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【摘要】《老人与海》是美国作家海明威后期的一部重要作品。这部作品体现了作者的创作原则，成为一部在世界文学史上有重要价值而为人们所珍视的经典之作。这部小说是海明威“冰山原则”的一个注脚。其描绘的场景是生活中常见的场景，然而，它的象征意义却直指生命本身。本文通过对小说中具体象征的分析，具体来说即是对“圣地亚哥”、“马诺林”、“大海”等几种物象的分析。并且简单分析了象征的功能，以便于大家能够更好的理解这部小说。
【关键词】《老人与海》 象征艺术 冰山原则
【Abstract】The Old Man and the Sea is Earnest Hemingway’s major work in his later career.The book is regard as the most important work of Hemingway’s writing principle and classical one for its literary value.This novel is the footnote of Hemingway’s iceberg principle，and it depicted the settings and images which are common in life，but the symbolic meanings point directly the life itself.This paper intends to find out the hidden value by studying the symbolic meaning in the novel，such as “the old man”，“the little kid Manolin”，and “the sea”.And it briefly analyzes the functions of symbolism so that it can help one to have a better understand about the novel.
【Key Word】The Old Man and the Sea； symbolism； iceberg principle
Introduction
Ernest Hemingway（1899-1961）is one of the most important American writers in the twentieth century.The Old Man and the Sea was the peak of his literary creation.On one hand，he inherits the traditional realism of Mark Twain； on the other hand，he innovates the thoughts and ways in creating，and forms his unique style.The Old Man and the Sea was Hemingway’s masterpiece in his later career，and it was one of his important works in which he used the principle of creating freely.Hemingway gave up the ways of describing the details in social life，and adopted the unique systematic symbolism.
1.The implication of iceberg beneath the water
Hemingway compares the writing to the iceberg floating on the surface of sea.The reader can learn the implying meaning from the 1/8 of the ice berg above water and feelings of the author from 7/8 of the iceberg under water.If Hemingway only wrote a novel for fishing and told us a story of an old fisherman，The Old Man and the Sea couldn’t be his masterpiece.“I always try to write，” he put it，“on the principle of the iceberg.There’s seven eighths of it under water for every part that shows.Anything you know you can eliminate and it only strengthens your iceberg –”
2.The symbolism reflected in the novel
Hemingway is a master of using symbolism，which is the most striking feature in The Old Man and the Sea.“A symbol is a thing that refers to or suggests more than its literal meaning.It is an object，animate or inanimate，which goes beyond the objective referent by evoking or suggesting to the reader a meaning on another level，a meaning beyond itself”.So in this paper，I will make a brief analysis of its symbolic meaning. 2.1 Santiago as symbol
The Old Man and the Sea is about an old fisherman named Santiago who struggles with the nature.Without catching a single fish for eighty-four days，the old fisherman still keeps on trying in confidence.Finally，he catches a huge marlin.On his way home，marlin is continually attacked by sharks.Although Santiago does his best to protect it，he fails.In the end there is only skeleton of the marlin left.“The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck”.From this description，a visual image of Santiago is given.He is an elder man，and the writer seems to stress the old age particularly.Hemingway portrays the image of “code hero”，and he doesn’t choose a young man but an old one.And this limits the power of the protagonist.The author has his deep significance in such choice and it’s beyond expectations.The man is tiny in the universe，and he is weak in physical body.But the spirit of human beings can push them to struggle with the enemies to the end.
2.2 Manolin as symbol
“The God give me a good man and a good boy，but nowadays the other writers has already forgotten these things”[3]，when Hemingway talked about the successful factors in The Old Man and the Sea，he commented like this.From that we can see the little boy played an important part in this novel.From the beginning of the story，there is a unique relationship between Santiago and Manolin.
Manolin’s parents who wished him to fish in a lucky boat forced the boy to leave the old man，because Santiago was unlucky.Nevertheless，the boy continued to look after the old man.In the novel，there was no description about how Santiago solves his daily life.So mandolin is the symbol of another state of Santiago，who has the basic needs of daily life.
