The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway- page 21

''They are good,'' he said. ''They play and make jokes and love one another.

• They: Quotation marks indicating the beginning of someone's speech, followed by 'They', referring to a group of people or things previously mentioned [ðeɪ]
• are good: 'are good' - expressing a positive opinion or assessment of the subject [ər gʊd]
• he said: attribution of the preceding statement to a male speaker [hi sɛd]
• They: Quotation marks indicating the continuation of someone's speech, followed by 'They', referring to the same group of people or things previously mentioned [ðeɪ]
• play: engage in activities for enjoyment and recreation [pleɪ]
• and: conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• make jokes: tell or create humorous stories or remarks [meɪk ʤoʊks]
• and: conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• love one another: feel affection and care for each other [ləv wən əˈnəðər]

Then he began to pity the great fish that he had hooked.

• Then: at that time; after that [ðɛn]
• he began: started to do something [hi bɪˈgæn]
• to pity: to feel sorrow or compassion for someone or something [tɪ ˈpɪti]
• the great fish: referring to a large fish [ðə greɪt fɪʃ]
• that: relative pronoun referring back to 'the great fish' [ðət]
• he had hooked: the act of catching the fish with a hook [hi hæd hʊkt]

He is wonderful and strange and who knows how old he is, he thought.

• He: referring to the fish [hi]
• is wonderful: inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration [ɪz ˈwəndərfəl]
• and: conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• strange: unusual or surprising; difficult to understand or explain [streɪnʤ]
• and: conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• who knows: an expression indicating uncertainty or lack of knowledge [hu noʊz]
• how old: referring to the age of the fish [haʊ oʊld]
• he is: subject pronoun and verb indicating the fish's existence or state of being [hi ɪz]
• he thought: internal monologue or reflection [hi θɔt]

Never have I had such a strong fish nor one who acted so strangely.

• Never: at no time in the past [ˈnɛvər]
• have I had: past experience of the speaker [hæv aɪ hæd]
• such a strong fish: a fish with great physical power [səʧ ə strɔŋ fɪʃ]
• nor: and not; also not [nɔr]
• one: referring back to 'fish' [wən]
• who acted: behaved or conducted itself [hu ˈæktɪd]
• so strangely: in an unusual or peculiar manner [soʊ ˈstreɪnʤli]

Perhaps he is too wise to jump.

• Perhaps: possibly; maybe [pərˈhæps]
• he is: referring to the fish [hi ɪz]
• too wise: having a high degree of intelligence and knowledge [tu waɪz]
• to jump: to leap or spring into the air [tɪ ʤəmp]

He could ruin me by jumping or by a wild rush.

• He: referring to the fish [hi]
• could ruin me: cause the speaker's downfall or destruction [kʊd ruɪn mi]
• by jumping: the act of leaping or springing into the air [baɪ ˈʤəmpɪŋ]
• or: used to link alternatives [ər]
• by a wild rush: a sudden, forceful movement forward [baɪ ə waɪld rəʃ]

But perhaps he has been hooked many times before and he knows that this is how he should make his fight.

• But: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
• perhaps: possibly; maybe [pərˈhæps]
• he has been hooked: caught on a hook [hi həz bɪn hʊkt]
• many times before: on numerous previous occasions [ˈmɛni taɪmz ˌbiˈfɔr]
• and: conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• he knows: is aware of or understands [hi noʊz]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• this: referring to the current situation or action [ðɪs]
• is how: in what manner or way [ɪz haʊ]
• he should make: how the fish ought to conduct [hi ʃʊd meɪk]
• his fight: the fish's struggle against being caught [hɪz faɪt]

He cannot know that it is only one man against him, nor that it is an old man.

• He: referring to the fish [hi]
• cannot know: is unable to understand or be aware of [ˈkænɑt noʊ]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• it: referring to the situation [ɪt]
• is only: merely; just [ɪz ˈoʊnli]
• one man: a single human being [wən mæn]
• against him: in opposition to the fish [əˈgɛnst ɪm]
• nor: and not; also not [nɔr]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• it: referring to the man [ɪt]
• is an old man: a man of advanced age [ɪz ən oʊld mæn]

But what a great fish he is and what will he bring in the market if the flesh is good.

