Unpacking Literature: A Grade 8 Literary Analysis Worksheet

Unpacking Literature: Literary Analysis

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. Pay close attention to literary elements such as theme, character, and figurative language.

Passage: The Old Man and the Sea (Excerpt)

He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. In the first forty days a boy had been with him. But after forty days of not taking a fish the boy’s parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salao, which is the worst form of unlucky, and the boy had gone at their orders in another boat which caught three good fish the first week. The sad thing was that the boy believed them and the old man knew it. But he also knew the boy loved him, and the boy did not care if the old man was lucky or not. He admired his spirit, his determination, and his quiet strength. The old man’s eyes were the color of the sea, cheerful and undefeated. His hands were scarred from handling the lines, but his spirit was unyielding.

1. What does the word 'salao' most likely mean in the context of the passage?

2. Describe the old man's character based on the details provided in the passage. Use at least two pieces of textual evidence to support your answer.

3. The phrase 'His hands were scarred from handling the lines, but his spirit was unyielding' is an example of  , which highlights a contrast between physical appearance and inner strength.

4. The boy left the old man because he no longer loved or respected him.

5. Analyze how the author uses descriptive language to convey the old man's enduring spirit despite his physical challenges and bad luck. What is the central theme suggested by this description?