HERMAN MELVILLE
READING GUIDE: BILLY BUDD
Herman Melville (1819-1991)
1. Read a short biography (on a website or in an on-line encyclopedia) on Herman Melville.
What events in Melville’s life informed the writing of Billy Budd?
2. Note when Melville started Billy Budd and that he died before he finished it. Some
biographers and critics view Billy Budd as Melville’s “last will and testament.” What
does this commentary mean?
As You Read
1. As you read, note elements of Melville’s style: irony, symbolism, biblical and classical
allusions, short chapters, long sentences, narrator’s digressions.
2. NOTE: We will be using the on-line version of Billy Budd from the University of
Virginia’s website on the novel. If you are using a text from another source, you will not
some differences in chapter numbers about half way through the work.
Billy Budd On-Line edition from University of Virginia
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/bb/bb_main.html
Chapter 1: “In the time before steamships . . .” – The Handsomer Sailor - - Billy Budd
1. What is the setting of the story in time and place?
2. The exposition of the story introduces us to what nautical tradition?
3. We learn the Billy was “impressed.” What does this word mean?
4. What is the name of the impressed ship? What is the significance of that name?
5. What does Captain Graveling have to say about Billy
6. How did Billy react when Red Whiskers dug him in the ribs? Why did Red Whiskers dig
him in the ribs in the first place?
7. Captain Graveling refers to Billy as his “peacemaker.” What does this word suggest in
religious terms?
8. Lieutenant Ratcliff refers to Billy as “Apollo.” Who is Apollo?
9. What does Billy do as he leaves The Rights of Man? Note that his action is a “terrible
breach of naval decorum.”
10. What is the name of the ship that has impressed Billy?
11. Describe Billy’s performance as a sailor on the Indomitable (also known in another
version of Billy Budd as the Bellipotent).
Chapter 2: New man aboard the Indomitable – Billy’s History – A “vocal defect”
1. Describe Billy
2. What is Billy’s answer when an officer asks him, “Who was your father?”
3. What is Billy’s history? What do we know about his birth?
4. What are Billy’s mental capacities? Could he read?
5. Note the allusion to Hawthorne. What is Billy’s “blemish”?
6. Also note allusions to Hercules and Adam. How are these allusions effective in building
Billy’s character?
7. Note that in this chapter Billy is sometimes described in feminine terms?
Chapter 3: Impressment – Spithead – Nore
1. What is the subject matter of Chapter Three?
2. What historical events are occurring in this year?
3. We get the exact year the novel takes place. What is it?
4. Note that this chapter appears to be somewhat of a digression. Is the digression
necessary?
Chapter 4: Concerning the Greatest Sailor – Nelson
1. This chapter is yet another digression. What is the subject matter.
2. What might be Melville’s reason for including this chapter?
3. How do we view Admiral Nelson by the end of the chapter?
Chapter 5: “[N]ot every grievance was addressed” – Underpinnings
1. Note yet another digression!
2. What is the subject matter of this chapter. How does this subject matter increase
suspense?
Chapter 6: Captain and the Honorable Edward Fairfax Vere
1. Describe Captain Vere. What does the word “vere” mean in French?
2. How did he get the name “Starry Vere”?
Chapter 7: More on Captain Vere
1. In this chapter we encounter the mind of Captain Vere. Describe that mind.
2. How do the other officers view Captain Vere?
Chapter 8: John Claggart, Master at Arms
1. Who is John Claggart?
2. Describe him.
3. In what was is he a man of mystery?
4. In what part of the ship do we usually find him?
Chapter 9: Billy witnesses a flogging – Old Dansker – “Jimmy Legs is down on you.”
1. What does Billy witness on board the ship? What is his attitude about getting into
trouble?
2. What soon comes as a surprise to Billy?
3. Who is Old Dansker? How does he take to Billy?
4. How does Billy view the old man?
5. What does Dansker tell him?
6. Who is “Jimmy Legs”?
7. Billy refers to Dansker as an old Merlin. How is this allusion significant?
Chapter 10: Billy spills his soup
1. What minor, yet significant incident happens in this chapter?
2. What is Claggart’s reaction to this incident?
3. Account for Claggart’s response.
Chapter 11: Natural Depravity: “What was the matter with the Master-at-Arms?
