A style is a set of unique features which distinguish him from other writers.

He was a modern
American writer and belonged to the group of “Lost Generation”. He uses the features of
naturalistic movement in his writing. He uses first person narration in his novel. The religious
imagery is common in his writing.
Hemingway was a journalist and he uses simple and short sentences. He only focuses
apparent meanings and doesn’t explain themes. His writing becomes clear and understandable.
His word choice makes his pictures real and alive. He uses repetition of words and phrases to
stress his themes. His sentences are declarative. “But man is not made for defeat". "A man
can be destroyed but not defeated.”
His description of all the events is real life like. It doesn’t seem a fiction. The knowledge
for sea, fishing and Cuban coasts is real one. He has showed his own life struggle against
difficult circumstances. Hemingway says, “I tried to make a real old man, a real sea and real
sharks.”
There is a lot of use of symbols in his writing especially old man and sea. These symbols
are sea, marlin, sharks, mandolin, dreams, hand match, lions, DiMaggio, Mary’s picture and
cross. This makes his writing multidimensional. Man’s dignity is the central theme in his
writing. He believes in human success and victory.
Hemingway is also considered a master of dialogue. The dramatic techniques are taken from
everyday life. His style is characterized by simplicity, directness, clarity, freshness and
naturalness. His observations are very strong. Edwin Muir says, “Hemingway’s power of
observation is so exact that it has an effect of imagination”
Old Man and Sea (Fight with Sharks, Sharks as a symbol of punishment, Old man as a
tragic hero, What was his character flaw,)

The sharks are very significant in the novel because they represent the hostile nature.
In man’s life, nature supports and restricts his efforts at the same time. The sharks are also the
symbol of punishment when the old man commits mistake. The old man is a tragic hero who
fights for his survival. On the eighty fifth day, he hooks a big marlin. He goes too far into the sea
on the day. “Nothing . . . I went out too far.” But he commits a hamartia of injuring the marlin
and going very deep into the sea. He stabs the marlin and makes the blood ooze out. It invites the
sharks.
The sharks are also test of Santiago’s patience and determination. He fights against
them until his end. He tries his best to save marlin but to no avail.
Their attack is very severe and they take the whole flesh of the marlin. Only the skeleton
of marlin remains. First attack is of a mako shark. Its teeth are like human fingers. It takes forty
pounds of flesh. Santiago attacks with his harpoon but the shark takes it with the rope. He repeats
that “a man can be destroyed but not defeated.”
The second attack is done by two shovel-nosed sharks. Santiago fights with his knife
bound with an oar. He kills both of them but they eat one quarter of the fish. Now, he realizes his
mistake of injuring the marlin and going very deep into the sea.
Then another shark attacks. It takes the knife of the old man. His fight doesn’t end here. It is the
test of his resolutions. Two sharks attack before night fall. He fights with his club. Only half
marlin remains. At midnight, a pack of sharks attacks. One of them takes his club. He fights with
the tiller of the boat. He never yields before them. This time he couldn’t stop the sharks from
taking the whole flesh of the marlin. “He hit [the shark] without hope but with resolution.”