Ms. Hernandez
Hrs. English
March 2015
Moby Dick Guide
Essential Questions for Moby Dick: What role does man play in Nature? What is a
tragic hero? Is Ahab good or evil?
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6.
7.
Follow the schedule provided below to prepare for class discussions and quizzes.
During and After reading:
TIPS: Get post-it tabs to keep track of important passages and use pencil to
underline important passages.
Dialectal Journal and Study Guide Questions: For each section you must
present a dialectal journal of ten quotes/passages, which you must analyze for
author’s purpose, theme, characterization, word choice, tone, syntax,
structure, point of view, etc. Also, you must answer questions for each section.
(Will be checked on the Monday or Tuesday after each section is due).
Close Reading: You will be given three passages to annotate. These annotations will
be graded. (in class)
Create vocabulary log with a partner (beg, borrow, and steal). The log should
consist of 200 words from the novel with chapter, page, and definition. (checked at
end of unit)
Once we meet the sailors on the ship, I would like you to choose one to follow and
write three journal entries as this person. (dates TBA)
You will have 10 quizzes, at least one per week, unless there is an unforeseen
change. The quizzes will consist of five comprehension questions. Each quiz will be
worth five points for a total of 50 points).
Research Simulation Task: You will need to read critiques that I will provide for you
by different authors to develop a thesis and write argumentative research paper. (At
least two pages in length). (in class)
Participation in class discussions is a must (one talking chip for each point of the
five participation points). (in class)
The schedule will run as follows:
Week of…
March 23-27 Section 1 Chapters 1-21
March 30-April 1 Section 2 Chapters 22-42
April 2-10 Section 3 and 4 Chapters 43-65/66-86
April 13-17 Section 5 Chapters 87-109
April 20-24 Section 6 Chapters 110-130
April 27-May 1Section 7 Chapters 131- Epilogue
*Not all the chapters in these sections will be required for close analysis. The list on
the next page will tell you what chapters to focus on for class discussions.
Chapters for analysis:
Section 1
1. Loomings
2. The Carpet-Bag
3. The Spouter Inn
4. The Counterpane
7. The Chapel
9. The Sermon
10. Bosom Friend
12. Biographical
13. Wheelbarrow
14. Nantucket
15. Chowder
16. The Ship
18. His Mark
19. Prophet
20. All Astir
21. Going Aboard
Section 2
22. Merry Christmas
26. Knights and Squires
27. Knights and Squires
28. Ahab
29. Enter Ahab; to Him, Stubb
30. The Pipe
32. Cetology
34. The Cabin-Table
36. The Quarter Deck
37. Sunset
41. Moby Dick
42. The Whiteness of the Whate
Section 3
43. Hark!
44. The Chart
45. The Affidavit
46. Surmises
47. The Mat-Maker
48. The First Lowering
49. The Hyena
50. Ahab’s Boar and Crew, Fedallah
51. The Spirit-Spout
52. The Albatross
53. The Gam
54. The Town-Ho’s Story
58. Brit
59. Squid
61. Stubb Kills a Whale
64 Stubb’s Supper
Section 4
66. The Shark Massacre
67. Cutting In
70. Sphynx
71. Jeroboam’s Story
72. Monkey Rope
73. Stubb and Flask Kill a Right Whale
78. Cistern and Buckets
81. The Pequod Meets the Virgin
82. The Honor and Glory of Whaling
83. Jonah Historically Regarded
Section 5
87. The Grand Armada
91. The Pequod Meets the Rosebud
93. The Castaway
94. Squeeze of the Hand
96. The Try-Works
99. The Doubloon
100. Leg and Arm
101. Decanter
106. Ahab’s Leg
108. Ahab and the Carpenter
109. Ahab and Starbuck in the Cabin
Section 6
110. Queequeg in his Coffin
115. The Pequod Meets the Bachelor
116. The Dying Whale
117. The Whale Watch
118. The Quadrant
119. The Candles
128. The Pequod Meets the Rachel
Section 7:
131 to Epilogue (Read entirely and create your own notes).
Questions to help focus on chapters within sections:
Loomings
Introduction
This chapter sets the tone and the metaphysical under-pinnings of the
entire novel. It bears patience and understanding.
Answer these questions after you have read the chapter.
Questions
Answer the following questions fully in your reading log.
1. Who was Ishmael? Why is that an appropriate name for the main
character?
2. What is the tone of the narrator? What words establish this tone?
Is this the tone you would expect?
3. Why does he go to sea? What are the attractions of the sea?
Is that attraction true for everyone? Explain.
4. Why does he go to sea "before the mast"?
Do you suppose there are reasons that he doesn’t tell you?
5. Complete the quote "Who ain’t a slave..."
What might an answer to that rhetorical question be?
How does that relate to Emerson?
6. What role do the Fates have in this story?
7. What notion does Melville end the chapter with?
The Carpetbag
Introduction
Like some chapters, this inter-chapter addresses some interesting issues,
but only briefly.
Questions
Answer the following questions after you have finished the chapter.
1. Which port does he choose to leave from?
Why? What was its status in whaling at the time? What does that tell
you about Ishmael?
2. What is "Euroclydon"? Why use that name?
The Spouter Inn
Introduction
This is one of the most important and interesting chapters in Moby Dick.
Melville writes a comic story that deals with all his precious whales, but
also with racism. How would you like to share a bed with a head-hunter?
Questions
Answer the following questions while you read the chapter:
1. What is the painting Ishmael is trying so hard to decipher?
Paintings used in writing always have a specific meaning. Why do you
suppose Melville included this work?
