The Advocate
|
Introduction |
This chapter begins Melville’s experimentation with narration. Ostensibly in Ishmael’s voice, Melville begins to lecture. |
|
Questions |
Answer the following questions. 1. Why has whaling become an ignoble profession? 2. Why is the whale man more brave and noble than the soldier? 3. Complete the quote: "For what are the comrehensible terrors of man compared with ___________________________________" 4. What wonders has whaling brought about? 5. What honors were loaded onto the Whaleman of the past? 6. How is this chapter organized? |
Postscript
|
Introduction |
This is a tiny, little chapter. |
|
Questions |
Answer both of the following questions. 1. What is the tone of this chapter? Compare it with the tone of the first etymology-why might they be similar? 2. What is the final cause of the whaleman’s nobility? |
Knights and Squires
|
Introduction |
This chapter introduces all of the main characters on the boat. The answers to these questions should be of considerable depth. |
|
Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. 1. Describe Starbuck physically. What is he supposed to embody? Why is he named the way he is? What do you suppose the word "careful" means to Stubb? What is the nature of Starbuck’s bravery 2. Why does this chapter with those odd incatation to God? How is God "democratic" 3. Why does Starbuck get his own chapter? |
Knights and Squires (again)
|
Introduction |
Starbuck taken care of, Melville moves on the rest of the crew. |
|
Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. 1. Describe Stubb physically. What is he supposed to embody? Why is he named the way he is? How is he different from Starbuck? 2. Describe Flask physically. What is he supposed to embody? Why is he named the way he is? How is he different from the other two mates? 3. Describe Tashtego and Dagoo? What are the major differences betwen these two men? How about between them and Queequeg? How are these three men different from the mates? |
Ahab
|
Introduction |
This chapter introduces (finally) Ahab. |
|
Questions |
Answer all of the following questions. 1. When does Ahab finally appear? How is the emperor and dictator of the ship? Melville initially decribes him as something left from a fire. What many things does that description reveal? 2. What sort of scar does Ahab have? Symbolically, what might that be? Biblically, why might that be? Why is the scar white? 3. Melville uses Ahab;s glance to describe his character. What does his glance reveal? Would this be a worrisome or a positive development for a crewman of this boat? What is his relationship to nature? |
Enter Ahab; To Him, Stubb
|
Introduction |
Ahab begins to interact with the crew, but not all that positively. |
|
questions |
Answer one of the following questions. 1. Stubb has two reactions when Ahab kicks him. What are they? Why does he witrhdraw, somewhat confused? Is he mad? If he is, what is the nature of his madness-How does he differ from other folks? 2. Why does Ahab hate sleep? (Thought Question) |
The Pipe
|
Introduction |
This is a short, but revealing inter-chapter. |
|
Questions |
Answer the following question fully. • Why doesn’t the pipe sooth anymore? Why can’t he be soothed? |
Queen Mab
|
Introduction |
If you don’t remember her, Queen Mab is the fairy queen of dreams, made famouse by Mercutio and Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet. In the play, the Queen Mab speech begins innocently enough, but ends in a flourish of anger. |
|
Question |
Answer the following question fully. • What was Stubb’s dream? How might you interpret that dream? If you assume Ahab is merely human, what does the dream tell you about Stubb? Why might the white whale be mentioned in this chapter. |
|
|