Answer to Question #198456 in English for Londiwe Nomfundo

Question

Identify a reading book that you believe will be suitable for an intermediate EFAL class write a review of the text and then explain why you would prescribe it

Answer 1

The Old Man and the Sea is the story of an epic struggle between an old, seasoned fisherman and the greatest catch of his life. For eighty-four days, Santiago, an aged Cuban fisherman, has set out to sea and returned empty-handed.

The story centers on an aging fisherman who engages in an epic battle to catch a giant marlin. Ernest Hemingway (right) with Joe Russell (raising a glass), an unidentified young man, and a marlin, Havana Harbor, 1932.

The climax in the story occurs when Santiago kills the fish and its blood attracts the eager sharks nearby. His hopes of taking home his huge fish are dashed when the sharks attack and eat the fish.

The main conflict of the story is the inner conflict of the old man, Santiago. He is in the conflict between the desire of getting big fishes and the weakness of giving up. This conflict is the main element to develop the story. Santiago has another conflict with marlin and sharks.

The major themes in the Old Man and the Sea are Perseverance, Suffering, Pride, Friendship, and Respect. The moral lessons from the story are as follows: the journey through life is the reward; a person who lives with courage and integrity can be destroyed but never defeated, and a strong person never complains about what he doesn't have but instead uses what is at hand with the knowledge that it is one's inner resources that count. There are also moral lessons about persistence, one's life work, and more.

The lessons equip students with real-life lessons which not only empower learning but also handling life with perseverance. Further, Defeat is death. If Santiago gives up on trying reeling in the fish, he's doomed and he'll never recover if he quits. The exploration of this theme in The Old Man and the Sea helps explain why the novel is a classic. The importance of determination and never giving up helps define the type of people we are.

It is suitable for a level of around intermediate for maximum impact. Not only does this allow you to reach audience members who may not be the strongest at reading comprehension, but it's also simple enough to get your message across quickly.