The Ramadan
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Introduction citron |
Queequeg attempts to purify himself against the Christians. |
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Questions |
Answer one of the following questions. • Ishmael begins the chapter by writing of his respect for anyone’s religious beliefs, but tries to break in on Queequeg anyway. What does this show about our Intrepid narrator? • This chapter is clearly written to be comic. How does Melville attempt to make it funny? Comment on this. |
His Mark
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Introduction |
Queequeg becomes a rich man (in theory). |
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Questions |
Please answer one of the following questions. • How religious are Bildad and his partner? Why do they decide to take Queequeg on? Do you take that as a positive character trait or a negative one? • According to Peleg, why does a pious harpooneer make for a bad one? Why might he think of a man as a shark? How do shark fit into an Emersonian world view? |
The Prophet
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Introduction |
The first of many warnings comes to Ishmael. |
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Questions |
Answer one of the following questions. • What does the prophet tell (and hint) about Ahab? How does all this build up affect the portrayal of Ahab? What is the theme of all of these Ahab stories? Is Ahab being portrayed as a Jonah? Explain. • Why does the "prophet" wish them "Good-bye" as he comes to the kernel of his tale? Why, then, would he follow them? Assume there is nothing supernatural going on. Why is he following them? • What is the importance of his name? |
All Astir
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Introduction |
The boat is prepared and two of the most interesting characters in the entire narrative slip out. |
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Questions |
Pick one of the following questions. • Why must a whaling ship be "over-stocked"? • Why does this woman do all the work? |
Going Abroad
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Introduction |
Finally, the Peguod leaves the dock and the story begins. |
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Questions |
Answer all of the following questions. 1. What has Ishmael seen running to the boat? Do they see them later? Who could they be? 2. Where does Queequeg sit? Why? Why does the author include this? 3. What day is the Pequod set to sail? What importance might that have for Ishmael? |
Merry Christmas
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Introduction |
The ship moves from the dock, out into the harbor, and deep into the heart of an impenetrable darkness. |
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Questions |
Answer all of the following questions. 1. Why isn’t the captain appearing? Dramatically, why doesn’t Ahab appear? 2. How do they haul up an anchor? 3. What songs to the men sing? What did Bildad want them to sing? What symbolic importance might this little change have? 4. What is the weather like as they leave port? 5. Why don’t Bildad and Peleg want to leave the boat? Melville weighs their leaving with more weight than you would think. How does he do that? |
The Lee Shore
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Introduction |
Welcome to your last vision of Bulkington. Enjoy it. |
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Questions |
Answer one of the following questions. 1. What is the "lee shore"? Why is it dangerous? 2. What sort of a man is Bulkington? Many of the men in this book are representative. What does B. represent? 3. What does the word "apotheosis" mean? Why is it used there? 4. Melville refers to the sea as superior to land. In what way? |
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