The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway- page 37

But remember to sleep, he thought.

• But: conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
• remember: to keep in mind or not forget [rɪˈmɛmbər]
• to sleep: to rest in a state of reduced consciousness [tɪ slip]
• he thought: indicates an internal thought of the character [ hi θɔt]

Make yourself do it and devise some simple and sure way about the lines.

• Make: to cause someone or something to be or do something [meɪk]
• yourself: referring to the person being addressed or the subject of the sentence [ˈjɔrsɛlf]
• do it: to perform the action of sleeping [du ɪt]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• devise: to plan or invent a complex procedure, system, or mechanism by careful thought [dɪˈvaɪz]
• some: an unspecified amount or number of [səm]
• simple: easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty [ˈsɪmpəl]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• sure: certain of something; confident [ʃʊr]
• way: a method, style, or manner of doing something [weɪ]
• about: concerning or regarding [əˈbaʊt]
• the lines: referring to the fishing lines [ðə laɪnz]

Now go back and prepare the dolphin.

• Now: at the present time or moment [naʊ]
• go back: return to a previous place or state [goʊ bæk]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• prepare: to make (something) ready for use or consideration [priˈpɛr]
• the dolphin: referring to the dolphin fish that was caught [ðə ˈdɑlfən]

It is too dangerous to rig the oars as a drag if you must sleep.

• It: referring to the action of rigging the oars [ɪt]
• is: linking verb [ɪz]
• too dangerous: involving great risk or peril [tu ˈdeɪnʤərəs]
• to rig: to fit (a ship or boat) with sails, ropes, etc. [tɪ rɪg]
• the oars: a pole with a flat blade, used for rowing a boat [ðə ɔrz]
• as: used to indicate the function or character that someone or something has [ɛz]
• a drag: something that impedes movement or progress [ə dræg]
• if: introducing a conditional clause [ɪf]
• you: the person being addressed [ju]
• must: expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
• sleep: to rest in a state of reduced consciousness [slip]

I could go without sleeping, he told himself.

• I: the speaker or writer [aɪ]
• could: past tense of 'can', expressing possibility [kʊd]
• go: to depart or leave [goʊ]
• without: not having or doing something [wɪˈθaʊt]
• sleeping: the act of resting in a state of reduced consciousness [sˈlipɪŋ]
• he told himself: indicates an internal thought of the character [ hi toʊld hɪmˈsɛlf]

But it would be too dangerous.

• But: conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
• it: referring to the action of going without sleeping [ɪt]
• would be: conditional form of 'to be' [wʊd bi]
• too dangerous: involving great risk or peril [tu ˈdeɪnʤərəs]

He started to work his way back to the stern on his hands and knees, being careful not to jerk against the fish.

• He: referring to a male person or animal already mentioned or known [hi]
• started: to begin doing something [ˈstɑrtɪd]
• to work: to exert effort to do something [tɪ wərk]
• his way: the manner in which someone proceeds or progresses [hɪz weɪ]
• back: in the direction opposite to that in which one is facing or moving [bæk]
• to: expressing direction or location [tɪ]
• the stern: the rearmost part of a boat or ship [ðə stərn]
• on: supported by or attached to [ɔn]
• his hands: the terminal part of the human arm beyond the wrist [hɪz hænz]
• and knees: the joint between the thigh and the lower leg in humans [ənd niz]
• being: expressing a state or condition [ biɪŋ]
• careful: taking precautions to avoid danger or mistakes [ˈkɛrfəl]
• not to jerk: a sudden, sharp, uncontrollable movement [nɑt tɪ ʤərk]
• against: in opposition to [əˈgɛnst]
• the fish: referring to the large marlin [ðə fɪʃ]

He may be half asleep himself, he thought.

• He: referring to the character [hi]
• may be: expressing possibility [meɪ bi]
• half asleep: partially sleeping [hæf əsˈlip]
• himself: the same person or animal [hɪmˈsɛlf]
• he thought: indicates an internal thought of the character [ hi θɔt]

But I do not want him to rest.

