Project: This assessment task requires you to produce a storybook adaptation of an existing novel.
Chosen novel: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Themes: Determination, struggle, pride, death
Summary: It is a tale of an old fisherman who has not been able to catch a fish for 85 days, he has a young apprentice whose parents had told to join another fisherman with better luck. Although they no longer work together, the two continue a unique friendship. The fisherman goes out with high hopes on the 85th day and finds himself lucky. He catches his largest fish ever. The fish is so big that the old man is unable to bring it on his boat and fights with it for several days. As the fish tires, he is able to kill it and begins to row back to shore. Being so large, the fisherman rows back to shore with the fish in tow behind him. The dead fish attracts sharks who eat his marvellous catch before he can return home to sell it. Upon return, all that is left is a large skeleton. The man, disappointed and exhausted, goes home and sleeps. When he wakes, the town crowd the skeleton in awe and some mistake it for a shark. The young boy is relieved to see the old man back home and the two go back to fishing together.
Why this story? I found this story resonated with me as it represents honour and determination, the old man ever gives up although from the outset he is set up for defeat. I value the old man’s pride a great amount as well as the bond he has with his apprentice.
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