Cetology
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Introduction |
This is yet another in a series of technical chapters on whales. |
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Questions |
Answer all of the the following questions thoroughly. • What are the scientific errors made in this chapter? • While this is ostensibly a scientific chapter, the logic of the story and the will of the author continues. What themes are present, even in this chapter? • Melville alludes to Job yet again. Why is that story so important to this novel? • He ends the chapter with the phrase "Oh, This whole book is but a daught, a draught of a draught." What does that mean? |
The Specksynder
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Introduction |
Melville’s tone picks up some of his humor here, in another chapter that will show Ahab. |
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Question |
Answer the following questions. 1. How are whaling ships different from other ships (vis a vis Officers) Why might Harponeers be treated this way? What does it say about Ahab, that he follows this tradition? 2. Melville casually writes of the "paramount forms and usages of the sea" Why might sailors be more given to ritual than others? Would you think Sailors might use masks (a la Lord of the Flies?) What is "sultanism"? Why might a man use it? 3. According to Melville (and Ishmael) should the truly great man use tricks of power. Does Ahab? What does he do? Is this Emersonian? |
The Cabin Table
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Introduction |
The theory of the previous chapter is carried out here. |
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Questions |
Answer two of the following questions. • How does Ahab use his table as an example of "sultanism" • How do all of his mates bend to the power of the captain? • How do the harpooneers usurp the captain? |
The Masthead
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Introduction |
The focus of the story now returnes to Ishmael and his odd ways. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions as you read the chapter. 1. Where is the Masthead on a ship? Why would this be a dangerous and unproductive place for Ishmael? Symbolically, why would the Mathead be important for Melville? (not the Tower of Babel allusion) 2. Why does he compare the masthead to all of those other figures? 3. How well does Ishmael do his job? Why is he (the young "Platonist") such a bad man for a whale boat? 4. How does jab Emerson at the end of this chapter? |
The Quarterdeck
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Introduction |
Note how the games with narration continue. I believe that Melville had more that he wanted to do with this story, more than a first person narration could do. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions. 1. Complete the phrase "bigotry of ___________" Why does he use the word Bigotry? 2. How do the men react to the exhortations of Ahab? Psychologically, why do you suppose they get so into it? 3. What challenge does Ahab issue to his crew? Metaphorically, why does he want to reward them with gold? 4. How do the harpooneers react when they hear of the whale? Why? 5. Why is Starbuck uneasy? Why does he say he is uneasy? Why does he fall to Ahab’s power? 6. Ahab has a great, thoughtful speech. What does he compare all things (nature) to? Complete the quote "the inscrutable thing is ___________________" What does "inscrutable" mean? Therefore, why does Ahab hate the whale? |
Continued on next page
Quarter-Deck, Continued
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What does the whale represent? Why would the whale madden Emerson as much as it maddens Ahab? Is Nature good or evil, to Ahab? 7. Why is Starbuck struck silent? 8. Before Ahab toasts the harpooneers, Melville makes an odd animal analogy. What is it? Why is that strange? 9. What don’t the three mates have, that Ahab has in abundance? Why won’t they look him in the eye? 10. "I do not order ye, ye will it" What does this mean? Is this true? 11. What is the symbolic import of the toast? What metaphors does Ahab use for the toast? Why should this scene be so shocking to Starbuck and the officers? 12. What has Ahab’s emotions been like for this scene? |
Sunset
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Introduction |
This is an important, but highly symbolic chapter. Read it and weep. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions. 1. What sort of crown sits on Ahab’s head? Why is that symbolically important? 2. Why doesn’t the sunlight cheer him? How did he get damned? If he is Damned, what has damned him? Explain. 3. How is Ahab’s madness different from ordinary madness? Why the word "demoniac" Is Ahab’s madness something that could run in the normal way for men? |
Dusk
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Introduction |
Ah, Starbuck.... |
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Questions |
Answer two of the following questions. • How do both Ahab and Starbuck use the idea of "reason"? • Why was Ahab able to overmatch Starbuck? • How does Starbuck use the idea of the shark again? • Where does the horror come from that Starbuck notes? |
First Night Watch
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Introduction |
Oh, Stubb... |
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Quetions |
Answer one of the following questions. • Why is a laugh the easiest answer? • How is his attitude radically different from Ahab’s or Starbucks? • Why the titles of these last three (and the next) chapter? |
Midnight, Forecastle
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Introduction |
All of the last three chapters have dealt with the reverberations of Ahab’s speech. In this one, the crew deals. |
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Questions. |
Answer the following questions. • What is the difference between the two songs. • Why are the sailors identified by location and not by name? (ave Pip) • Why is dancing an appropriate response to Ahab (think Lord of the Flies)? • Why should a fight pop up? • What is the importance of this quote "God mad’st the ring." • What is Pip afraid of? • How does this chapter make a hash out of color symbolism? |
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