The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway- page 38

Back in the bow he laid the two fillets of fish out on the wood with the flying fish beside them.

• Back: in the same position as before [bæk]
• in: preposition indicating location or containment [ɪn]
• the bow: the front part of the boat [ðə boʊ]
• he: refers to the male person from the previous text [hi]
• laid: past tense of 'lay', meaning to put something down carefully [leɪd]
• the two fillets of fish: the two pieces of fish meat [ðə tu ˈfɪlɪts əv fɪʃ]
• out: in a position away from an enclosure or upright position [aʊt]
• on: preposition indicating location on a surface [ɔn]
• the wood: the wooden surface of the boat [ðə wʊd]
• with: preposition indicating accompaniment or possession [wɪθ]
• the flying fish: the fish capable of gliding through the air [ðə flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ]
• beside: next to; at the side of [ˌbiˈsaɪd]
• them: referring to the fillets of fish [ðɛm]

After that he settled the line across his shoulders in a new place and held it again with his left hand resting on the gunwale.

• After: following in time or sequence [ˈæftər]
• that: referring to the previous action [ðət]
• he: refers to the same male person as before [hi]
• settled: past tense of 'settle', meaning to place or arrange something in a comfortable or secure position [ˈsɛtəld]
• the line: the fishing line [ðə laɪn]
• across: extending from one side to the other of [əˈkrɔs]
• his: possessive pronoun referring to the man [hɪz]
• shoulders: the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm [ˈʃoʊldərz]
• in: preposition indicating location or manner [ɪn]
• a new: different from what was before [ə nu]
• place: a specific location or position [pleɪs]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• held: past tense of 'hold', meaning to grasp or support something [hɛld]
• it: referring to the line [ɪt]
• again: once more; another time [əˈgɛn]
• with: preposition indicating accompaniment or possession [wɪθ]
• his: possessive pronoun referring to the man [hɪz]
• left hand: the hand on the left side of his body [lɛft hænd]
• resting: present participle of 'rest', meaning to be supported by something [ˈrɛstɪŋ]
• on: preposition indicating location on a surface [ɔn]
• the gunwale: the upper edge of the side of a boat [ðə gunwale]

Then he leaned over the side and washed the flying fish in the water, noting the speed of the water against his hand.

• Then: at that time; next [ðɛn]
• he: refers to the same male person as before [hi]
• leaned: past tense of 'lean', meaning to incline or bend from a vertical position [lind]
• over: above and to the other side of [ˈoʊvər]
• the side: the side of the boat [ðə saɪd]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• washed: past tense of 'wash', meaning to clean something with water [wɑʃt]
• the flying fish: the fish capable of gliding through the air [ðə flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ]
• in: preposition indicating location or containment [ɪn]
• the water: the water surrounding the boat [ðə ˈwɔtər]
• noting: present participle of 'note', meaning to pay attention to something [ˈnoʊtɪŋ]
• the speed: the rate at which something moves [ðə spid]
• of: preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]
• the water: the water surrounding the boat [ðə ˈwɔtər]
• against: in opposition to; in contact with [əˈgɛnst]
• his: possessive pronoun referring to the man [hɪz]
• hand: the hand of the man [hænd]

His hand was phosphorescent from skinning the fish and he watched the flow of the water against it.

• His: possessive pronoun referring to the man [hɪz]
• hand: the hand of the man [hænd]
• was: past tense of 'be', indicating a state of being [wɑz]
• phosphorescent: emitting light without heat [phosphorescent]
• from: indicating the origin or cause of something [frəm]
• skinning: the act of removing the skin from something [skinning]
• the fish: the fish he skinned [ðə fɪʃ]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• he: refers to the same male person as before [hi]
• watched: past tense of 'watch', meaning to observe something [wɔʧt]
• the flow: the movement of a liquid [ðə floʊ]
• of: preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]
• the water: the water surrounding the boat [ðə ˈwɔtər]
• against: in opposition to; in contact with [əˈgɛnst]
• it: referring to his hand [ɪt]

The flow was less strong and as he rubbed the side of his hand against the planking of the skiff, particles of phosphorus floated off and drifted slowly astern.

