Moby Dick Reading Packet (6)

Write your answers on lined paper; Use clear headings

Chapters 98 and 99

doubloon - a gold coinfreshets - sudden gusheshermetically - perfectly sealedslewed - twisted

talisman - a lucky pieceunscathed - without injuryverdigris - green oxidation on copperwanton - without mercy; cruel

1. In chapter 98, Ishmael contrasts the cleanliness of the day after disposing of a whalewith the mess made while dealing with one. The daily routine of a filthy boat and animmaculate boat is "man- killing! Yet this is life." Why do you think it is important to himto keep showing us what clean people sailors really are?

2. Why does Melville say that finding meaning or importance in all things is important?

3. Who/what does Stubb predict will collect the doubloon?

4. What does Ahab see in the coin? What does Starbuck see?

5. How does the fact that each sailor, and Ahab, all see what they want in the doubloonreflect a theme of this novel?

Chapters 100 and 101

auspices - support; protectionburly - big and strongdecanter - a holder for liquidfacetious - humorousfeints - a deceptive action or maneuver;

pretensesflailings - thrashingsindefatigable - untiringlancet - a blood-letting instrumen

1. Why does Ahab get along well with the captain of the Samuel Enderby?

2. What heroic thing did Moby Dick try to do for another whale?

3. What alarms Captain Bunger about Ahab during the meeting?

4. Ahab says, "What is best let alone, that accursed thing is not always what leastallures" (427 - Signet Edition). What does he mean by this?

5. How do Boomer and Ahab view the Moby Dick differently?

Chapters 102 - 105

antediluvian - primitivearticulated - fitted togetherattenuated - weakenedbehooves - is appropriateemprise - an undertakingfallacious - false; faulty

invested - completeomnisciently - knowledgablyremunerative - profitablesavannas - treeless grasslandsultimatum - a final statementurchins - spoiled children

1. What is strange about the narration in Chapter 1027

2. What interesting use do the people of Tranque make of the whale skeleton?

3. In Chapter 103, how does Ishmael show, again, that the nature of humanknowledge is that it must always be incomplete?

4. Does Ishmael think the whales will ever be seriously diminished by hunting? Whyor why not?

Chapters 106 and 107

aptitudes - capabilitiesfelicity - joyineffaceable - tillable to be erasedinsensible - unconsciouspervading - spreading

potentate - a ruler; dictatorprimogenitures - first-bornsstolidity - quiet strengthvermilion - bright red

1. How is Ahab's artificial leg damaged?

2. Explain the differences between Grief (present suffering, mortal miseries) and Joy(natural enjoyments, the highest earthly felicities) as outlined in Chapter 107.

3. What duties does the ship's carpenter assume in addition to those of a traditionalcarpenter?

->; Chapters 108 and 109

compendious - concisecrucible - a vessel for heating andreducing elementsentreat - to begferrule - a me1i1ring on end of pole

forbearing - patientimperiously - overbearinglyposer - a puzzleprating - jabbering

1. In what genre is Chapter 108 written? How do you know?

What does the carpenter mean with the comment that" ...a short, littie old body likeme, should never undertake to wade out to deep waters with tall, heron-built captains;the water chucks you under the chin pretty quick, and there's a great cry for life-boats"?

3. What is Ahab' s initial reaction to the report that the casks of oil in the hold areleaking?

4. What, in your opinion, causes Ahab to change his mind and follow Starbuck'sadvice?

Chapters 110 and 111

congenial- friendlyinfatuated - unreasonablv attractedintensified - deepened -lave - to bathe

placards - postersreveries - dav-dreamssinecure - office without dutysupplication - a prayer

1. How do both similes and foreshadowing appear in the following quotation?"The hollow hull echoed under foot, as if you were treading over empty

catacombs, and reeled and rolled in the sea like an air-freighted demijohn" (459)

2. What does Queequeg ask the carpenter to make for him and why?

3. How does Queequeg explain his sudden recovery? What does he do with his coffin?

4. Why does Ishmael say there is a "sweet mystery" (465) about the vast, serene, emptyexpanse of the Pacific Ocean?

5. Name one unrealistic ability Melville assigns to Ahab in Chapter 113.

Chapters 112 and 113

artisan - a craftsmanbegrimed - dirtycrape - mourning clothes

importunity - persistencemummeries - pretentious shows

1. Why did the blacksmith leave his family and shop to go to sea?

What is used to forge Ahab's personal harpoon?')•....

3. Ahab uses the blood of the harpooners to temper his harpoon, instead of water? Whyis it significant that these three men are pagans, not Christians??

4. Ahab makes the following Latin blessing: "Ego non baptizo Te in nomine patris, sedin nomine diaboli!" (471). This means, approximately, "I do not baptize you in the name ofthe Father, but instead in the name of the Devil. " 'Why is this significant as far as how weare supposed to read Ahab and Moby Dick (which is evil")

Chapters 114 and 115

brazen - brassy; glowingfilial - brotherlyinterlude - a time-out

vaingloriously -boastinglyvale - a small valleyvernal - spring time

1. Why is the crew of the Bachelor in a festive mood?

What is the Bachelor's response to Ahab's traditional question?

Chapters 116 and 117

baronial - regalchafed - rubbedinwreathing - encircling

on sons - prayersplaintiveness - sadnessspectrally -like ghosts

1. How many whales does the Pequod catch on the day after she encounters theBachelor?

Take note: Fedallalt makes the/allowing/our prophecies on pages 478-9:Realize - we are to believe Fedallah; These prophecies, though strange, will come true.

•• "neither hearse nor coffin can be thine."•• "ere thou couldst die on this voyage, two hearses must verily be seen by three on the

sea; the first not made by mortal hands; and the visible wood of the last one mustbe grown in America."

•• "J shall still go be/ore thee thy pilot."•• "Hemp only can kill thee."

2. How does Ahab interpret these prophecies?

~ Chapters 118 and 119

flambeaux - lighted torchesostentatiously - with great showpaltry - worthless

phosphorescence - slight glowingpirouetting - spinningtableau - a striking or brilliant scene

Take note: In Chapter 118, Ahab throws down his quadrant: Ahab is willing at this pointto trust his own instinct over his instruments. He realizes that science, exemplified by thequadrant, could never tell him where Moby-Dick is, nor where "one drop of water or onegrain oj sand will be to- morrow noon" (480). He, essentially, has become a primitivecreature and can be equaled to his prey=Moby-Dick. Since Ahab believes the whale usesintelligence in pursuit of its Quarry and in its revenge, by destroying this representation ofscientific knowledge, Ahab has reduced himself to the level of a "dumb brute."

1. Which of the whaling boats is damaged in the typhoon? What are "elbowed lances offire "?

What are the "candles" that are referenced throughout chapter 119'1

Why do Stubb and Ahab take the fires to be good omens?

At the end of Chapter 119, a fourth "candle" is lit. What is it and how is it lit?4.

5. At the end of Chapter 119, Starbuck says to Ahab, "God is against thee, old man ... 'tisan ill voyage! ill begun, ill continued," (487). How does this add to our understandingof what Ahab represents?

Chapters 120-123

inboard - on the boatpinioned - held fastportends - signs

skewered - pinnedspasmodic - jerky; intermittentstrike - to bring down

1. Explain the argument that takes place between Starbuck and Ahab in Chapter 120.

2. Earlier in the book, Stubb has mentioned a certain amount of anxiety concerning hisassociation with the Pequod and with Ahab in particular, What does he now believethat makes him feel safer?

3. What is Starbuck thinking about doing as he goes to report the end of the storm toAhab?

4. Why doesn't he do what he was thinking of doing?

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