The Old Man and The Sea — Page 42 | Contextual Explanations

You are reading page 42 of 62 from The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Use the contextual explanations to improve your English comprehension.

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''It is a very big circle,'' he said.

It: Quotation marks indicating the beginning of dialogue, followed by a contraction of 'it is' [ɪt]
is: third person singular present of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]
a: indefinite article, used before a consonant sound [ə]
very: adverb, meaning 'extremely' or 'to a great extent' [ˈvɛri]
big: adjective, meaning 'large in size or extent' [bɪg]
circle: noun, referring to a round shape or a curved line that forms a closed loop' [ˈsərkəl]
he: third person singular pronoun, referring to a male person [hi]
said: past tense of the verb 'to say', indicating that someone spoke [sɛd]

''But he is circling.'' Then the line would not come in any more and he held it until he saw the drops jumping from it in the sun.

But: Quotation marks indicating the beginning of dialogue, followed by a conjunction indicating contrast [bət]
he: third person singular pronoun, referring to a male person [hi]
is: third person singular present of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]
circling: present participle of the verb 'to circle', meaning to move in a circular direction [ˈsərkəlɪŋ]
Then: adverb, indicating time or sequence [ðɛn]
the: definite article, referring to a specific line [ðə]
line: noun, referring to a rope or cord used for fishing [laɪn]
would: auxiliary verb, used to express a conditional or future possibility in the past [wʊd]
not: adverb, negating the verb [nɑt]
come: verb, meaning to move or arrive [kəm]
in: adverb, meaning to move inward or closer [ɪn]
any: adjective, meaning one or some of many [ˈɛni]
more: adverb, meaning to a greater extent or degree [mɔr]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses or phrases [ənd]
he: third person singular pronoun, referring to a male person [hi]
held: past tense of the verb 'to hold', meaning to keep or restrain [hɛld]
it: pronoun, referring to the line [ɪt]
until: conjunction, indicating a time up to which something happens [ənˈtɪl]
he: third person singular pronoun, referring to a male person [hi]
saw: past tense of the verb 'to see', meaning to perceive with the eyes [sɔ]
the: definite article, referring to specific drops [ðə]
drops: noun, referring to small quantities of liquid [drɑps]
jumping: present participle of the verb 'to jump', meaning to move suddenly upward [ˈʤəmpɪŋ]
from: preposition, indicating the source or origin [frəm]
it: pronoun, referring to the line [ɪt]
in: preposition, indicating location or condition [ɪn]
the: definite article, referring to a specific sun [ðə]
sun: noun, referring to the star that provides light and heat to the Earth [sən]

Then it started out and the old man knelt down and let it go grudgingly back into the dark water.

Then: adverb, indicating time or sequence [ðɛn]
it: pronoun, referring to the line [ɪt]
started: past tense of the verb 'to start', meaning to begin [ˈstɑrtɪd]
out: adverb, meaning to move away from the center [aʊt]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses or phrases [ənd]
the: definite article, referring to a specific old man [ðə]
old: adjective, meaning advanced in age [oʊld]
man: noun, referring to an adult male human [mæn]
knelt: past tense of the verb 'to kneel', meaning to be in or assume a position in which the body is supported by a knee or the knees [nɛlt]
down: adverb, indicating a downward direction [daʊn]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses or phrases [ənd]
let: verb, meaning to allow or permit [lɛt]
it: pronoun, referring to the line [ɪt]
go: verb, meaning to move or depart [goʊ]
grudgingly: adverb, meaning reluctantly or unwillingly [ˈgrəʤɪŋli]
back: adverb, meaning to return to a previous place or condition [bæk]
into: preposition, indicating movement or direction toward the inside of something [ˈɪntu]
the: definite article, referring to specific dark water [ðə]
dark: adjective, meaning with little or no light [dɑrk]
water: noun, referring to a clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid [ˈwɔtər]

''He is making the far part of his circle now,'' he said.

He: Quotation marks indicating the beginning of dialogue, followed by a third person singular pronoun, referring to a male person [hi]
is: third person singular present of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]
making: present participle of the verb 'to make', meaning to create or produce [ˈmeɪkɪŋ]
the: definite article, referring to a specific part [ðə]
far: adjective, meaning distant or remote [fɑr]
part: noun, referring to a section or portion [pɑrt]
of: preposition, indicating relationship or belonging [əv]
his: possessive pronoun, belonging to him [hɪz]
circle: noun, referring to a round shape or a curved line that forms a closed loop' [ˈsərkəl]
now: adverb, indicating the present time [naʊ]
he: third person singular pronoun, referring to a male person [hi]
said: past tense of the verb 'to say', indicating that someone spoke [sɛd]

I must hold all I can, he thought.

