The language and style of the novels of Hemingway

Abstract

There is little doubt that Hemingway's crowning achievement is The Old Man and the Sea. Santiago, a fisherman, tells the tale of his encounter with a massive marlin. It has been 84 days since Santiago has caught a fish, but he is not disheartened. He travels far out into the water and snags a huge marlin. After a fierce battle, Santiago finally kills the marlin and ties it to his bout, only to have to engage in an even more fierce battle with a group of terrifying big sharks on the way back. After carrying it home, the old guy collapses into bed, exhausted to the point of dreaming. Many admire him for fighting for what he believes in. Among many outstanding American writers, Hemingway’ is noted for his objective and concise literary style. The Old Man and the Sea was the final novel Hemingway ever published, and it is a perfect example of his signature style. This study intends to explore the writing style and tactics in The Old Man and the Sea and focuses primarily on the language style and one of the major techniques—the way to use facts in his work.