage wouldn’t have been as meaningful. The other fishermen knew that Santiago’s journey had been a success, and Santiago knew it too.

By Caulien C.

In the book the Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway, Santiago has set out to sea on his 85^th day of unlucky fishing to try and turn his unluckiness around. As he is out at sea his line hooks a giant marlin, larger than his skiff! He spends four days with this fish and finally catches it. After catching the great fish, it gets attacked by roaming sharks that had followed the scent of fish blood from a mile away. As the sharks attacked Santiago fought till the end to keep his fish safe. As Santiago returned home, he was defeated physically, but he knew in a couple of days he’d be out at sea again trying to catch more fish. Even through all those troubles and problems, Santiago has never given up on anything.

Talking about this theme has made me think about how I can relate to it. As I play sports I can understand that you can never give up. Sometimes when I’m on the court playing basketball or when I’m swimming a longer race than usual, I get tired and feel like quitting, but I can’t because I’d be letting my team down and also myself. I must stick with what I am doing until I am finished. As Santiago has said to the fish as it pulls him across the sea, “’Fish,’ he said softly, aloud, ‘I’ll stay with you until I am dead.’”(52). And Santiago did stay with the fish the whole time after that.

As Santiago faces all these troubles he knows that he cannot give up. It’s not just, not giving up; it’s also that he wants to make the boy proud. He wants the boy to look at him as a hero of some sort. He wants to prove this to boy when saying, “’I told the boy I was a strange man,’ he said. ‘Now is the time to prove it.’”(66) He wants to be as famous as when he had hand wrestled against the Negro, “and at daylight when the bettors were asking that it be called a draw and the referee was shaking, [Santiago] had unleashed his effort and forced the hand of the negro down and down until it rested on the wood.” He wants people to look at him like he’s amazing and lucky, not an unlucky fisherman.

Also there is a very strong relationship between the boy and Santiago. Even though Santiago has been a very unlucky person for the past 84 days, the boy has still wanted to come with him on his fishing trips. Though Santiago is getting old too, the boy is always there to help the old man. Manolin will never give up on the man, until he dies. He wants to fish with the old man as he says, “’I do not care. I caught 2 yesterday. But we will fish together now for I still have much to learn.’” As Santiago sets out to sea, one of his lines gets caught by a huge marlin. The Marlin pulls him and his skiff for a few days and finally comes up. Through the time he has spent waiting for the marlin he goes through many troubles but he got through them. He had killed some sharks and injured plenty, fighting for the fish. But he never gave up on it.

Santiago has had a great experience and has gotten even wiser than before. He starts to understand the sea even better. Even though he had not been able to really bring the whole fish home, and it seems that all the fighting and pushing himself was a waste of time, and he knew that it would be very difficult, but he loves the sea. He said that he was to fish, so it must be in his blood to do things like that. He probably hopes that the boy will have the same experience as he did.

Santiago's Obstacles by Tessa H.

In our world today many people struggle with different obstacles to continue to motivate them selves and continue living. From recently reading the Old Man and the Sea, throughout the whole book, the main character Santiago has to go through many obstacles’ that affect his fishing trip. This includes both mental and physical battles. To me the struggles that stood out most were his lack of supplies, being alone, and his bad luck.

Santiago set sail for the big fishing trip by himself with small items and the skiff. In his mind he was not prepared for those 4 days was going to be on the small boat. He had only brought along one water bottle with him. “For an hour now the old man had been seeing back spots before his eyes… he had felt faint and dizzy and that worried him”(87). The old man had become very weak and dehydrated from his lack of water for 4 days. Along with having a lack of water the old man had brought no food on his journey. The old man had become so hungry, after the first day he finally picked up his gaff, and began to hunt for tuna. He caught some, but they didn’t last long. He was still hungry. Dolphins sounded his boat, and tempted the old man to gaff them as well. Inside of the dolphin the old man found jumping fish to snack on, because he didn’t like the taste of dolphins.

Beside the fact that the old man had no supplies, he was very alone as well. Santiago was very upset with the decision that the boy had made, but had finally faced the facts that he was going to be going on the fishing trip alone. While out on the boat, the old man begins talking to himself. He doesn’t even notice it at first; aloud he said “I wish the boy were here… I wish I had that boy” (50-51). He keeps saying it because he knows it will be harder for him to catch the marlin without a young persons hand by his side. He also began to talk to fish, birds and eventually the marlin because of his loneliness.