1. What is “Natural Depravity?”
2. What are you learning about Claggart’s hidden nature?
Chapter 12: Natural Depravity: “Lawyers, Experts, and Clergy”
1. What is the “Mystery of Iniquity”?
Chapter 13: Natural Depravity: “Pale ire, envy and despair”
1. What might account for Claggart’s feelings for Billy?
2. Where does one find the lodgment of envy?
Chapter 14: “Passion in its proufoundest” – Squeek – ogres of trifles
1. What is the narrator’s commentary on passion?
2. Who is Squeak?
3. How is he being used?
Chapter 15: “Two small objects twinkling in the nightlight”
1. What whisper does Billy hear?
2. What is Billy’s response?
Chapter 16: Billy’s Confusion – “Old Merlin’s Advice”
1. The incident in the previous chapter is a new experience for Billy. Explain.
2. What simile does the narrator use to describe Billy’s introduction to evil?
3. What never enters Billy’s mind?
4. To whom does Billy take his troubles?
Chapter 17: Frankness and finesse
1. In spite of Dansker’s comments, what does Billy think about Claggart?
2. What do Billy’s thoughts on Claggart reveal about him (Billy)?
3. What kind of knowledge does Billy lack?
4. What impression about a sailor’s life do you get from this chapter?
Chapter 18: “Innocence was his blinder”
1. Describe Claggart when he sees Billy.
2. What is Billy’s blinder?
Chapter 19: Claggart and Vere – The Accusation
1. How does Captain Vere react to Claggart’s accusation?
2. What is Claggart’s proof against Billy?
3. What religious allusions does Vere make about Billy?
4. How does Vere decide to handle the situation?
Chapter 20: “Fated boy”
1. What does Melville say about Billy’s nature at the beginning of this chapter?
2. What took shape in Billy’s mind when he was asked to report to the Captain?
3. Describe Claggart during the accusation.
4. How does Billy react to the accusation?
5. How does Vere react to Billy’s response?
6. Note Vere’s tome when speaking to Billy.
7. Note that Vere call Billy “my boy.” How does Billy react to this response?
8. Just how soon does Vere decide what will happen to Billy?
9. Do you feel in any way that Vere is “fatherly” towards Billy?
10. Is Vere in any way responsible for Claggart’s death?
11. What replaces the “father” in Vere?
12. What exclamation does Vere make to the surgeon?
13. Could this chapter contain the climax to the story?
Chapter 21: Preparation for the drumhead court
1. The narrator asks a common question about Billy. What is it?
2. When the ship’s surgeon communicates what happened to the lieutenants and marine
mates, what do they think should be done with the case?
Chapter 22: Sanity and insanity
1. Note the narrator’s intrusion at the beginning of this chapter. What is his subject matter?
2. The narrator says that this incident involving Billy and Claggart could not have happened
at a worse juncture. Why?
3. Why does Vere feel that quick action must be taken?
4. The court asks Billy a question that “unintentionally touches on the spiritual sphere.”
What is it?
5. Note Vere’s comment: “The prisoner’s deed—with that we have to do.”
6. What is the conviction?
Chapter 23: Captain Vere relays Billy’s sentence
1. What religious imagery do you find in this chapter?
Chapter 24: The crew’s reaction
1. How does the crew react to the conviction?
Chapter 25: The Chaplain’s visit
1. Note the irony when you see how Billy is kept under guard.
2. Describe the Chaplain’s visit with Billy. How does Billy react to the Chaplain?
3. Do you get the impression that Billy is in any was “saved” by the Chaplain?
Chapter 26: The hanging – Billy’s last words
1. What are Billy’s last words? What religious echo do you hear in them?
2. Describe the vapory fleece in the sky.
Chapter 27: A digression: Euthenasia
1. What is unusual about Billy’s death?
2. What does “euthanasia” mean? How is it referred to in this chapter?
Chapter 28: Billy’s burial – an omen
1. Describe the atmosphere on board after Billy’s death.
Chapter 29: The Atheiste – “Billy Budd, Billy Budd”
1. Note that the Indomitable encounters another ship in battle. Account for the ship’s name.
2. What happens during this encounter?
3. What are Vere’s last words? Why do you think he said them?
Chapter 30: News from the Mediterranean – The official report
1. Summarize the newspaper account of Claggart’s death. What has happened to the truth?
2. Why is this account ironic?
3. What are Claggart’s initials? Any significance?
Chapter 31: “Billy in the Darbies”
1. What has become of the spar from which Billy was hanged? Explain.
2. What is “Billy in the Darbies”? What is significant about the ballad?
3. Has Billy achieved immortality?
CRITICAL THINKING
1. What is a tragedy? In what sense is Billy Budd a tragedy?
2. What might you say is a theme / meaning / purpose of this novel?
3. How might Billy Budd be a religious allegory?