The Old Man and the Sea Quells Quiz

Answer: The Old Man and the Seal

The third in the parallel universe trilogy was 'The Old Man and the Sea-Bream'. Meanwhile, back in our universe, Hemingway really did write 'The Old Man and the Sea' as part of an unfinished trilogy.

Answer: The Old Men and the Sea

Meanwhile, back in our universe, Santiago is an isolated widower whose only real friend is the boy Manolin, his young apprentice. Their friendship seems more than just mentor and pupil, being sometimes more of a surrogate father and son relationship; it provides some of the most touching moments in the book as well as being symbolic of the circle of life.

Hemingway said: "I tried to make a real old man, a real boy, a real sea and a real fish and real sharks. But if I made them good and true enough they would mean many things."

Answer: The Old Man and the Lea

Back in our universe, in the '40s Hemingway really did begin writing a land-based book called 'The Land'; he had an idea for a trilogy, separately to be called 'The Land', 'The Sea' and 'The Air', and to be combined as one novel to be called 'The Sea Book'. His work soon stalled and it wasn't until after his death that it was published under the title 'Islands in the Stream'.

Answer: The Old Map and the Sea

Back in our universe, although famous primarily for his fiction, Hemingway wrote several non-fiction books, including some about one of his passions, the Spanish tradition of bull-fighting: 'The Dangerous Summer' and 'Death in the Afternoon' describe the traditions, rites, and dramas of the battles in powerful detail, providing Hemingway with a chance to discuss the very nature of fear and courage, which he also touched on in 'The Old Man and the Sea'.

Answer: The Old Man and the Tea

Meanwhile, back in our universe, although Hemingway said that he based the character of Santiago on "no one in particular", there are some who claim that the models for Santiago were one or both of the two first-mates who worked his fishing boat with him: Gregorio Fuentes and Carlos Gutierrez.

Answer: The Old Ma and the Sea

Indeed this could only happen in a parallel universe. Here in our universe, Hemingway's work has received some criticism from feminists for perceived misogyny and stereotyping.

Answer: The Cold Man and the Sea

Meanwhile, in this universe, to mark the fact that not all of us can write to Hemingway's high standard, The International Imitation Hemingway Competition is an annual contest where entrants must write a "really good page of really bad Hemingway". The winner gets a trip to Harry's Bar in Italy.

Answer: The Old Man and the Pea

It might have been very interesting to see what dark fairytales Hemingway could have written, but unfortunately there were no real sequels to 'The Old Man and the Sea'; in this universe it was Hemingway's final major work to be published in his lifetime. Several books were published posthumously.

Answer: The Old Man and the Seat

In a parallel universe, this story won the Wurlitzer prize for literature; but here in our universe, Hemingway won the equally prestigious Pulitzer Prize for 'The Old Man and the Sea'.

Answer: The Old Man and the Spa

They like happy endings in the parallel universe, you see, whereas in our universe Hemingway was not so sold on them.

Our universe's Hemingway enjoyed a bit of fishing rather than a spa for relaxation. He won a well-earned Nobel Prize for Literature to honour "his mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in 'The Old Man and the Sea', and for the influence that he has exerted on contemporary style." (Quote from The Nobel Foundation)