• But: conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
• I: the speaker or writer [aɪ]
• do not: negative form of 'do' [du nɑt]
• want: desire or wish for something [wɔnt]
• him: referring to the fish [ɪm]
• to rest: to cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength [tɪ rɛst]

He must pull until he dies.

• He: referring to the fish [hi]
• must: expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
• pull: exert force on (someone or something) so as to move them towards oneself or the origin of the force [pʊl]
• until: up to the point in time or the event mentioned [ənˈtɪl]
• he: referring to the fish [hi]
• dies: to stop living [daɪz]

Back in the stern he turned so that his left hand held the strain of the line across his shoulders and drew his knife from its sheath with his right hand.

• Back in the stern: Located at the rear part of the boat [bæk ɪn ðə stərn]
• he turned: he rotated his body [hi tərnd]
• so that: in order that; with the result that [soʊ ðət]
• his left hand: the hand on the left side of his body [hɪz lɛft hænd]
• held the strain: maintained the tension or pull [hɛld ðə streɪn]
• of the line: referring to a rope or fishing line [əv ðə laɪn]
• across his shoulders: positioned over his shoulders [əˈkrɔs hɪz ˈʃoʊldərz]
• and drew his knife: and pulled out his knife [ənd dru hɪz naɪf]
• from its sheath: from the protective case for the knife [frəm ɪts ʃiθ]
• with his right hand: using the hand on the right side of his body [wɪθ hɪz raɪt hænd]

The stars were bright now and he saw the dolphin clearly and he pushed the blade of his knife into his head and drew him out from under the stern.

• The stars: celestial bodies appearing as points of light in the night sky [ðə stɑrz]
• were bright now: were shining intensely at this moment [wər braɪt naʊ]
• and he saw: and he perceived with his eyes [ənd hi sɔ]
• the dolphin: a marine mammal, a type of cetacean [ðə ˈdɑlfən]
• clearly: easily and distinctly [ˈklɪrli]
• and he pushed: and he exerted force to move something [ənd hi pʊʃt]
• the blade of his knife: the sharp cutting part of his knife [ðə bleɪd əv hɪz naɪf]
• into his head: penetrating the dolphin's head [ˈɪntu hɪz hɛd]
• and drew him out: and pulled the dolphin out [ənd dru ɪm aʊt]
• from under the stern: from beneath the rear of the boat [frəm ˈəndər ðə stərn]

He put one of his feet on the fish and slit him quickly from the vent up to the tip of his lower jaw.

• He put: He placed [hi pʊt]
• one of his feet: one of his feet [wən əv hɪz fit]
• on the fish: on the dolphin [ɔn ðə fɪʃ]
• and slit him: and cut the dolphin open [ənd slɪt ɪm]
• quickly: rapidly; without delay [kˈwɪkli]
• from the vent: from the anal opening of the fish [frəm ðə vɛnt]
• up to: extending to [əp tɪ]
• the tip of his lower jaw: the end of the dolphin's lower jaw [ðə tɪp əv hɪz loʊər ʤɔ]

Then he put his knife down and gutted him with his right hand, scooping him clean and pulling the gills clear.

• Then he put: After that, he placed [ðɛn hi pʊt]
• his knife down: his knife on a surface [hɪz naɪf daʊn]
• and gutted him: and removed the internal organs of the dolphin [ənd ˈgətɪd ɪm]
• with his right hand: using his right hand [wɪθ hɪz raɪt hænd]
• scooping him clean: removing all the contents thoroughly [ˈskupɪŋ ɪm klin]
• and pulling the gills clear: and removing the gills completely [ənd ˈpʊlɪŋ ðə gɪlz klɪr]

He felt the maw heavy and slippery in his hands and he slit it open.