As I stated before, Santiago had been out for 84 days trying to catch a Marlin. Everyone thought that he had bad luck or was “cursed”. “…after forty days without a fish the boys parents had told him that the old man was not definitely and finally salao, which is the world form of unlucky”..(1) He even started to believe it him self. Santiago had never caught a good fish, unless it was on the 85^th day. That is why he wasn’t a threat to other boats. Many other fisher men had joked around, saying he wont ever catch anything either.

Over all Santiago had over come many obstacles and challenges, whether it was his lack of supplies, his lonesomeness, or his bad luck. Santiago always got through what ever challenge that was thrown at him. By having these obstacles, it made Santiago more determined, and dedicated to catch the marlin. He also proved to himself he can do anything you can put him mind to.

By Sam C.

In the novella, The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, an old man named Santiago is faced with many horrendous obstacles he must overcome while at sea. All of these obstacles are physical or psychological, and Santiago has to find a way to get pass them and carry on with his fight to catch the marlin he has been after for a long while. He was never a lucky man and this catch could gain him the respect he has wanted. Throughout this story, Santiago is faced with excruciating pain in his hand, loneliness, and the fact he brought inadequate supplies.

Pain is one of the various things Santiago has to overcome in this novella. While the marlin pulls him through the Gulf of Mexico, his hand becomes cramped up into a claw shape. “ ‘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.’ ” (58-59). This quote shows the determination that Santiago has and how he will do anything and everything in his power to make sure he has his strength to catch the marlin.

While out at sea, Santiago becomes very lonely. You can tell he is becoming lonely because he keeps repeating the words, “I wish I had the boy.” (51). The boy, Manolin, and Santiago have and have had a strong relationship. Even though Santiago didn’t have much luck Manolin always stuck by him and helped him. When he is lonely his mind roams thinking about old memories. Then, while out at sea, a bird lands on the skiff and Santiago begins to talk to it. “ ‘How old are you?’ The old man asked the bird, Is this your first trip?’ ” (55). This quote signifies that he is so lonely he will talk to anyone, including the bird.

A fisherman must always have adequate supplies to make it through their fishing trips, but Santiago believed his trip would only last a day. He obviously thought wrong. While at sea Santiago says to himself “ ‘You should have brought many things,’ he thought. ‘But you did not bring them, old man.’ ” (110) I think he felt somewhat disappointed in himself because he wasn’t as prepared as a fisherman should be. The lack of food made him tired which made it much harder for him to put up a fight against the 1,000-pound marlin.

Santiago’s experiences out in the Gulf of Mexico were very rewarding for him, but were also a painful experience. He has gained respect of the men in his village because of the massive marlin he roped in. Even though the marlin lost most of its meat from the sharks, Santiago gained wisdom for the next time he goes out fishing. He learned to bring an adequate supply of food and tools. In this story we have heard about an old man’s determination through pain, loneliness, and lack of food. If you have enough belief in yourself and enough determination you can overcome anything which was clearly portrayed by Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

The Old Man's Obstacles by Melissa O.

Without the struggles Santiago has to endure throughout his journey, he may not have been as determined in catching the marlin. In the novella entitled The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago is the old man struggling for 4 days trying to break his bad luck streak and catch a large fish. If he does so he will no longer be poor and will gain respect from all of the other fishermen. While out at sea the old man deals with physical and emotional struggles. There were many times any other person may have given up and admitted defeat.

After being in the boat for quite some time, Santiago finally hooks the great marlin. The problem is that since the marlin is so large, he must wait for it to rise to the surface so he can spear and kill it. Unfortunately, the fish ends up holding on and putting up a fight for a long time. Since Santiago is older, he is easily fatigued, but still manages to do his best. He becomes very tired and hasn’t been able to sleep that much. He is not only tired, but his left hand begins to cramp and ache from holding the line with the marlin. If his hand does not stop cramping he may not be able to hold onto the fish and lose everything he had worked so hard for. “God hell me to have the cramp go, he said. Because I do not know what the fish is going to do (60).” With his strong determination he was able to struggle through the pain and keep his mind on the prize.

