A Right Whale Killed
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Introuction |
These chapters will fly by fat and furious. |
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Questions |
Read the chapter and answer two of the following questions. 1. According to Stubb, how is Fedellah the very devil? 2. Therefore, what deal did Ahab strike with the devil? Will it do Ahab any good? 3. How has Melville otherwise paired the Parsee and Ahab? |
The Sperm Whale’s Head
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Introduction |
In case you ever run into one.... |
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Question |
How do the ideas of nature and the amorality of the sperm whale get reflected in the whale’s head? |
The Right Whale’s Head
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Introduction |
In case you ever have to buy one at the grocer’s.... |
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Question |
How does the Right Whale contrast the Sperm whale (beyond the physical differences) How might both animal contrast man? |
The Battering Ram
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Introduction |
Another quick chapter |
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Questions |
Answer one of the following questions. 1. Describe the battering ram part of the whale? 2. Beyond the biology, why is this feature of the whale remarkable? 3. What does melville mean by his references to truth at the end of the chapter? |
The Great Heidelberg Ton
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Introduction |
Possibly the most valuable part of the sperm whale is the spermaceti, kept in the battering ram. |
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Questions |
Answer one of the following questions. 1. Why is Melville comparing the head of the whale to the Heidelberg Ton? Why not compare it to a large vat of water? |
Cisterns and Buckets
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Introduction |
Where Tashtego is born again. |
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Questions |
Answer two of the following questions. 1. How does Tashtego get the oil from the head? 2. According to Melville, why does the Whale head begin to move? Think metaphirically. Why might it do that? 3. Is this just an adventurous story, or is there more of a point to it? |
The Prairie
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Introduction |
Physiognomony is a bizarre science, used here in a bizarre way. |
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Questions |
Answer one of the following questions. 1. Why is te lack of a nose important? 2. What is noble about the brow? 3. Why can’t Ishmael read it? What does that say on a deeper level? |
The Nut
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Introduction |
Ah, the brain of the whale. |
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Questions |
Answer two of the following questions. 1. How long is a sperm whale’s skull? 2. What is the importance of their being no real brain in the whale? 3. How does the whale present a false front? 4. Where does Ishmael believe the mental power of the whale to be? How could you measure it, then? |
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