The Young Man and the Sea

What does Skiff’s small wooden skiff (boat) symbolize? Why is it significant that Skiff caught his bluefin tuna using the skiff and his father’s gifted harpoon? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

How do fog and sunlight develop The Importance of Resilience? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

What does Skiff’s giant bluefin tuna symbolize? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

What role do Mr. Woodwell and Jack Croft play in the novel? Would the novel have changed without them?

Skiff faces many challenges, but follows his mother’s rule to never give up. How does this habit reinforce The Necessity of Resilience? How does this theme tie into The Importance of Thinking Smart?

Although Skiff’s mother is deceased and his father is grieving, both parents still provide him with guidance. How does this develop The Centrality of Family? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

How does Skiff’s journey home after fishing illustrate The Importance of Thinking Smart? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

How does Rodman Philbrick’s use of first-person narration strengthen the novel’s themes? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.