Write a 1000 words essay on The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway (1952): Santiago feels lucky to find himself matched against a creature that brings out the best in him: his strength, courage, love, and respect. Describe a time you were up against an opponent that brought out the best in you.
Hemingway spends a good deal of time drawing connections between Santiago and his natural environment: the fish, birds, and stars are all his brothers or friends. He has the heart of a turtle, eats turtle eggs for strength, and drinks shark liver oil for health. As long as he focuses on this unity and sees himself as part of nature rather than as an external antagonist competing with it, he cannot be defeated by whatever misfortunes befall him. Discuss your relationship to the natural world, to your pets, perhaps, or certain natural areas that you like to visit. Discuss how they give you strength.