• The flow: the movement of the water [ðə floʊ]
• was: past tense of 'be', indicating a state of being [wɑz]
• less: smaller in amount or degree [lɛs]
• strong: having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks [strɔŋ]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• as: used to indicate that something happens during the time that something else is taking place [ɛz]
• he: refers to the same male person as before [hi]
• rubbed: past tense of 'rub', meaning to apply pressure and move something back and forth against a surface [rəbd]
• the side: the side of his hand [ðə saɪd]
• of: preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]
• his: possessive pronoun referring to the man [hɪz]
• hand: the hand of the man [hænd]
• against: in contact with [əˈgɛnst]
• the planking: the planks that form the side of the boat [ðə ˈplæŋkɪŋ]
• of: preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]
• the skiff: a small boat [ðə skɪf]
• particles: a minute piece of something [ˈpɑrtɪkəlz]
• of: preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]
• phosphorus: a chemical element that glows in the dark [ˈfɑsfərəs]
• floated: past tense of 'float', meaning to rest or move on or near the surface of a liquid [ˈfloʊtɪd]
• off: away from a place or position [ɔf]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• drifted: past tense of 'drift', meaning to be carried slowly by a current of air or water [ˈdrɪftɪd]
• slowly: at a slow pace [sˈloʊli]
• astern: towards the back of the boat [astern]

''He is tiring or he is resting,'' the old man said. ''Now let me get through the eating of this dolphin and get some rest and a little sleep.''

• He: Quotation marks indicating the start of dialogue. 'He' refers to someone the old man is talking about, likely himself or another person [hi]
• is tiring: Means becoming tired; feeling fatigue [ɪz ˈtaɪrɪŋ]
• or: A conjunction indicating an alternative [ər]
• he is resting: Means taking a break to recover strength; also within quotation marks [hi ɪz ˈrɛstɪŋ]
• the old man said: Attribution of the dialogue to the old man. [ðə oʊld mæn sɛd]
• Now: An introductory word, indicating a transition in thought or action [naʊ]
• let me: Allow me; permit me [lɛt mi]
• get through: Complete; finish [gɪt θru]
• the eating of this dolphin: The act of consuming the dolphin that he has caught [ðə ˈitɪŋ əv ðɪs ˈdɑlfən]
• and: A conjunction indicating addition [ənd]
• get some rest: To take a break and relax [gɪt səm rɛst]
• and: A conjunction indicating addition [ənd]
• a little sleep: A small amount of sleep; also within quotation marks [ə ˈlɪtəl slip]

Under the stars and with the night colder all the time he ate half of one of the dolphin fillets and one of the flying fish, gutted and with its head cut off.

• Under the stars: Beneath the visible stars in the night sky [ˈəndər ðə stɑrz]
• and: A conjunction indicating addition [ənd]
• with the night colder: As the night becomes colder [wɪθ ðə naɪt ˈkoʊldər]
• all the time: Continuously; increasingly [ɔl ðə taɪm]
• he ate: He consumed food [hi eɪt]
• half of one: Fifty percent of one [hæf əv wən]
• of the dolphin fillets: Slices of dolphin meat [əv ðə ˈdɑlfən ˈfɪlɪts]
• and: A conjunction indicating addition [ənd]
• one of the flying fish: A single flying fish [wən əv ðə flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ]
• gutted: Having the internal organs removed [ˈgətɪd]
• and: A conjunction indicating addition [ənd]
• with its head cut off: Having the head removed [wɪθ ɪts hɛd kət ɔf]

''What an excellent fish dolphin is to eat cooked,'' he said. ''And what a miserable fish raw.

• What: Exclamation indicating surprise or emphasis [wət]
• an excellent fish: A very good fish [ən ˈɛksələnt fɪʃ]
• dolphin is: Referring to the dolphin [ˈdɑlfən ɪz]
• to eat cooked: When prepared by cooking; also within quotation marks [tɪ it kʊkt]
• he said: Attribution of the dialogue to the speaker [hi sɛd]
• And: A conjunction indicating addition or continuation [ənd]
• what a miserable fish: A very unpleasant fish [wət ə ˈmɪzərəbəl fɪʃ]
• raw: Uncooked [rɑ]

If I had brains I would have splashed water on the bow all day and drying, it would have made salt, he thought.

• If I had brains: If I were intelligent or wise [ɪf aɪ hæd breɪnz]
• I would have splashed: I would have thrown or scattered liquid [aɪ wʊd hæv splæʃt]
• water on the bow: Water onto the front of the boat [ˈwɔtər ɔn ðə boʊ]
• all day: Throughout the entire day [ɔl deɪ]
• and: A conjunction indicating addition [ənd]
• drying: As it evaporates [draɪɪŋ]
• it would have made salt: It would have created salt residue [ɪt wʊd hæv meɪd sɔlt]
• he thought: Attribution of the thought to the speaker [hi θɔt]

But then I did not hook the dolphin until almost sunset.

• But then: However; on the other hand [bət ðɛn]
• I did not hook: I did not catch with a hook [aɪ dɪd nɑt hʊk]
• the dolphin: Referring to the dolphin [ðə ˈdɑlfən]
• until almost sunset: Nearly the time when the sun sets [ənˈtɪl ˈɔlˌmoʊst ˈsənˌsɛt]

Still it was a lack of preparation.

• Still: Nevertheless; even so [stɪl]
• it was a lack of preparation: It was due to inadequate planning [ɪt wɑz ə læk əv ˌprɛpərˈeɪʃən]

But I have chewed it all well and I am not nauseated.

• But: A conjunction indicating contrast [bət]
• I have chewed it: I have masticated it [aɪ hæv ʧud ɪt]
• all well: Thoroughly [ɔl wɛl]
• and: A conjunction indicating addition [ənd]
• I am not nauseated: I do not feel sick [aɪ æm nɑt ˈnɔziˌeɪtəd]

The sky was clouding over to the east and one after another the stars he knew were gone.

• The sky: referring to the atmosphere above a particular location [ðə skaɪ]
• was clouding over: becoming covered with clouds [wɑz ˈklaʊdɪŋ ˈoʊvər]
• to the east: in the eastern direction [tɪ ðə ist]
• and: used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• one after another: happening or appearing in sequence [wən ˈæftər əˈnəðər]
• the stars: celestial bodies that emit light [ðə stɑrz]
• he knew: that he recognized or was familiar with [hi nu]
• were gone: had disappeared [wər gɔn]

It looked now as though he were moving into a great canyon of clouds and the wind had dropped.

• It looked now: at the present time, it appeared [ɪt lʊkt naʊ]
• as though: as if [ɛz ðoʊ]
• he were moving: he was in the process of moving [hi wər ˈmuvɪŋ]
• into: expressing movement or direction toward a particular location or thing [ˈɪntu]
• a great canyon: a large, deep gorge between cliffs [ə greɪt ˈkænjən]
• of clouds: made up of clouds [əv klaʊdz]
• and: used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• the wind: the perceptible natural movement of the air [ðə wɪnd]
• had dropped: had decreased in strength or intensity [hæd drɑpt]

''There will be bad weather in three or four days,'' he said. ''But not tonight and not tomorrow.

• There will be: future tense of 'there is', indicating something that will exist or happen [ðɛr wɪl bi]
• bad weather: unpleasant or severe weather conditions [bæd ˈwɛðər]
• in: expressing a period of time during which something will happen [ɪn]
• three or four days: a period of either three or four 24-hour periods [θri ər fɔr deɪz]
• he said: he stated or spoke [hi sɛd]
• But: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something previously said [bət]
• not tonight: not during the current night [nɑt təˈnaɪt]
• and: used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• not tomorrow: not on the day after the current day [nɑt təˈmɑˌroʊ]

He held the line tight in his right hand and then pushed his thigh against his right hand as he leaned all his weight against the wood of the bow.

• He held: he grasped and maintained possession of [hi hɛld]
• the line: the rope or cord [ðə laɪn]
• tight: firmly or closely [taɪt]
• in: expressing location or position within a particular space or area [ɪn]
• his right hand: the hand on the right side of his body [hɪz raɪt hænd]
• and then: following that; next [ənd ðɛn]
• pushed: exerted force on something to move it away [pʊʃt]
• his thigh: the part of the leg between the hip and the knee [hɪz θaɪ]
• against: in opposition to or in contact with [əˈgɛnst]
• his right hand: the hand on the right side of his body [hɪz raɪt hænd]
• as: while; at the same time that [ɛz]
• he leaned: he inclined or rested against something for support [hi lind]
• all his weight: the total force of his body due to gravity [ɔl hɪz weɪt]
• against: in opposition to or in contact with [əˈgɛnst]
• the wood: the material of a tree [ðə wʊd]
• of the bow: the front part of a boat or ship [əv ðə boʊ]

Then he passed the line a little lower on his shoulders and braced his left hand on it.

