The “iceberg” principle is a literary device whereby a lot of the depth and meaning of the story is hidden beneath the surface. Ernest Hemingway, known for his distinctive writing style, frequently used this literary device. Hemingway demonstrates this rule in “The Old Man and the Sea,” using concise, economical prose to convey complex feelings and ideas.

The Power of Understatement

Hemingway uses understatement and sparse language to build tension and give readers room to fill in the blanks. Hemingway gives readers the opportunity to use their imagination by leaving out explicit details and concentrating on crucial components. According to him, “The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck” (p. 9) leaves room for interpretation while giving readers just enough details to picture Santiago’s physical appearance in this passage.

Symbolism and Subtext

Hemingway is able to include symbolism and subtext in his stories thanks to the “iceberg” principle. A good example is how Hemingway portrayed the marlin as a representation of power and beauty. Hemingway encourages readers to extrapolate the marlin’s significance from its literal depiction by using succinct descriptions like “He is wonderful” (pg. 41).