The Dart
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introduction |
A whole chapter on a stabbing device. Imagine. |
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Question |
Answer the following question. •Why are most whalers so unsuccessful? |
The Crotch
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Introduction |
You alway need something to carry the harpoon with. If you look near the end of the book, there are some pictures. |
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Questions |
Answer one of the following questions •What is the crotch for? •Why does the whaleboat carry two irons? How is that dangerous? |
Stubb’s Supper
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Introduction |
This is one of the oddest and most important chapters in the book. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions thoroughly. •Who isn’t particularly thrilled at the death of the whale? •What is Stubb eating from the whale? Why? • Ishmael compares the sharks to Stubb. Aside from their similar dinners, what else links the eaters? Think about the metaphor Ishmael uses •Why do the sharks "hilariously" feast? •What does Stubb’s order to the cook show about Stubb? How do Fleece’s responses elevate him? •Fleece addresses the sharks in a serious (although humorous) vein. What does his speech show? (gobern=govern) •In light of the link made earlier by Melville, How could Fleece’s speech apply to the rest of the boat? •How does the pointlessness of the speech explain Melville’s view of nature? •How does religion also rattle around in this section? How does this speech contrast Mapple’s earlier? |
The Shark Massacre
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Introduction |
A great chapter, very short and very bloody. |
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Questions |
Answer one of the following questions •How do the harpooneers bedevil the sharks? •What is the importance of the last quote (from Queequeg)? |
Cutting In
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Introduction |
Let the butchery begin...like the peeling of an orange. |
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Questions |
Answer one of the following questions •What day do they begin the butchery? Why is that relevant? •How do they get the blubber from the whale? |
The Blanket
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Introduction |
And what a blanket it is... |
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Questions |
Answer two of the following questions •What is the skin of the whale like? •Ishmael compares the lines and marks on the skin of a whale to two things. What two things? What does this show? • How is Ishmael’s little speech in this chapter similar to Fleece’s? |
The Funeral
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Introduction |
Now, the whale slips into the water.... |
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Questions |
Answer one of the following questions •What is the weather when they cut the whale free? •What else could Ishmael be implying with his Orthodoxy? |
The Sphynx
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Introduction |
And yet, the head of the whale remains... |
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Questions |
One of the following questions •Why is the Sphynx an appropriate comparison for the whale? •What vision of the world has the whale seen? How would that shake Abraham? |