2. Describe the bar part of the Inn?
3. What does a "scrimshander" do?
4. Why won’t he sleep with the Harpooner?
5. How does the landlord increase his nervousness about the harpooner?
6. What odd things does Queequeg do before going to bed? Why does
Ishmael stay in bed? Why does Melville mention that it is "the best sleep
he has ever had."
Thought
Question
Who is more of the outcast in this chapter, Queequeg or Ishmael? Explain..
How is this a chapter that involves prejudice? Do you think Ishmael is
having a prejudiced reaction when he doesn’t want to share a bed with
Queequeg?
A Bosom Friend
Introduction
Another chapter that does pretty much what the Spouter Inn did, but
tighter.
Questions
Answer all of the following questions.
1. Why is it important that he compares Queequeg to Washington?
2. Why do you suppose "something melted" in Ishmael and he warmed
to Queequeg?
3. Is he being blasphemous, making friends and worshipping with
Queequeg?
4. Why does this chapter follow hard upon the Sermon?
The
Nightgown
Answer these questions.
1. Why does Melville go so far as to put Queequeg and Ishmael in bed
together, smoking?
2. What does Ishmael mean by "nothing exists in itself.
Biographical
Answer these questions.
1. In your own words, describe Queequeg’s background.
The Wheelbarrow
Introduction
This is an odd, but telling chapter in the story.
Questions
Answer the following questions after you have read the chapter.
1. Why were the townspeople staring at Queequeg this morning?
Why have the two of them become such friends?
Is Ishmael as committed to this friendship?
Show that.
2. What does the story of the wheelbarrow (and the wedding feast)
show? What does it show about Queequeg’s character?
3. What does New Bedford look like from the sea?
What lesson does Ishmael take from this?
4. What happens on the boat?
What seems to be the meaning of the last sentence of the chapter?
Do you think it is important that Queequeg never says this, but Ishmael
does for him?
5. Overall, what is the dominant message of this chapter.
Nantucket
Questions
Chowder
Introductory
Questions
The Ship
Introduction
Questions
Answer all of the following questions
1. What jokes does he make at the expense of nantucketers?
2. How does he compliment them?
Knowing what you know about Ishmael, why might he want to trumpet
Nantucketers?
3. Look at the idea of "Naked Nantucketers, swarming out of their anthill
like so many Alexanders..." What contradictory ideas does this present?
What does this seem to say about their relationship to nature.
This is a light comedic part of the story, with one ominous overtone.
Pick one of the following questions.
1. What does Melville want you to laugh at on Nantucket?
How did he use this same technique in New Bedford.
2. Death seems to haunt this book. How is death present in this chapter?
Why does Melville make it appear so often?
This is one of the key chapters in the early part of the novel, as important
to the work as "the Spouter Inn." Look particularly carefully at the
metaphors.
Answer the following questions.
1. Ishmael does his usual duck and dodge about how he decides to
choose a boat. How does he choose a boat?
Why does he choose the Pequod? Where else have you seen him make a
decision like this?
2. What does the Pequod look like? What would make a slightly smarter
sailor than Ishmael hesitate? What does he compare the Pequod to?
Why are those comparisons important? How might they be a little false?
3. What is weird about the decoration of the Pequod?
Psychologically, why might someone decorate a boat like that?
4. Why does Peleg assume Ishmael has done something wrong?
5. How does Ahab personify whaling?
Why might the author describe Ahab before he appears in the novel?
6. How does Ishmael respond when Peleg asks him about jumping down
a whales throat?
Why was that a wise response?
7. Peleg asks Ishmael to go to the weather rail and describe what he sees.
What does he see? Why does he test Ishmael with this?
How much of the world would a Whaler see, realistically.
Complete this quote: "Can’t ye see the world ___________________"
Why is that important?
8. Ishmael describes certain great Quaker men. What characteristics do
they share? What weakness do they have? Who is being described in this
passage?
9. What is Bildad like? What characteristics does he embody?
10. Complete the quote "he’s a great ungodly ___________"
How does this relate to some of the themes of the book? What is wrong
with Ahab? How was he unfortunately named?
At this point, what do you know of Ahab?
His Mark
Introduction
Questions
The Prophet
Introduction
Questions
All Astir
Introduction
Questions
Queequeg becomes a rich man (in theory).
Please answer one of the following questions.
1. How religious are Bildad and his partner? Why do they decide to take
Queequeg on? Do you take that as a positive character trait or a negative
one?
2. According to Peleg, why does a pious harpooner make for a bad one?
Why might he think of a man as a shark? How do shark fit into an
Emersonian world view?
The first of many warnings comes to Ishmael.
Answer one of the following questions.
1. What does the prophet tell (and hint) about Ahab?
How does all this build up affect the portrayal of Ahab?
What is the theme of all of these Ahab stories?
Is Ahab being portrayed as a Jonah? Explain.
2. Why does the "prophet" wish them "Good-bye" as he comes to the
kernel of his tale? Why, then, would he follow them?
Assume there is nothing supernatural going on. Why is he following
them?
3. What is the importance of his name?
The boat is prepared and two of the most interesting characters in the
entire narrative slip out.
Pick one of the following questions.
1. Why must a whaling ship be "over-stocked"?
2. Why does this woman do all the work?
Going Abroad
Introduction
Questions
Finally, the Peguod leaves the dock and the story begins.
Answer all of the following questions.
1. What has Ishmael seen running to the boat? Do they see them later?
Who could they be?
2. Where does Queequeg sit? Why? Why does the author include this?
3. What day is the Pequod set to sail?
What importance might that have for Ishmael?