Eng 3 Moby Dick
1. In this video, we immediately learn of an obsessed captain who wants revenge. Why does he want revenge and against whom or what? Th2e obsessed captain wants revenge because he lost his leg to the Great Moby Dick,
2. Who is the narrator of Moby Dick and what is the first line of the novel? Ishmael is the narrator of the novel and his first line states: “Call me Ishmael. Some years ago- never mind how long precisely, having little or no money in my purse and having nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.
3. There are two significant Biblical allusions mentioned in the film. To whom do these allusions reference? How are the names significant? These allusions reference towards Ismael and Captain Ahab. In the bible, Ahab is a wicked king who goes against God’s will. In Melville’s book, Captain Ahab (their names being the same), goes against the white whale, which may be a symbol of God. Ishmael, also a biblical name, means outcast or wanderer.
4. The narrator states that Moby Dick symbolizes three different meanings for three different characters. List the characters and the meaning which Moby Dick symbolizes for each of them.
* Captain Ahab- all that is evil in the universe * Starbuck – he’s just another animal to be killed for oil * Ishmael- He is nature and all its wonder; beautiful, yet terrifying
5. Why did Melville choose to write about whaling? Why was the industry significant? He chose to write about whaling because, in that time, it was such a popular and care-free industry- meaning that there weren’t any restrictions on whale and hunting and what not. During the 1800s, the whaling industry was at the height of its era In New England- supplying the world with oil for street lamps, lanterns, and all kinds of machinery. Whale oil was the oil of commerce.
6. What did Melville do when he was 21? When Melville was 21, he set sail for
2. Who is the narrator of Moby Dick and what is the first line of the novel? Ishmael is the narrator of the novel and his first line states: “Call me Ishmael. Some years ago- never mind how long precisely, having little or no money in my purse and having nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.
3. There are two significant Biblical allusions mentioned in the film. To whom do these allusions reference? How are the names significant? These allusions reference towards Ismael and Captain Ahab. In the bible, Ahab is a wicked king who goes against God’s will. In Melville’s book, Captain Ahab (their names being the same), goes against the white whale, which may be a symbol of God. Ishmael, also a biblical name, means outcast or wanderer.
4. The narrator states that Moby Dick symbolizes three different meanings for three different characters. List the characters and the meaning which Moby Dick symbolizes for each of them.
* Captain Ahab- all that is evil in the universe * Starbuck – he’s just another animal to be killed for oil * Ishmael- He is nature and all its wonder; beautiful, yet terrifying
5. Why did Melville choose to write about whaling? Why was the industry significant? He chose to write about whaling because, in that time, it was such a popular and care-free industry- meaning that there weren’t any restrictions on whale and hunting and what not. During the 1800s, the whaling industry was at the height of its era In New England- supplying the world with oil for street lamps, lanterns, and all kinds of machinery. Whale oil was the oil of commerce.
6. What did Melville do when he was 21? When Melville was 21, he set sail for