I: first person singular pronoun, referring to the speaker [aɪ]
must: auxiliary verb, expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
hold: verb, meaning to keep or restrain [hoʊld]
all: adjective, meaning the whole quantity or extent of [ɔl]
I: first person singular pronoun, referring to the speaker [aɪ]
can: auxiliary verb, expressing ability or possibility [kən]
he: third person singular pronoun, referring to a male person [hi]
thought: past tense of the verb 'to think', meaning to have an opinion or belief [θɔt]

The strain will shorten his circle each time.

The: definite article, referring to a specific strain [ðə]
strain: noun, referring to a force tending to stretch or deform something [streɪn]
will: auxiliary verb, expressing future tense [wɪl]
shorten: verb, meaning to make shorter [ˈʃɔrtən]
his: possessive pronoun, belonging to him [hɪz]
circle: noun, referring to a round shape or a curved line that forms a closed loop' [ˈsərkəl]
each: adjective, referring to every one of a group of things or people, regarded individually [iʧ]
time: noun, referring to a point or period when something occurs [taɪm]

Perhaps in an hour I will see him.

Perhaps: adverb, meaning possibly but not certainly [pərˈhæps]
in: preposition, indicating location or time [ɪn]
an: indefinite article, used before a vowel sound [ən]
hour: noun, referring to a period of 60 minutes [aʊər]
I: first person singular pronoun, referring to the speaker [aɪ]
will: auxiliary verb, expressing future tense [wɪl]
see: verb, meaning to perceive with the eyes [si]
him: pronoun, referring to a male person [ɪm]

Now I must convince him and then I must kill him.

Now: adverb, indicating the present time [naʊ]
I: first person singular pronoun, referring to the speaker [aɪ]
must: auxiliary verb, expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
convince: verb, meaning to persuade someone of something [kənˈvɪns]
him: pronoun, referring to a male person [ɪm]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses or phrases [ənd]
then: adverb, indicating time or sequence [ðɛn]
I: first person singular pronoun, referring to the speaker [aɪ]
must: auxiliary verb, expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
kill: verb, meaning to cause the death of someone or something [kɪl]
him: pronoun, referring to a male person [ɪm]

But the fish kept on circling slowly and the old man was wet with sweat and tired deep into his bones two hours later.

But: conjunction, introducing a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
the: definite article, referring to a specific fish [ðə]
fish: noun, referring to a limbless cold-blooded vertebrate animal with gills and fins and living wholly in water [fɪʃ]
kept: past tense of the verb 'to keep', meaning to continue or persist in doing something [kɛpt]
on: adverb, indicating continuation [ɔn]
circling: present participle of the verb 'to circle', meaning to move in a circular direction [ˈsərkəlɪŋ]
slowly: adverb, meaning at a slow speed; not quickly [sˈloʊli]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses or phrases [ənd]
the: definite article, referring to a specific old man [ðə]
old: adjective, meaning advanced in age [oʊld]
man: noun, referring to an adult male human [mæn]
was: past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]
wet: adjective, meaning covered or saturated with water or another liquid [wɛt]
with: preposition, indicating accompaniment or possession [wɪθ]
sweat: noun, referring to perspiration [swɛt]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses or phrases [ənd]
tired: adjective, meaning feeling or showing a need for sleep or rest [taɪərd]
deep: adverb, meaning far down or in [dip]
into: preposition, expressing movement or direction into something [ˈɪntu]
his: possessive pronoun, belonging to him [hɪz]
bones: noun, referring to the rigid parts of the skeleton [boʊnz]
two: number, equivalent to the sum of one and one; one more than one [tu]
hours: noun, referring to a period of 60 minutes [aʊərz]
later: adverb, meaning at a later time [ˈleɪtər]

But the circles were much shorter now and from the way the line slanted he could tell the fish had risen steadily while he swam.

But: conjunction, introducing a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
the: definite article, referring to specific circles [ðə]
circles: noun, referring to a round shape or a curved line that forms a closed loop' [ˈsərkəlz]
were: past tense plural of the verb 'to be' [wər]
much: adverb, meaning to a great extent or degree [məʧ]
shorter: comparative adjective, meaning less long in distance or time [ˈʃɔrtər]
now: adverb, indicating the present time [naʊ]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses or phrases [ənd]
from: preposition, indicating the source or origin [frəm]
the: definite article, referring to a specific way [ðə]
way: noun, referring to a method, style, or manner of doing something [weɪ]
the: definite article, referring to a specific line [ðə]
line: noun, referring to a rope or cord used for fishing [laɪn]
slanted: past tense of the verb 'to slant', meaning to slope or lean in a particular direction; diverge or cause to diverge from the vertical or horizontal line [sˈlænɪd]
he: third person singular pronoun, referring to a male person [hi]
could: auxiliary verb, expressing possibility or ability in the past [kʊd]
tell: verb, meaning to express something in words [tɛl]
the: definite article, referring to a specific fish [ðə]
fish: noun, referring to a limbless cold-blooded vertebrate animal with gills and fins and living wholly in water [fɪʃ]
had: auxiliary verb, used to form the past perfect tense [hæd]
risen: past participle of the verb 'to rise', meaning to move from a lower position to a higher one; come or go up [ˈrɪzən]
steadily: adverb, meaning in a regular and even manner [ˈstɛdəli]
while: conjunction, during the time that; at the same time as [waɪl]
he: third person singular pronoun, referring to a male person [hi]
swam: past tense of the verb 'to swim', meaning to propel oneself through water by using the limbs or fins or by moving the body [swæm]

For an hour the old man had been seeing black spots before his eyes and the sweat salted his eyes and salted the cut over his eye and on his forehead.

For: used to indicate a period of time [fər]
an hour: a period of sixty minutes [ən aʊər]
the old man: referring to an elderly male character [ðə oʊld mæn]
had been seeing: past perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continued until another time in the past [hæd bɪn siɪŋ]
black spots: visual disturbances, possibly indicating a medical condition or physical strain [blæk spɑts]
before his eyes: in his field of vision [ˌbiˈfɔr hɪz aɪz]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
the sweat: perspiration [ðə swɛt]
salted: caused a stinging sensation due to the salt content [ˈsɔltɪd]
his eyes: the organs of sight [hɪz aɪz]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
salted: caused a stinging sensation due to the salt content [ˈsɔltɪd]
the cut: an injury where the skin is broken [ðə kət]
over his eye: above his eye [ˈoʊvər hɪz aɪ]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
on his forehead: the part of the face above the eyes [ɔn hɪz ˈfɔrhɛd]

He was not afraid of the black spots.

He: referring to the old man [hi]
was not afraid: did not feel fear [wɑz nɑt əˈfreɪd]
of the black spots: referring to the visual disturbances [əv ðə blæk spɑts]

They were normal at the tension that he was pulling on the line.

They: referring to the black spots [ðeɪ]
were normal: were a typical occurrence [wər ˈnɔrməl]
at the tension: due to the strain [æt ðə ˈtɛnʃən]
that: relative pronoun, introducing a clause [ðət]
he: referring to the old man [hi]
was pulling: exerting force [wɑz ˈpʊlɪŋ]
on the line: referring to the fishing line [ɔn ðə laɪn]

Twice, though, he had felt faint and dizzy and that had worried him.

Twice: two times [twaɪs]
though: however [ðoʊ]
he: referring to the old man [hi]
had felt: past perfect tense, indicating a completed action in the past [hæd fɛlt]
faint: feeling weak and likely to lose consciousness [feɪnt]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
dizzy: feeling unsteady and unbalanced [ˈdɪzi]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
that: referring to the feeling faint and dizzy [ðət]
had worried: caused concern [hæd ˈwərid]
him: referring to the old man [ɪm]

''I could not fail myself and die on a fish like this,'' he said. ''Now that I have him coming so beautifully, God help me endure.

I: The old man speaking [aɪ]
could not fail: be unable to succeed [kʊd nɑt feɪl]
myself: referring to the speaker [ˌmaɪˈsɛlf]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
die: to stop living [daɪ]
on a fish: because of a fish [ɔn ə fɪʃ]
like this: of this size or importance [laɪk ðɪs]
he: referring to the old man [hi]
said: stated [sɛd]
Now: at this time [naʊ]
that: because [ðət]
I: referring to the speaker [aɪ]
have him: referring to the fish [hæv ɪm]
coming: approaching [ˈkəmɪŋ]
so beautifully: in such a good way [soʊ ˈbjutəfli]
God: referring to a deity [gɑd]
help: assist [hɛlp]
me: referring to the speaker [mi]
endure: to withstand or tolerate [ɪnˈdʊr]

I'll say a hundred Our Fathers and a hundred Hail Marys.

