Ishmael
Life on the Pequod
Other Characters
Other Ships
More Symbols
100
First line of the book.
What is "Call me Ishmael."
100
True or False: In "Surmises" "Ahab plainly saw that he must continue true to the natural purpose of the Pequod's voyage." On the one hand, Ahab realizes that although his own purpose is to hunt but only one whale, his crew must be allowed to pursue other whales, since their livelihood depends on the catch. Nonetheless, he announces to the crew that he will abandon that duty and plunge ahead in his purpose, crying out that he cares not if he alienates the crew.
What is False
100
Who is the proprietor of the Spouter Inn?
Who is Peter Coffin
100
Name the three ships Ishmael has the choice to work for.
What are the Devil-Dam, the Tit-Bit, and the Pequod
100
What does "The Whiteness of the Whale" emphasize?
What is that contrary to popular belief, the color white can be a symbol of evil.
200
Two-parter: According to some religions, Ishmael was the first son of __________. Why would Ishmael be an appropriate name for the narrator.
What is Abraham and he was cast out into the desert to wander.
200
Define Brit.
What is the small yellow substance upon which the Right Whale largely feeds.
200
What opinion does Ishmael have of the rowdy and raucous sailors eating their Breakfasts?
What is, away from the sea, they are quiet and withdrawn.
200
Though called something else, this ship’s actual name is The Jungfrau. There, the theme of cruelty is explored by Flasks’ unnecessary brutality in connection with a sick whale, it is of German registry, and metaphorically speaking, its name is not an accurate description of the ship and crew.
What is The Virgin.
200
True or False: Ishmael tries to explain the horror of whiteness and fails, of course, because it is exactly what cannot be explained that is so disturbing about this characteristic of Moby-Dick.
What is True
300
What does Ishmael suggest in the following passage: "With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship.”
What is rather than taking his own life, he vents his frustrations by setting out to sea.
300
The Pequod is originally intended to be at sea for _________.
What is three years.
300
Who does Ishmael encounter in the chapel?
Who is Queequeg
300
Moby Dick was inspired by this real historical ship and it's story.
What is The Essex.
300
Two-parter: The Golden Doubloon Ahab nails to the ship is worth ________ and symbolizes ___________.
What is 16 dollars and how economics and greed now guide the ship.
400
"What’s all this fuss I have been making about, thought I to myself -- the man’s a human being, just as I am: he has just as much reason to fear me, as I have to be afraid of him. Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian.” This passage suggests that Ishmael ...
What is Ishmael believes that claiming to be religious is not as important as one’s character and actions.
400
In "The Cabin Table" What is the order in which the officers come to dinner? Names, not positions.
What is Ahab, Starbuck, Stubb, Flask
400
Queequeg relates the story of carrying a wheelbarrow because he had never used one before. Later he recalls the story of a white man who washed his hands in a sacred punch. These stories suggest ...
What is that the customs of one culture are not superior to those of another.
400
This ship's name is ironic, considering the stinking whales it's trying to process.
What is the Rose Bud.
400
When Tashtego falls into the case Mellville is alluding to the story of ___________ and the ritual of ______________.
What is Jonah and the Whale and the ritual of Baptism.
500
When Ishmael awakens to discover Queequeg’s arm flung across him in a “matrimonial sort of style,” we may infer ...
What is that the depth of Ishmael’s friendship with Queequeg is foreshadowed.
500
In the "Masthead," what analogy does Melville develop regarding those who man the mast-head?
What are he regards himself as a bad choice for standing watch and He sees the mast-head crewman as someone who could readily fall to his death.
500
This is a man who had only recently returned from three years at sea. This is a man for whom “the land seemed scorching to his feet.” When Ishmael says of Bulkington, “that all deep, earnest thinking is but the intrepid effort of the soul to keep the open independence of her sea.” Ishmael is suggesting that ...
What is for Bulkington, in order to preserve his sense of self, he must head out from safety and security.
500
The man in charge of this ship is Captain Boomer
What is The Samuel Enderby
500
After ordering a coffin to be constructed for himself and then making a miraculous recovery, Queequeg uses the coffin as a sea chest. From this incident we may infer this main theme of the novel.
What is that things do not have a single meaning unto themselves.
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