Moby-Dick

Question 1

Why does Ishmael decide to hop aboard a ship?

Answer 1

He is a poor, depressed school teacher searching for meaning in his life

Question 2

What does Ishmael say he wants to do to other people to distract himself from his misery?

Answer 2

Kick off their hats

Question 3

Where does Ishmael begin his story?

Answer 3

In New York, before he travels to New Bedford, and eventually Nantucket

Question 4

What was the first inn Ishmael stayed at and what did he see/experience?

Answer 4

The Spouter Inn in New Bedford, owned by Peter Coffin (foreshadowing). Ishmael sees a painting of a whale leaping over a ship, also foreshadowing the ending of the novel. There are whalemen coming and immediately leaving the inn. One of them, Bulkington, is quieter than the rest. Ishmael befriends a harpooneer named Queequeg from the South Seas. They share a room and eat breakfast with the other guests in the morning.

Question 5

What does Father Mapple say in his sermon in the Whaleman’s Chapel?

Answer 5

He warns the people listening to avoid running away from their divine duty or what fate has in store for them.

Question 6

What is Ishmael’s experience at the second inn he stays at?

Answer 6

The Try Pots, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Hussey and recommended by Peter Coffin. Queequeg and Ishmael are confused by the menu but order clam chowder. Queequeg locks himself in their room and Ishmael is afraid he hurt himself

Question 7

Who are the owners of the Pequod?

Answer 7

Captain Peleg and Captain Bildad. Both are quakers and retired whalemen. Bildad is stricter than Peleg

Question 8

Where does the Pequod get its name from?

Answer 8

The Pequot tribe that was annihilated by English settlers in the 1600s during the Pequot war.

Question 9

What does a random stranger say to Queequeg and Ishmael before they board the Pequod?

Answer 9

Elijah gives them ominous warnings about the journey ahead and refers to Ahab as “Old Thunder”, denoting his erratic behavior

Question 10

Captain of the Pequod

Answer 10

Ahab: has one ivory peg leg, his leg was torn off in an encounter with Moby-Dick, he now seeks revenge

Question 11

First mate of the Pequod

Answer 11

Starbuck: Quaker, does not enjoy whaling as a sport, superstitious/cautious of whales

Question 12

Second mate of the ship

Answer 12

Stubb: from Cape Cod, uses a pipe, thinks whaling is a sport

Question 13

Third mate of the ship

Answer 13

Flask: from Martha’s Vineyard, personally offended by whales

Question 14

What is Queequeg’s role on the Pequod?

Answer 14

First harpooner

Question 15

Second harpooner

Answer 15

Tashtego: Native, from Martha’s Vineyard, hunter that became a whale harpooner

Question 16

Third harpooner

Answer 16

Daggoo: of African descent

Question 17

What does Ahab do early on in the journey that reveals his insanity?

Answer 17

He throws his pipe overboard, revealing his ambition for hunting Moby-Dick overpowers his material wants

Question 18

Who are other minor characters aboard the Pequod?

Answer 18

Fleece (the cook), Pip (young African boy), Perth (blacksmith), unnamed carpenter

Question 19

What is cetology?

Answer 19

The study of whales

Question 20

Differences between humpback, razorback (fin whales), and sulfur bottom whales

Answer 20

Humpback is foamy and happy, but does not have valuable oil. Razorbacks cannot be hunted. Sulfur bottoms are not seen often.

Question 21

What physical traits make Moby-Dick different?

Answer 21

a whiter complexion, 3 stitches in his side, and a ‘curious’ or deformed jaw

Question 22

What does Ahab nail to the mast of the Pequod and promise the men?

Answer 22

He nails a gold doubloon to the ship’s mast and promises that any man aboard who spots the White Whale will receive an ounce of gold from him.

Question 23

What do the men chant after Ahab promises them gold?

Answer 23

“Death to Moby Dick!”

Question 24

What does Ishmael fear and admire about the whale?

Answer 24

(For Moby-Dick) He fears the whiteness of the whale. He admires its tail, the spout, and its wide ‘forehead’ due to its wisdom.

Question 25

Who is Fedallah and how do the crew view him?

Answer 25

Ahab's personal stowaway harpooner of Persian descent. He also serves as a prophet, predicting parts of the future. Some of the crew view him as a dark spirit

Question 26

The Albatross

Answer 26

The first ship the Pequod encounters, the ship is bleached white and the crew is silent.

Question 27

Town-Ho ship

Answer 27

Sailor and first mate fought, both were placed in holding. The crew spot Moby-Dick and the first mate is eaten

Question 28

Jeroboam

Answer 28

Named after Biblical king. One sailor, Gabriel, warns the Pequod not to try and kill Moby-Dick because he is a reincarnated shaker God.

Question 29

The Virgin

Answer 29

Never caught a whale before, the Pequod make fun of them for trying to hunt a fin whale (notoriously fast). The Pequod catch more whales than them.

Question 30

Samuel Enderby

Answer 30

The captain, Boomer, also has a peg limb because of Moby-Dick. But unlike Ahab, he harbors no resentment towards the whale

Question 31

Bachelor

Answer 31

Nantucket whaling ship that was successful. The crew is dancing and celebrating, the captain does not believe in Moby-Dick

Question 32

Rose-Bud

Answer 32

French ship. Caught 2 whales (stinks, verbal irony). Stubb takes their ambergris during a gam by convincing the captain (who cannot speak English well enough) that the whale with ambergris is plagued

Question 33

The Rachel

Answer 33

Biblical name; Rachel lost her children in the desert. The captain asks Ahab for help looking for his son, but Ahab decides not to

Question 34

What is ambergris?

Answer 34

Soap-like substance found in the bowels of ill whales that can be used in cosmetic products. Extremely valuable and expensive

Question 35

Delight

Answer 35

Final ship, lost 5 of their men (name is ironic). The Delight's men think it is odd the Pequod uses a coffin as a life buoy

Question 36

What happens in Chapter 110, 'Queequeg in his Coffin'?

Answer 36

Queequeg grows ill and believes he will die. The carpenter makes a canoe-like coffin for him, covered in Queequeg's symbols. But Queequeg does not find a sea burial appealing. He heals and the coffin is used as a life buoy

Question 37

What does Starbuck consider doing to Ahab?

Answer 37

He considers shooting him with a musket outside of Ahab's cabin to save the rest of the crew. He decides not to because he feels guilt about shooting a man in his sleep

Question 38

Summarize the Pequod's pursue of Moby-Dick in the final chapters

Answer 38

Fedallah is crushed against Moby-Dick's side. A storm brews overhead as the days pass. Moby-Dick breaks Ahab's whaling boat in half. The second day, Ahab loses his harpoon when meeting Moby-Dick. Starbuck loses all hope for the crew. On the third day, Moby-Dick breaks all the whaling boats and rams into the side of the Pequod. The ship is shattered and slowly begins to sink with Tashtego at the top. Ahab is caught between the line of the ship, and hung/drowned to death.

Question 39

Describe the ending/epilogue of Moby-Dick

Answer 39

Ishmael floats on Queequeg's coffin, using it as a life buoy. The sinking Pequod ship creates a whirlpool and everyone is swallowed up. The Rachel sails by and rescues Ishmael

Question 40

Who foreshadows Ahab's death and how?

Answer 40

Fedallah; he says "only hemp can kill thee" to Ahab.

Question 41

Theme: fate

Answer 41

You cannot deny fate or run away from it

Question 42

Theme: nature

Answer 42

There will always be consequences for disturbing and misunderstanding nature