Abstract: The Old Man and the Sea is regarded as the best work by Hemingway himself. It is a novel full of many symbols. This thesis aims to reveal those hidden meanings by studying the symbolic images, such as the sea, the old man, the boy, the marlin, the shark and the lions. Through the symbols, Hemingway shows readers an old man, in spite of poor condition, fighting with fate to the end. This vivid depiction presents the great human spirit of unyieldingness. Besides, the application of symbolism is also a revelation of Hemingway’s “Iceberg Theory”. These simple images in the novel are just one-eighth above water and the seven-eighths under water will be revealed with the interpretation of them.

Key word: Hemingway; symbolism; Iceberg Theory

摘要：海明威称《老人与海》是他一生中所写出的最好的作品。小说中充满了象征。本文旨在通过对象征意象，如大海、老人、男孩、马林鱼、鲨鱼及狮子的分析来揭示其暗含意义。通过这些象征，海明威向读者展示了不管情况如何糟糕，老人都与命运奋战到底。这一生动的描绘显示了人类不屈服的伟大精神。其次，象征手法的应用也展现了海明威的冰山理论。小说中的角色都是简单的露在水面的八分之一，而要揭露水下的八分之七则需要对这些象征的阐释。

关键词：海明威；象征手法；冰山理论