Beginning of Essay
Location: Cuba and the Gulf Stream. Principal Character. Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman. After more than eighty days of fishing without a catch, the old man's patient devotion to his calling is rewarded. He catches a marlin but reaches the shore again with onl ....

Middle of Essay
.... rowed out to the harbour in the cool dark before dawn. After leaving the smell of land behind him, he set his lines. Two of his baits were fresh tunas which the boy had given him, as well as sardines to cover his hooks. The lines went straight down into the deep sea. As the sun rose, he saw the bird circled and circled. This time Santiago saw tuna leaping in the sunlight. A small one took the hook on his stern line. Hauling the quivering fish aboard, the old man thought it a good omen. Toward noon, a marlin started nibbling at the bait, which was one hundred fathoms down. Gently the old man played the fish, a big one as he knew from the w ....