• He: refers to the male character in the story [hi]
• felt: experienced physically [fɛlt]
• the maw: the mouth or jaws of a voracious animal, here referring to the dolphin [ðə mɔ]
• heavy: of great weight; difficult to lift or move [ˈhɛvi]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• slippery: difficult to hold firmly because it is smooth, wet, or oily [sˈlɪpəri]
• in his hands: held by the character [ɪn hɪz hænz]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• he: refers to the male character in the story [hi]
• slit: cut or made a long narrow incision in [slɪt]
• it: refers to the maw [ɪt]
• open: having the interior accessible [ˈoʊpən]

There were two flying fish inside.

• There: used to indicate the existence or presence of something [ðɛr]
• were: past plural form of 'to be' [wər]
• two: the number 2 [tu]
• flying fish: fish that can leap out of the water and use their large, wing-like fins to glide through the air [flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ]
• inside: within; in the inner part [ˌɪnˈsaɪd]

They were fresh and hard and he laid them side by side and dropped the guts and the gills over the stern.

• They: refers to the flying fish [ðeɪ]
• were: past plural form of 'to be' [wər]
• fresh: recently caught or picked and not stale or spoiled [frɛʃ]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• hard: firm and stiff; not easily dented, pierced, or crushed [hɑrd]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• he: refers to the male character in the story [hi]
• laid: past tense of 'lay', meaning to put down gently or carefully [leɪd]
• them: refers to the flying fish [ðɛm]
• side by side: next to each other [saɪd baɪ saɪd]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• dropped: let fall or be released [drɑpt]
• the guts: the intestines or entrails of an animal [ðə gəts]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• the gills: the organs that aquatic animals use to extract oxygen from water [ðə gɪlz]
• over: above or higher than something else [ˈoʊvər]
• the stern: the rearmost part of a ship or boat [ðə stərn]

They sank leaving a trail of phosphorescence in the water.

• They: refers to the guts and gills [ðeɪ]
• sank: past tense of 'sink', meaning to go down below the surface of water or other liquid [sæŋk]
• leaving: going away from [ˈlivɪŋ]
• a trail: a mark or series of signs or objects left behind by the passage of someone or something [ə treɪl]
• of: expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]
• phosphorescence: light emitted by a substance without combustion or perceptible heat [ˌfɑsfərˈɛsəns]
• in: expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else [ɪn]
• the water: the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes, and seas, and is a major constituent of all living matter [ðə ˈwɔtər]

The dolphin was cold and a leprous gray-white now in the starlight and the old man skinned one side of him while he held his right foot on the fish's head.

• The dolphin: a marine mammal with a streamlined body and a beak-like snout [ðə ˈdɑlfən]
• was: past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]
• cold: of or at a low or relatively low temperature [koʊld]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• a leprous: resembling or affected by leprosy, a chronic infectious disease [ə leprous]
• gray-white: a color that is a mixture of gray and white [gray-white]
• now: at the present time or moment [naʊ]
• in: expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else [ɪn]
• the starlight: the light emitted by the stars [ðə ˈstɑˌrlaɪt]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• the old man: refers to the main character [ðə oʊld mæn]
• skinned: removed the skin from [skɪnd]
• one side: one of the surfaces of an object [wən saɪd]
• of him: referring to the dolphin [əv ɪm]
• while: during the time that [waɪl]
• he: refers to the old man [hi]
• held: past tense of 'hold', meaning to grasp, carry, or support with one's hands [hɛld]
• his: belonging to the old man [hɪz]
• right foot: the foot on the right side of the body [raɪt fʊt]
• on: physically in contact with and supported by (a surface [ɔn]
• the fish's: belonging to the fish [ðə ˈfɪʃɪz]
• head: the part of the body above the neck where the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and brain are [hɛd]

Then he turned him over and skinned the other side and cut each side off from the head down to the tail.