• But: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
• what a great fish: an expression of admiration for the size and quality of the fish [wət ə greɪt fɪʃ]
• he is: subject pronoun and verb indicating the fish's existence or state of being [hi ɪz]
• and: conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• what: used to ask for specification of something [wət]
• will he bring: what value or profit will the fish yield [wɪl hi brɪŋ]
• in the market: the place where goods are bought and sold [ɪn ðə ˈmɑrkɪt]
• if: introduces a conditional clause [ɪf]
• the flesh: the meat of the fish [ðə flɛʃ]
• is good: of high quality and suitable for consumption [ɪz gʊd]

He took the bait like a male and he pulls like a male and his fight has no panic in it.

• He: referring to the fish [hi]
• took the bait: swallowed the lure used to attract the fish [tʊk ðə beɪt]
• like a male: in a manner characteristic of a male, implying strength and aggression [laɪk ə meɪl]
• and: conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• he pulls: exerts force when being reeled in [hi pʊlz]
• like a male: in a manner characteristic of a male, implying strength and aggression [laɪk ə meɪl]
• and: conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• his fight: the fish's struggle against being caught [hɪz faɪt]
• has no panic: does not show fear or desperation [həz noʊ ˈpænɪk]
• in it: contained within the fish's actions [ɪn ɪt]

I wonder if he has any plans or if he is just as desperate as I am?

• I wonder: to be curious or in doubt about something [aɪ ˈwəndər]
• if: introduces a clause expressing doubt or uncertainty [ɪf]
• he has: referring to the fish [hi həz]
• any plans: a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something [ˈɛni plænz]
• or: used to link alternatives [ər]
• if: introduces a clause expressing doubt or uncertainty [ɪf]
• he is: referring to the fish [hi ɪz]
• just as desperate: in a state of hopelessness leading to recklessness [ʤɪst ɛz ˈdɛspərɪt]
• as I am: comparing the fish's desperation to the speaker's own [ɛz aɪ æm]

He remembered the time he had hooked one of a pair of marlin.

• He: Refers to the old man, the protagonist of the story [hi]
• remembered: Recalled something from the past [rɪˈmɛmbərd]
• the time: A specific instance or period in the past [ðə taɪm]
• he had hooked: He had caught with a hook and line [hi hæd hʊkt]
• one of a pair of marlin: One fish from a couple of marlin fish [wən əv ə pɛr əv ˈmɑrlɪn]

The male fish always let the female fish feed first and the hooked fish, the female, made a wild, panic-stricken, despairing fight that soon exhausted her, and all the time the male had stayed with her, crossing the line and circling with her on the surface.

• The male fish: Referring to the male marlin [ðə meɪl fɪʃ]
• always: In every instance; without exception [ˈɔlˌweɪz]
• let: Allowed [lɛt]
• the female fish: Referring to the female marlin [ðə ˈfiˌmeɪl fɪʃ]
• feed first: Eat before the male [fid fərst]
• and: Connects two parts of the sentence [ənd]
• the hooked fish: The fish that was caught on the hook [ðə hʊkt fɪʃ]
• the female: Clarifies that the hooked fish was the female [ðə ˈfiˌmeɪl]
• made: Performed; executed [meɪd]
• a wild, panic-stricken, despairing fight: A desperate struggle filled with fear and hopelessness [ə waɪld panic-stricken dɪˈspɛrɪŋ faɪt]
• that: Refers back to the fight [ðət]
• soon: Quickly; before long [sun]
• exhausted her: Tired her out completely [ɪgˈzɔstɪd hər]
• and: Connects two parts of the sentence [ənd]
• all the time: Throughout the entire period [ɔl ðə taɪm]
• the male: Referring to the male marlin [ðə meɪl]
• had stayed: Remained; continued to be [hæd steɪd]
• with her: Alongside the female marlin [wɪθ hər]
• crossing the line: Swimming across the fishing line [ˈkrɔsɪŋ ðə laɪn]
• and: Connects two parts of the sentence [ənd]
• circling with her: Swimming in circles around the female [ˈsərkəlɪŋ wɪθ hər]
• on the surface: At the top of the water [ɔn ðə ˈsərfəs]

He had stayed so close that the old man was afraid he would cut the line with his tail which was sharp as a scythe and almost of that size and shape.

