An Analysis of Literary Language in The Old Man and the Sea

田家威

【Abstract】The Old Man and the Sea is full of facts， most of which come from Hemingways own experience. So the method to use facts is a very important writing skill in this novel. The facts in the novel are selected and used as methods to make the fictional world more credible. In the forepart of the novel， they are used to show the quality of Santiagos life， and the language is simple and natural； while in the latter part of the novel， they are used from inside Santiagos own consciousness so the whole scheme is harmonious.

【Key words】Facts； Langage； Iceberg Theory

1. Introduction about the Novel

The Old Man and the Sea is a remarkable story of Ernest Hemingway. It was the last major work of fiction produced by Hemingway and published in his lifetime. One of his most famous works， it centers upon Santiago， an aging Cuban fisherman who struggles with a giant marlin in the Gulf Stream.The book was in memory of Maxwell Perkins， Hemingways literary editor.

2. Litetary Language in The Old Man and the Sea

2.1 Refined and Concise Language

The Old Man and the Sea is the most typical one to his unique language style. Its language is simple and natural， and has the effect of directness， clarity and freshness. This is because Hemingway always manages to choose words that are“`concrete， specific， more commonly found， more Anglo-Saxon， casual and conversational.” He seldom uses adjectives and abstract nouns， and avoids complicated syntax.

2.2 The unusual long sentence

The language in this one-sentence paragraph is different from other parts of the novel. It emulates the movement of the exhausted marlin and the physical strain of the old man. And it mounts to a heavy crescendo in the very un-prosaic inversion of adjectives-“long， deep， wide”-ending in the virtually poetic cadence， “interminable in the water.”

2.3 Hemingways literary language

2.3.1 The iceberg theory

Hemingway is very famous for his “iceberg theory”. In the theory， he applicated the metaphor of the iceberg to bear the weight of novels. Only one-eighth of the iceberg is above water and the other seven-eighth are under water， the discovery of which depends on the readers and critics.

In general， The Old Man and the Sea is a crowning work which best reflects Hemingways “iceberg theory”. As the readers further their reading， more and more “iceberg” will emerge from under the surface of the sea.

2.3.2 Hemingways Unique Narrative Styleendprint

Hemingway has often been described as a master of dialogue. In his story， he himself speaks as little as possible. He makes the characters in the story speak. It was reported that he wrote the book of The Old Man and the Sea， and revised more than two hundred times before he was ready to get it for publication.

2.3.3 The Facts are Used

“Hemingways old man， boy， sea， fish， and sharks are not so much built up in our minds， detail by detail as they are driven into our mind by the force， but by the sympathy with which the author himself shares in their imaginary existence.” Like any realist， he relies on selection.

The novel is not simply a manual for us to study the technique to catch a fish or how to survive in a boat. The author tries to draw peoples imagination to what is happening by appealing to our love of practical knowledge.

3. The influence of Hemingways language style about analysis of the heroic characters

In the latter part of his life， Hemingway was known as “Papa Hemingway.” It refers mainly to his contribution to the development of a new writing style in America-the colloquial style. His simple word， short sentences and vividly colloquial language have purified American novels.

And Hemingways influence as a stylist was “neatly expressed in the praise of the Noble Prize Committee about ‘his powerful style-forming mastery of the art of writing modern fiction.”

4. Conclusion

Hemingways language in The Old Man and the Sea is seemingly simple and natural， but essentially deliberate and artificial. Hemingway uses the facts simply and naturally， without any emotion. Besides what have been mentioned above， other techniques in The Old Man and the Sea， such as the application of realism， monologue， the creation of suspense and so on， are also very successful. All these writing skills show Hemingways superb artistic accomplishment as a Nobel Prize winner.

References：

[1]趙歆穎.Wisdom of Spirit：The Heroic Images and Artistic Characteristics of The Old Man and The Sea[J].海外英語，2010，05： 219-221.

[2]張路.Hemingways Novel The Old Man and the Sea and The Human Predicament Description[J].文學界（理論版），2012，10：229-230.

[3]黃萍.An Analysis of the Characteristics of Santiago in-The Old Man and the Sea[J].文學界（理論版），2012，04：114-115.endprint