Santiago had not expected to be out for 4 days trying to catch the great marlin. Being alone in a small skiff for such a long period of time must have been extremely hard, especially for a man of his age. There are numerous times when he wishes the boy Manolin was there to see and help in the catching of the fish. “Then he said aloud, I wish I had the boy. To help me and to see this. No one should be alone in their old age, he thought. But it is unavoidable (48).” Catching the marlin would have been much easier I there was someone there to help. They could take turns resting, fishing and holding the line, it would have been much less lonely and Santiago would have had someone to talk to instead of himself.

Fishing would have been much easier if Santiago would have been better prepared. He should have brought food, water and a blanket even if he wasn’t sure of how long he would be out there. But if he had better fishing equipment he might not have been out there for so long. The only problem is that he does not have any money. The boy really loved him and he felt bad when Santiago would never come home with anything, especially for 84 days in a row. “It made the boy sad to see the old man come in each day with his skiff and he always went down to help him carry either the coiled lines or the gaff and harpoon and sail that was furled around the mast. The sail was patched with flour sacks and, furled, it looked like the flag of permanent defeat (9).” I think that the boy is a great person for always helping the old man even though he doesn’t have too and there is nothing in it for him.

Santiago struggled physically from the pain in his hand and the lack of supplies. He struggled emotionally from missing the boy. It is amazing that Santiago was able to suffer through everything and still catch the fish. It took a lot of self control to push through but he did it. Even though he caught the fish he made no money since the shark ate most of it. He still was rewarded with respect from all the other fishermen. That seemed to be enough for Santiago.

by Julia L.

Many stories are teeming with characters struggling to overcome obstacles, to prove themselves to others and, more importantly, to keep his own confidence alive. In the novella, The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago works through many struggles in his great feat after the marlin. Some of these struggles include a frustrating lack of supplies, physical fatigue, and the numerous antagonists against him. Santiago works through these problems in his old age to eventually conquer the marlin and prove he is an admirable fisherman.

The least life-threatening of Santiago’s troubles is the threat of inadequate supplies. When he heads out to sea, he only brings what is critically necessary under the belief that he will only be gone one day. He has only brought one harpoon, and when he loses that is left with a few somewhat ineffective weapons. Then, when there is only a knife left, it becomes dull and he wishes he brought a stone to sharpen it so it would a weapon worth using. “I should have brought a stone. You should have brought many things, he thought.” (110) He would have also been a lot better off if he had brought some food and a first aid kit.

Santiago also suffers from lack of sleep, a cramping hand, and malnourishment. He has been in the little skiff for so long that his whole body is becoming stiff. “You’re feeling it now, fish, and so, God knows, am I,” he said (56). Santiago feels that in his old age he has been still long enough to start cramping. “…his hand was cramped. It drew up on the heavy cord and he looked at it in disgust.” (58). It starts when he gets rigor mortis in his hand. He is also suffering from lack of sleep. He has to be on the guard twenty- four seven in cases the marlin does something, which doesn’t leave much time for sleep. That, along with the malnourishment from failing to bring any food, has left him physically fatigued.

Throughout the book, many different characters work against Santiago. First the marlin itself is fighting for its life, which Santiago is trying to take. It takes him three days to catch the marlin and by then he is stretched to his limits. The sharks coming after his marlin do not help his cause either. “And he was the biggest dentuso that I have ever seen. And God knows I have seen big ones” (103). Santiago is speaking of the incredibly big and strong sharks that are coming to take a piece of his prize fish. By the time the sharks are done with the marlin, it is nothing but a meatless skeleton and the old man believes they have won when he says “They beat me, Manolin, they truly beat me” (124).

Santiago went through a fantastic journey on his four days at sea. He proved to himself that he is still a good fisherman and he broke his dry spell. He worked through the frustration of not having the supplies he needed. He suffered through the physical pain and built up his inner strength in order to persevere. More importantly, Santiago pulled out that inner strength and beat the antagonists set on ruining his goals. He believes he was beaten, but who is to say that when he has obviously gone above and beyond expectations.