• Then: at that time; after that [ðɛn]
• he: refers to the old man [hi]
• turned: moved so as to face in the opposite direction [tərnd]
• him: refers to the dolphin [ɪm]
• over: so as to turn onto its other side or surface [ˈoʊvər]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• skinned: removed the skin from [skɪnd]
• the other side: the remaining side [ðə ˈəðər saɪd]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• cut: past tense of 'cut', meaning to divide with a sharp-edged tool [kət]
• each side: every side [iʧ saɪd]
• off: away from; at a distance [ɔf]
• from: indicating the point in space or time at which a journey, motion, or action starts [frəm]
• the head: the part of the body above the neck where the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and brain are [ðə hɛd]
• down: toward or in a lower place or position [daʊn]
• to: expressing motion in the direction of (a particular location [tɪ]
• the tail: the hindmost part of an animal, especially when prolonged beyond the rest of the body [ðə teɪl]

He slid the carcass overboard and looked to see if there was any swirl in the water.

• He: refers to a male person or character previously mentioned [hi]
• slid: past tense of 'slide', meaning to move smoothly along a surface [slɪd]
• the carcass: the dead body of an animal [ðə ˈkɑrkəs]
• overboard: over the side of a boat into the water [ˈoʊvərˌbɔrd]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• looked: past tense of 'look', meaning to turn one's eyes in a specific direction [lʊkt]
• to see: in order to find out [tɪ si]
• if: used to introduce a condition or possibility [ɪf]
• there was: indicates the existence of something [ðɛr wɑz]
• any: some; one or some of a thing or number of things, whether regarded as divisible or not [ˈɛni]
• swirl: a whirling mass or motion [swərl]
• in the water: within the body of water [ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]

But there was only the light of its slow descent.

• But: conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something previously said [bət]
• there was: indicates the existence of something [ðɛr wɑz]
• only: merely; just [ˈoʊnli]
• the light: illumination; brightness [ðə laɪt]
• of: preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]
• its: possessive pronoun referring to the carcass [ɪts]
• slow: moving or proceeding at a low speed [sloʊ]
• descent: the act of moving downwards [dɪˈsɛnt]

He turned then and placed the two flying fish inside the two fillets of fish and putting his knife back in its sheath, he worked his way slowly back to the bow.

• He: refers to the same male person as before [hi]
• turned: past tense of 'turn', meaning to change direction [tərnd]
• then: at that time; next [ðɛn]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• placed: past tense of 'place', meaning to put something in a specific location [pleɪst]
• the two flying fish: two fish capable of leaping out of the water and gliding through the air [ðə tu flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ]
• inside: within; in the inner part of [ˌɪnˈsaɪd]
• the two fillets of fish: two pieces of fish meat, boneless and skinless [ðə tu ˈfɪlɪts əv fɪʃ]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• putting: present participle of 'put', meaning to place something somewhere [ˈpʊtɪŋ]
• his knife: the knife belonging to him [hɪz naɪf]
• back: to the original position [bæk]
• in: preposition indicating location or containment [ɪn]
• its: possessive pronoun referring to the knife's sheath [ɪts]
• sheath: a close-fitting cover for something, especially a knife or sword [ʃiθ]
• he: refers to the same male person as before [hi]
• worked: past tense of 'work', meaning to move or make progress [wərkt]
• his way: the path or route he took [hɪz weɪ]
• slowly: at a slow pace [sˈloʊli]
• back: towards the rear [bæk]
• to: preposition indicating direction or purpose [tɪ]
• the bow: the front part of a boat [ðə boʊ]

His back was bent with the weight of the line across it and he carried the fish in his right hand.

• His: possessive pronoun referring to the man [hɪz]
• back: the rear part of the body [bæk]
• was bent: curved or angled due to pressure or weight [wɑz bɛnt]
• with: preposition indicating accompaniment or possession [wɪθ]
• the weight: the heaviness of something [ðə weɪt]
• of: preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]
• the line: the fishing line [ðə laɪn]
• across: extending from one side to the other of [əˈkrɔs]
• it: referring to his back [ɪt]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• he: refers to the same male person as before [hi]
• carried: past tense of 'carry', meaning to support and move something [ˈkɛrid]
• the fish: the fish he caught [ðə fɪʃ]
• in: preposition indicating location or containment [ɪn]
• his: possessive pronoun referring to the man [hɪz]
• right hand: the hand on the right side of his body [raɪt hænd]