1．Introduction 1
2. Background Information 2
2.1 Social and Cultural Background 2
2.2 Hemingway’s biographical introduction 3
3. Specific application of iceberg style 4
3.1 Summary of the story 4
3.2 Hemingway’s philosophy of life reflected by the novel 4
3.3 Expression of symbolism 5
3.4 Social significance of the novel 7
4. Conclusion 8
Acknowledgements 9
References 10
The Old Man and the Sea is a classic text of iceberg style. The one-eighth of the iceberg above the water leads us to the huge symbolic dimension which is the rest seven-eighths under the sea. The text not only portraits the life of this mundane world, but also shows the symbolic meanings of life itself. This tiny tip of the iceberg can make us deeply understand the substantial meanings of the seven-eighths.
This thesis intends to reach a thorough understanding of Hemingway's philosophy of life through the novel The Old Man and the Sea: when facing the cruel social reality and miserable fate, man should be brave and struggle with all the pains and sufferings, loving life and treasuring life. The novel actually discloses and criticizes seriously the cruelty and ruthlessness of American society. It calls for people to struggle against the dark world, and to set up a new life style. This is the social significance of the novel.