By the end of the story，however，the boy gave up his duty to his father，and promised that he would accompany with the old man.He stands for the symbol of uncompromised love and fidelity.Mandolin，as the old man’s apprentice，also symbolizes the life that will follow from death.His devotion to learning from the old man makes sure that Santiago will live on.
2.3 The sea as symbol
The sea symbolizes the world and society where man must live.The sea is boundless，full of raging waves and hidden reef.And the sea is cruel，savage and insidious，just like the real world where Hemingway lives.The sea is the origination of life，and it is the real hometown of the human beings.Since the ancient Greek，the sea has begun to be worshipped.In the eyes of Greeks，the broad sea is man’s companion which is ferocious and mysterious.In western literature，the image of the sea is rich in colorful meanings.Hemingway portrayed a classical “code hero”，which is set off on the background of the broad sea. Conclusion
Although The Old Man and the Sea is condensed and pithy，it has brilliant achievement.It is just because the iceberg principle is showed clearly.The author wanted to make the reader dig out the deep meaning through a small part above the water.Then how did Hemingway demonstrate this principle？It was the symbolism played such an important part in the novel.The colorful allegorical meaning in The Old Man and the Sea not only displayed the various inspirations，but also embodied the true essence of the iceberg principle.
References：
[1]吴伟仁.美国文学史及选读[M].上海：外语教学与研究出版社.1990.（P123）.
[2]Ernest Hemingway.The Old Man and The Sea[M].Shanghai： Shanghai Yilin.Press.1999.（P76）.
[3]Schopenhauer.Arthur.The World as Will and Representation [M].Dover： Dover Pubns.1969.（P58）.
[4]Kearns，George.American Litertature[M].New York：Macmillian Publishing.Company.1984.（P28-60）.
[5]Kobler，J.F.Ernest Hemingway：Journest and Artist[M].Austin：University of.Texas.1968.（P89-100）.
[6]季羡林.中外文学书目简历[M].北京：中国地质出版社.1986.（P100-110）.
[7]王宁.二十世纪西方文学比较研究[M].北京：人民文学出版社.1996.（P68-79）.
[8]吴伟仁.美国文学史及选读[M].上海：外语教学与研究出版社.1990.（P120-129）.
作者简介：张智君，内蒙古民族大学助教，硕士，研究方向：计算机辅助英语教学。
【关键词】《老人与海》 象征艺术 冰山原则
【Abstract】The Old Man and the Sea is Earnest Hemingway’s major work in his later career.The book is regard as the most important work of Hemingway’s writing principle and classical one for its literary value.This novel is the footnote of Hemingway’s iceberg principle，and it depicted the settings and images which are common in life，but the symbolic meanings point directly the life itself.This paper intends to find out the hidden value by studying the symbolic meaning in the novel，such as “the old man”，“the little kid Manolin”，and “the sea”.And it briefly analyzes the functions of symbolism so that it can help one to have a better understand about the novel.
【Key Word】The Old Man and the Sea； symbolism； iceberg principle
Introduction
Ernest Hemingway（1899-1961）is one of the most important American writers in the twentieth century.The Old Man and the Sea was the peak of his literary creation.On one hand，he inherits the traditional realism of Mark Twain； on the other hand，he innovates the thoughts and ways in creating，and forms his unique style.The Old Man and the Sea was Hemingway’s masterpiece in his later career，and it was one of his important works in which he used the principle of creating freely.Hemingway gave up the ways of describing the details in social life，and adopted the unique systematic symbolism.
