A Bosom Friend
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Introduction |
Another chapter that does pretty much what the Spouter Inn did, but tighter. |
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Questions |
Answer all of the following questions. 1. Why is it important that he compares Queequeg to Washington? 2. Why do you suppose "something melted" in Ishmael and he warmed to Queequeg? 3. Is he being blasphemous, making friends and worshipping with Queequeg? 4. Why does this chapter follow hard upon the Sermon? |
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The Nightgown |
Answer these questions. 1. Why does Melville go so far as to put Queequeg and Ishmael in bed together, smoking. 2. What does Ishmael mean by "nothing exists in itself. |
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Biographical |
Answer these questions. 1. In your own words, describe Queequeg’s background. |
The Wheelbarrow
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Introduction |
This is an odd, but telling chapter in the story. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions after you have read the chapter. 1. Why were the townspeople staring at Queequeg this morning? Why have the two of them become such friends? Is Ishmael as committed to this friendship? Show that. 2. What does the story of the wheelbarrow (and the wedding feast) show? What does it show about Queequeg’s character? 3. What does New Bedford look like from the sea? What lesson does Ishmael take from this? 4. What happens on the boat? What seems to be the meaning of the last sentence of the chapter? Do you think it is important that Queequeg never says this, but Ishmael does for him? 5. Overall, was is the dominant message of this chapter. |
Nantucket
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Questions |
Answer all of the following questions 1. What jokes does he make at the expense of nantucketers? 2. How does he compliment them? Knowing what you know about Ishmael, why might he want to trumpet Nantucketers? 3. Look at the idea of "Naked Nantucketers, swarming out of their anthill like so many Alexanders...." What contradictory ideas does this present? What does this seem to say about their relationship to nature. |
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Chowder
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Introductory |
This is a light comedic part of the story, with one ominous overtone. |
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Questions |
Pick one of the following questions. 1. What does Melville want you to laugh at on Nantucket? How did he use this same technique in New Bedford. 2. Death seems to haunt this book. How is death present in this chapter? Why does Melville make it appear so often? |
The Ship
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Introduction |
This is one of the key chapters in the early part of the novel, as important to the work as "the Spouter Inn." Look particularly carefully at the metaphors. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions. 1. Ishmael does his usual duck and dodge about how he decides to choose a boat. How does he choose a boat? Why does he choose the Pequod? Where else have you seen him make a decision like this? 2. What does the Pequod look like? What would make a slightly smarter sailer than Ishmael hesitate? What does he compare the Pequod to? Why are those comparisons important? How might they be a little false? 3. What is wierd about the decoration of the Pequod? Psychologically, why might someone decorate a boat like that? 4. Why does Peleg assume Ishmael has done something wrong? 5. How does Ahab personify whaling? Why might the author describe Ahab before he appears in the novel? 6. How does Ishmael respone when Peleg asks him about jumping down a whales throat? Why was that a wise response? |
Continued on next page
The Ship, Continued
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7. Peleg asks Ishmael to go to the weather rail and describe what he sees. What does he see? Why does he test Ishmael with this? How much of the world would a Whaler see, realistically. Complete this quote: "Can’t ye see the world ___________________" Why is that important? 8. Ishmael describes certain great Quaker men. what characterisitics do they share? What weakness do they have? Who is being describe in this passage? 9. What is Bildad like? What characterisitics does he embody? 10. Complete the quote "he’s a great ungodly ___________" How does this relate to some of the themes of the book? What is wrong with Ahab? How was e unfortunately named? At this point, what do you know of Ahab? |
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