• Then: after that [ðɛn]
• he passed: he moved or transferred [hi pæst]
• the line: the rope or cord [ðə laɪn]
• a little lower: slightly further down [ə ˈlɪtəl loʊər]
• on: supported by [ɔn]
• his shoulders: the upper part of the body between the neck and the upper arms [hɪz ˈʃoʊldərz]
• and: used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• braced: supported or strengthened [breɪst]
• his left hand: the hand on the left side of his body [hɪz lɛft hænd]
• on it: on the line [ɔn ɪt]

My right hand can hold it as long as it is braced, he thought If it relaxes in sleep my left hand will wake me as the line goes out.

• My: belonging to me [maɪ]
• right hand: the hand on the right side of the body [raɪt hænd]
• can: is able to [kən]
• hold: to keep or maintain a grip on [hoʊld]
• it: referring to something previously mentioned, likely a fishing line or similar [ɪt]
• as long as: provided that; on the condition that [ɛz lɔŋ ɛz]
• it: referring to the hand [ɪt]
• is braced: is supported or strengthened [ɪz breɪst]
• he thought: indicates an internal thought process [ hi θɔt]
• If: introducing a conditional clause [ɪf]
• it: referring to the right hand [ɪt]
• relaxes: becomes less tense or firm [rɪˈlæksɪz]
• in sleep: during the state of sleeping [ɪn slip]
• my: belonging to me [maɪ]
• left hand: the hand on the left side of the body [lɛft hænd]
• will wake: will rouse from sleep [wɪl weɪk]
• me: the speaker [mi]
• as: at the same time that [ɛz]
• the line: likely referring to a fishing line [ðə laɪn]
• goes out: extends or moves outward [goʊz aʊt]

It is hard on the right hand.

• It: referring to the situation or task at hand [ɪt]
• is hard: difficult or demanding [ɪz hɑrd]
• on: affecting [ɔn]
• the right hand: the hand on the right side of the body [ðə raɪt hænd]

But he is used to punishment Even if I sleep twenty minutes or a half an hour it is good.

• But: introducing a contrast [bət]
• he: referring to the person speaking or thinking [hi]
• is used to: accustomed to; experienced with [ɪz juzd tɪ]
• punishment: suffering or hardship [ˈpənɪʃmənt]
• Even if: even on the condition that [ˈivɪn ɪf]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• sleep: be in a state of sleep [slip]
• twenty minutes: a period of twenty minutes [tˈwɛnti ˈmɪnəts]
• or: introducing an alternative [ər]
• a half: one half [ə hæf]
• an hour: a period of sixty minutes [ən aʊər]
• it: referring to the rest [ɪt]
• is good: beneficial or helpful [ɪz gʊd]

He lay forward cramping himself against the line with all of his body, putting all his weight onto his right band, and he was asleep.

• He: referring to the person speaking or thinking [hi]
• lay: past tense of 'lie', to recline [leɪ]
• forward: in a direction towards the front [ˈfɔrwərd]
• cramping: causing a painful muscle contraction [ˈkræmpɪŋ]
• himself: referring back to 'he' [hɪmˈsɛlf]
• against: in opposition to; touching [əˈgɛnst]
• the line: likely referring to a fishing line [ðə laɪn]
• with all: using all of [wɪθ ɔl]
• of his body: the entirety of his physical form [əv hɪz ˈbɑdi]
• putting: placing or exerting [ˈpʊtɪŋ]
• all his weight: the total force of his body mass [ɔl hɪz weɪt]
• onto: on top of; directed at [ˈɔntu]
• his right band: misspelling of 'hand', the hand on the right side of the body [hɪz raɪt bænd]
• and: connects two clauses [ənd]
• he: referring to the person speaking or thinking [hi]
• was asleep: in a state of sleep [wɑz əsˈlip]