• He had stayed: The male marlin had remained [hi hæd steɪd]
• so close: In close proximity [soʊ kloʊz]
• that: Indicates a consequence [ðət]
• the old man: Referring to the protagonist fisherman [ðə oʊld mæn]
• was afraid: Felt fear or concern [wɑz əˈfreɪd]
• he would cut: The male marlin would sever [hi wʊd kət]
• the line: The fishing line [ðə laɪn]
• with his tail: Using his tail [wɪθ hɪz teɪl]
• which was sharp as a scythe: The tail was as sharp as a tool used for cutting grass [wɪʧ wɑz ʃɑrp ɛz ə sɪθ]
• and: Connects two parts of the sentence [ənd]
• almost of that size and shape: Nearly the same size and shape as a scythe [ˈɔlˌmoʊst əv ðət saɪz ənd ʃeɪp]

When the old man had gaffed her and clubbed her, holding the rapier bill with its sandpaper edge and dubbing her across the top of her head until her colour turned to a colour almost like the backing of mirrors, and then, with the boy's aid, hoisted her aboard, the male fish had stayed by the side of the boat.

• When: At the time that [wɪn]
• the old man: Referring to the protagonist fisherman [ðə oʊld mæn]
• had gaffed her: Had used a gaff (hook) to pull the female marlin [hæd gaffed hər]
• and clubbed her: Struck the female marlin with a club [ənd kləbd hər]
• holding the rapier bill: Grasping the sword-like bill of the marlin [ˈhoʊldɪŋ ðə ˈreɪpiər bɪl]
• with its sandpaper edge: The bill had a rough edge like sandpaper [wɪθ ɪts ˈsændˌpeɪpər ɛʤ]
• and dubbing her: Striking her lightly [ənd ˈdəbɪŋ hər]
• across the top of her head: On the upper part of her head [əˈkrɔs ðə tɔp əv hər hɛd]
• until: Up to the point that [ənˈtɪl]
• her colour turned: The colour of the fish changed [hər ˈkələr tərnd]
• to a colour almost like the backing of mirrors: The colour became similar to the reflective backing of a mirror [tɪ ə ˈkələr ˈɔlˌmoʊst laɪk ðə ˈbækɪŋ əv ˈmɪrərz]
• and then: Following that [ənd ðɛn]
• with the boy's aid: With the help of the boy [wɪθ ðə bɔɪz eɪd]
• hoisted her aboard: Lifted the female marlin onto the boat [ˈhɔɪstɪd hər əˈbɔrd]
• the male fish: Referring to the male marlin [ðə meɪl fɪʃ]
• had stayed: Remained [hæd steɪd]
• by the side of the boat: Next to the boat [baɪ ðə saɪd əv ðə boʊt]

Then, while the old man was clearing the lines and preparing the harpoon, the male fish jumped high into the air beside the boat to see where the female was and then went down deep, his lavender wings, that were his pectoral fins, spread wide and all his wide lavender stripes showing.

• Then: After that [ðɛn]
• while: During the time that [waɪl]
• the old man: Referring to the protagonist fisherman [ðə oʊld mæn]
• was clearing the lines: Was untangling and preparing the fishing lines [wɑz ˈklɪrɪŋ ðə laɪnz]
• and preparing the harpoon: Getting the harpoon ready [ənd pərˈpɛrɪŋ ðə hɑrˈpun]
• the male fish: Referring to the male marlin [ðə meɪl fɪʃ]
• jumped high into the air: Leapt out of the water [ʤəmpt haɪ ˈɪntu ðə ɛr]
• beside the boat: Near the boat [ˌbiˈsaɪd ðə boʊt]
• to see: In order to see [tɪ si]
• where the female was: The location of the female marlin [wɛr ðə ˈfiˌmeɪl wɑz]
• and then: Following that [ənd ðɛn]
• went down deep: Descended into the deep water [wɛnt daʊn dip]
• his lavender wings: Referring to his pectoral fins, described as lavender in colour [hɪz ˈlævəndər wɪŋz]
• that were his pectoral fins: Clarifying that the lavender wings are the pectoral fins [ðət wər hɪz ˈpɛktərəl fɪnz]
• spread wide: Extended fully [sprɛd waɪd]
• and: Connects two parts of the sentence [ənd]
• all his wide lavender stripes: All of his broad, light purple stripes [ɔl hɪz waɪd ˈlævəndər straɪps]
• showing: Visible [ʃoʊɪŋ]

He was beautiful, the old man remembered, and he had stayed.

• He was beautiful: The male marlin was attractive [hi wɑz ˈbjutəfəl]
• the old man remembered: The protagonist fisherman recalled [ðə oʊld mæn rɪˈmɛmbərd]
• and he had stayed: And the male marlin had remained [ənd hi hæd steɪd]