1. Does The Old Man and the Sea have a set stance on the concept of luck? How might you describe the way that the novel—not Santiago—presents luck?
2. A tragedy is a story in which the protagonist is worse off at the end than he or she was at the beginning. Does The Old Man and the Sea fit this definition of a tragedy? Why or why not?
3. Throughout the novel, does Santiago's pride do more to help or hinder him?
4. Are Santiago and Manolin too pure to feel like well-rounded characters, or are they both virtuous and realistic?
