The Old Man and the Sea is a classic novel detailing the life of a Cuban fisherman and his struggle with a massive marlin. Throughout, symbolism plays a key role in shifting the focus from a dry novel to a deep narrative with a lasting impression. Religious references are also an important element, adding a unique point of view that readers rarely experience in a regular novel. Hemmingway knew that bringing the two together would be the perfect combination. Close reading will reveal many key elements, magnifying The Old Man and the Sea into a classic tale. Among all the literary elements used in literary works, symbolism is one of the most important. Attentive readers will find themselves disconcerted if they miss the symbolism and its vital meaning in The Old Man and the Sea. "In Ernest Hemingway's masterpiece, The Old Man and the Sea, he uses a lot of symbolism to help readers understand the message it is trying to convey” (Symbolism). Those who have read Hemingway's novel will notice the symbolism revealed throughout and its key message, beginning with simple ordinary symbolism and extending to vast instances of symbolic detail. Hemingway captivated his readers by using simple symbolism like sharks or complex ideas like the sea representing God, both methods easily proving to be a key element, making the novel an instant success. The symbolism implemented by Hemingway, however small it may be, serves its purpose well; adding an important reading device. The first time symbolism appears in The Old Man and the Sea appears at the beginning of the novel between Santiago and Manolin. The relationship between the main character Santiago and his protégé Manolin, parallels that of a...... middle of paper ......Man and the sea: the dialectic of Hemingway's imagery. " elcamino. 2002. Web. November 28, 2011. .Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York, NY: SCRIBNER, 2003. Print. Lorcher, Trent “Symbolism in the Old Man and the Sea”. November 2011 . “The Old Man and the Sea: Symbols.” LITCHARTS, November 28, 2011. “The Symbolism of the Old Man and the Sea.” 123helpme!. “The Old Man and the Sea.” SparkNotes Web. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION...