The Life Buoy
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Introduction |
An interesting and funky chapter, of death prorogued... |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions. 1. What eerie sound do they here? What are the explanations? How are both explanations true? 2. What happens to the watch? His death has an obvious symbolic weight. What is it? What then, is the importance of the loss of the lifebuoy? 3. What do they replace the life buoy with? 4. Why does the carpenter balk at this job? Why do carpenters always get stuck with this sort of job? 5. What are the bad omens that have been stacking up? |
The Deck
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Introduction |
Ahab i in an odd humor... |
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Quetions |
Answer the following questions. 1. Ahab occaisionally starts these word play games. Why does he do that? 2. Ahab ends the chapter with a paean to Pip. What unknown worlds enter into him? |
The Pequod Meets the Rachel
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Introduction |
Possibly the gruesomest chapter in the work. Any pity for Ahab dissipates here. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions. 1. How had the Rachel’s battle with the white whale gone? 2. Look at the paragraph that begins "It seemed that...." how is that paragraph typical Ishmael. 3. Why do you suppose Melville includes that part about the two sons, gone in different directions. 4. Why won’t Ahab go? 5. What does the allusion to Rachel suggest? |
The Cabin
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Introduction |
Ahab and Pip, twins for a time. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions. 1. What bonds both Ahab and Pip? 2. Is there a method to Pip’s madness? |
The Hat
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Introduction |
More bad omens, for everyone |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions. 1. How has Ahab awed the crew? How has Fedallah awed Ahab? 2. Why might the watch lie when on the masthead 3. Why is Starbuck an excellent watchman for Ahab’s rope? How is Starbuck the tragic hero of the story? 4. What does the bird do with Ahab’s hat? |