The choice of questions in the literature section - I think - is good this year.
In the Old Man and the Sea, the examiner really introduces good questions suitable for this great work
Here is my suggested answer for the following question
1. Hemingway employed symbols in his novel to reinfrce the theme. Discuss giving an example
The sea
The old man always thought the sea as “la mar” the mother. The sea is the fishermen’s mother who always generously offers types of seafood and provides them with the necessary trade materials. However, when fishermen, sometimes sail on the sea and catch nothing or face dangerous and stormy sea, they call the sea “la mar” bad man.
Africa lions
These symbolize strength, bravery and pride of the old man's past happiness. The old man always dreams of those lions to get power.
When he faces trouble on the sea, he tries to fight and do his best However, when it gradually gets worse, he wishes that he dreamed of those lions to get strength to support himself.
The Baseball
It is the old man’s favorite game which symbolizes his success and victory.
The boy, Manolin
He represents the early stages and the happiest times of the old man’s life. Manolin is the boy who always takes care of the old man and helps him out. During the novel when the old man is facing hard ordeal and drawn up by the fish, his left hand cramped, he felt he needed someone to help him out to give him strength.
The old man is a symbol of the primitive man who still clung to the ancient means.
§ He sails by a skiff not a modern boat.
§ He usually measures the depth of the sea in fathom not in metric system.
§ At night, he knows his direction on the sea by looking at the stars in the sky.
§ He does not have a means of communication such as a Radio.
§ He does not have a compass with which he can easily get his right direction.
Of course you are going to give only one example