I'll: contraction of 'I will', indicating a future action [aɪl]
say: recite [seɪ]
a hundred: one hundred [ə ˈhənərd]
Our Fathers: referring to the Lord's Prayer [ɑr ˈfɑðərz]
and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
a hundred: one hundred [ə ˈhənərd]
Hail Marys: referring to a Catholic prayer [heɪl ~~marys~~]

But I cannot say them now.

But: however [bət]
I: referring to the speaker [aɪ]
cannot: am unable to [ˈkænɑt]
say: recite [seɪ]
them: referring to the prayers [ðɛm]
now: at this time [naʊ]

Consider them said, he thought.

Consider: To think about carefully, typically before making a decision [kənˈsɪdər]
them: Referring to something previously mentioned, likely thoughts or plans [ðɛm]
said: Spoken or expressed verbally; in this context, as good as spoken [sɛd]
he thought: An internal monologue indicating the character's thoughts [hi θɔt]

I'll say them later.

I'll: Contraction of 'I will', indicating a future action [aɪl]
say: To utter or express something verbally [seɪ]
them: Referring to something previously mentioned, likely thoughts or plans [ðɛm]
later: At a subsequent time; not immediately [ˈleɪtər]

Just then he felt a sudden banging and jerking on the line he held with his two hands.

Just then: At that precise moment [ʤɪst ðɛn]
he felt: Experienced a sensation [hi fɛlt]
a sudden: Happening or done quickly and unexpectedly [ə ˈsədən]
banging: A loud, resonant striking noise [ˈbæŋɪŋ]
and: Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
jerking: A sharp, sudden movement [ˈʤərkɪŋ]
on the line: Referring to the fishing line [ɔn ðə laɪn]
he held: That the character was holding [hi hɛld]
with his two hands: Emphasizing the strength and grip [wɪθ hɪz tu hænz]

It was sharp and hard-feeling and heavy.

It was: Referring to the sensation on the line [ɪt wɑz]
sharp: Sudden and intense [ʃɑrp]
and: Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
hard-feeling: Giving a sensation of hardness or resistance [~~hard-feeling~~]
and: Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
heavy: Of great weight; difficult to lift or move [ˈhɛvi]

He is hitting the wire leader with his spear, he thought.

He is: Referring to the fish [hi ɪz]
hitting: Striking or impacting something [ˈhɪtɪŋ]
the wire leader: A short length of strong wire connecting the fishing line to the hook [ðə waɪər ˈlidər]
with his spear: Referring to the marlin's bill or snout [wɪθ hɪz spɪr]
he thought: Internal monologue [hi θɔt]

That was bound to come.

That was: Referring to the fish hitting the wire leader [ðət wɑz]
bound to come: Inevitable; certain to happen [baʊnd tɪ kəm]

He had to do that.

He had to: It was necessary for him to [hi hæd tɪ]
do that: Hit the wire leader [du ðət]

It may make him jump though and I would rather he stayed circling now.

It may: It is possible that [ɪt meɪ]
make him jump: Cause the fish to leap out of the water [meɪk ɪm ʤəmp]
though: However; nevertheless [ðoʊ]
and: Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
I would rather: I would prefer [aɪ wʊd ˈrəðər]
he stayed: The fish remained [hi steɪd]
circling: Moving in a circular path [ˈsərkəlɪŋ]
now: At the present time [naʊ]

The jumps were necessary for him to take air.

The jumps: The act of leaping out of the water [ðə ʤəmps]
were: Past tense of 'to be' [wər]
necessary: Essential; required [ˈnɛsəˌsɛri]
for him: For the fish [fər ɪm]
to take air: To breathe [tɪ teɪk ɛr]

But after that each one can widen the opening of the hook wound and he can throw the hook.

But: Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said before [bət]
after that: Following the jumps [ˈæftər ðət]
each one: Each jump [iʧ wən]
can: Is able to [kən]
widen: Make wider [ˈwaɪdən]
the opening: The gap or wound [ðə ˈoʊpənɪŋ]
of the hook wound: Where the hook is embedded [əv ðə hʊk wund]
and: Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
he can: The fish is able to [hi kən]
throw the hook: Dislodge the hook from its mouth [θroʊ ðə hʊk]