The Old Man and the Sea: Ernest Hemingway and the Godlessness of Modernism

The Old Man and the Sea: Ernest Hemingway and the Godlessness of Modernism

Presented by Dr. Henry Russell · Published by TAN Books

Overview

Ernest Hemingway stands as one of the most recognizable figures in American literature, but his work cannot be fully understood apart from the spiritual crisis of modernism. In The Old Man and the Sea: Ernest Hemingway and the Godlessness of Modernism, Dr. Henry Russell guides students through Hemingway’s famous novella with academic rigor and a distinctly Catholic perspective.

Although Hemingway was nominally Catholic, his life and writings often reflect the desperation, isolation, and intermittent Godlessness that marked many modern American authors. Yet beneath the surface, traces of Catholic imagination remain. Dr. Russell explores whether Hemingway’s world is truly empty of God, or whether it is quietly haunted by Christ.

Drawn from TAN Courses’ broader American Literature lecture series, this focused short course examines the philosophical, theological, and political implications of The Old Man and the Sea. Students are invited to see American literature not merely as a school subject, but as a battleground of meaning, truth, suffering, and grace.

This course equips Catholics to speak with confidence about Hemingway, modernism, and the enduring presence of Christian thought within American letters.

• Analyze Hemingway Deeply: Explore the theological and philosophical meaning within The Old Man and the Sea.
• Understand Modernism: Examine the desperation, isolation, and Godlessness found in modern American literature.
• Recover the Catholic Imagination: See how Christ’s presence quietly haunts even secular literary works.
• Think Beyond the Classroom: Engage topics rarely covered in standard high school literature courses.
• Strengthen Cultural Discernment: Learn how literature reveals what a civilization believes about truth.

Lecture Sample

Preview the course below and experience Dr. Russell’s thoughtful, Catholic approach to American literature.

Lecture Synopses

Modernism’s Orthodoxies and Ernest Hemingway Part 1
Dr. Russell examines the desperation, isolation, and intermittent Godlessness found in major modern authors, asking why figures such as Robinson, Frost, Pound, Eliot, and Hemingway wrestled so deeply with doubt.

Modernism’s Orthodoxies and Ernest Hemingway Part 2
This lecture considers whether Hemingway, though only nominally Catholic, remained haunted by Christ in his writings and whether traces of Catholic belief can still be found within his literary imagination.

Intended Audience

This course is ideal for Catholic students, homeschool families, literature teachers, adult learners, and intellectually serious readers who want to understand American literature through a faithful and rigorous lens.

It is especially valuable for those who want more than a surface-level reading of Hemingway and desire to engage the spiritual, philosophical, and cultural questions beneath the text.

Practical use cases include homeschool literature study, supplemental high school coursework, adult education, Catholic cultural formation, and personal enrichment.

FAQs

Is this course only about The Old Man and the Sea?
The course focuses on Hemingway and The Old Man and the Sea, while also placing the work within the broader crisis of modernism and American literature.

Is this suitable for homeschool students?
Yes. It is especially useful for Catholic homeschool families seeking a deeper and more faithful approach to American literature.

Does the course require advanced literary background?
No. Dr. Russell presents serious ideas in an accessible way, making the course useful for students and adult learners alike.