Final answer:
Thomas C. Foster uses 'The Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemingway as an example of a Christ figure in literature, paralleling the protagonist's struggles with elements of Christ's story.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas C. Foster, in his analysis of literature, uses Ernest Hemingway's novella The Old Man and the Sea to demonstrate a Christ figure. In Hemingway's narrative, the protagonist, Santiago, undergoes suffering and exhibits a level of grace under pressure that can be compared to the biblical Christ. This novella, which explores themes of perseverance, dignity, and redemption, not only showcases the struggles of an old fisherman but also profoundly implicates a deeper, more symbolic significance aligning with Christ-like attributes, such as Santiago's wounds on his hands reminiscent of the stigmata and his bearing of the mast on his shoulder like the cross. The novella's impact was recognized through the awarding of the Pulitzer Prize and was a significant contribution to Hemingway earning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.