1.The implication of iceberg beneath the water
Hemingway compares the writing to the iceberg floating on the surface of sea.The reader can learn the implying meaning from the 1/8 of the ice berg above water and feelings of the author from 7/8 of the iceberg under water.If Hemingway only wrote a novel for fishing and told us a story of an old fisherman，The Old Man and the Sea couldn’t be his masterpiece.“I always try to write，” he put it，“on the principle of the iceberg.There’s seven eighths of it under water for every part that shows.Anything you know you can eliminate and it only strengthens your iceberg –”
2.The symbolism reflected in the novel
Hemingway is a master of using symbolism，which is the most striking feature in The Old Man and the Sea.“A symbol is a thing that refers to or suggests more than its literal meaning.It is an object，animate or inanimate，which goes beyond the objective referent by evoking or suggesting to the reader a meaning on another level，a meaning beyond itself”.So in this paper，I will make a brief analysis of its symbolic meaning. 2.1 Santiago as symbol
The Old Man and the Sea is about an old fisherman named Santiago who struggles with the nature.Without catching a single fish for eighty-four days，the old fisherman still keeps on trying in confidence.Finally，he catches a huge marlin.On his way home，marlin is continually attacked by sharks.Although Santiago does his best to protect it，he fails.In the end there is only skeleton of the marlin left.“The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck”.From this description，a visual image of Santiago is given.He is an elder man，and the writer seems to stress the old age particularly.Hemingway portrays the image of “code hero”，and he doesn’t choose a young man but an old one.And this limits the power of the protagonist.The author has his deep significance in such choice and it’s beyond expectations.The man is tiny in the universe，and he is weak in physical body.But the spirit of human beings can push them to struggle with the enemies to the end.
2.2 Manolin as symbol
“The God give me a good man and a good boy，but nowadays the other writers has already forgotten these things”[3]，when Hemingway talked about the successful factors in The Old Man and the Sea，he commented like this.From that we can see the little boy played an important part in this novel.From the beginning of the story，there is a unique relationship between Santiago and Manolin.
Manolin’s parents who wished him to fish in a lucky boat forced the boy to leave the old man，because Santiago was unlucky.Nevertheless，the boy continued to look after the old man.In the novel，there was no description about how Santiago solves his daily life.So mandolin is the symbol of another state of Santiago，who has the basic needs of daily life.
By the end of the story，however，the boy gave up his duty to his father，and promised that he would accompany with the old man.He stands for the symbol of uncompromised love and fidelity.Mandolin，as the old man’s apprentice，also symbolizes the life that will follow from death.His devotion to learning from the old man makes sure that Santiago will live on.
2.3 The sea as symbol
The sea symbolizes the world and society where man must live.The sea is boundless，full of raging waves and hidden reef.And the sea is cruel，savage and insidious，just like the real world where Hemingway lives.The sea is the origination of life，and it is the real hometown of the human beings.Since the ancient Greek，the sea has begun to be worshipped.In the eyes of Greeks，the broad sea is man’s companion which is ferocious and mysterious.In western literature，the image of the sea is rich in colorful meanings.Hemingway portrayed a classical “code hero”，which is set off on the background of the broad sea. Conclusion
Although The Old Man and the Sea is condensed and pithy，it has brilliant achievement.It is just because the iceberg principle is showed clearly.The author wanted to make the reader dig out the deep meaning through a small part above the water.Then how did Hemingway demonstrate this principle？It was the symbolism played such an important part in the novel.The colorful allegorical meaning in The Old Man and the Sea not only displayed the various inspirations，but also embodied the true essence of the iceberg principle.
References：
[1]吴伟仁.美国文学史及选读[M].上海：外语教学与研究出版社.1990.（P123）.
[2]Ernest Hemingway.The Old Man and The Sea[M].Shanghai： Shanghai Yilin.Press.1999.（P76）.
[3]Schopenhauer.Arthur.The World as Will and Representation [M].Dover： Dover Pubns.1969.（P58）.
[4]Kearns，George.American Litertature[M].New York：Macmillian Publishing.Company.1984.（P28-60）.
[5]Kobler，J.F.Ernest Hemingway：Journest and Artist[M].Austin：University of.Texas.1968.（P89-100）.
[6]季羡林.中外文学书目简历[M].北京：中国地质出版社.1986.（P100-110）.
[7]王宁.二十世纪西方文学比较研究[M].北京：人民文学出版社.1996.（P68-79）.
[8]吴伟仁.美国文学史及选读[M].上海：外语教学与研究出版社.1990.（P120-129）.
作者简介：张智君，内蒙古民族大学助教，硕士，研究方向：计算机辅助英语教学。