Moby DickMoby Dick

By Herman MelvilleBy Herman Melville

Please prepare Please prepare to begin our to begin our study of study of Moby Moby Dick Dick by Herman by Herman Melville.Melville.

Main CharactersMain Characters

Ishmael Ishmael   - The - The narrator, and a narrator, and a young member of the young member of the crew of the crew of the Pequod.Pequod.

Captain AhabCaptain Ahab  - The  - The egomaniacal captain egomaniacal captain of the of the Pequod.Pequod. Ahab Ahab lost his leg to Moby lost his leg to Moby Dick. Dick.

Main Characters Main Characters

Mr. StarbuckMr. Starbuck  - The first mate  - The first mate of the of the Pequod, Pequod, Starbuck seems Starbuck seems the voice of the voice of reasonreason and and sanitysanity in in contrast to Ahab’s growing contrast to Ahab’s growing madness, yet exemplifies madness, yet exemplifies respect, loyalty and compassion respect, loyalty and compassion for Ahab, the crew, and even the for Ahab, the crew, and even the white whale. white whale.

Main Characters Main Characters

Moby DickMoby Dick  - The  - The great white whalegreat white whale

Major symbol of Major symbol of the storythe story

Main Characters Main Characters

QueequegQueequeg  -  “Starbuck’s skilled  -  “Starbuck’s skilled harpooner and Ishmael’s best friend. harpooner and Ishmael’s best friend. Queequeg was once a prince from a Queequeg was once a prince from a South Sea island who stowed away on a South Sea island who stowed away on a whaling ship in search of adventure. whaling ship in search of adventure. He is a He is a composite of elements of African, Polynesian, Islamic, composite of elements of African, Polynesian, Islamic,

Christian, and Native American cultures.Christian, and Native American cultures. He is He is brave and generous, and enables Ishmael brave and generous, and enables Ishmael to see that race has no bearing on a to see that race has no bearing on a man’s character.” man’s character.”

(excerpted from sparknotes.com)(excerpted from sparknotes.com)

Main Characters Main Characters

Secondary CharactersSecondary Characters

Stubb Stubb   - The - The second mate second mate of the Pequod.of the Pequod.

Secondary CharactersSecondary Characters

Tashtego Tashtego  - Stubb’s  - Stubb’s

harpoonerharpooner..

Secondary CharactersSecondary Characters

FlaskFlask  - The  - The third mate of third mate of the the Pequod.Pequod.

Secondary CharactersSecondary Characters

Pip Pip  - A young  - A young black boy who fills black boy who fills the role of a cabin the role of a cabin boy on the boy on the Pequod.Pequod.

Fedallah Fedallah  - A strange, “oriental”  - A strange, “oriental” …whom Ahab has brought on …whom Ahab has brought on board in secret for the sole board in secret for the sole purpose of killing the white whale. purpose of killing the white whale. He is an “almost supernaturally He is an “almost supernaturally skilled hunter and also serves as skilled hunter and also serves as a prophet to Ahab.” a prophet to Ahab.”

Secondary CharactersSecondary Characters

Captain Peleg and Captain Peleg and Captain Bildad Captain Bildad —The—The principal owners of the principal owners of the PequadPequad (they hire (they hire Ishmael and Queequeg)Ishmael and Queequeg)

Secondary CharactersSecondary Characters

Father Mapple Father Mapple   - A - A former whaleman and former whaleman and now the preacher in the now the preacher in the New Bedford New Bedford Whaleman’s Chapel Whaleman’s Chapel

Secondary CharactersSecondary Characters

Major ThemesMajor Themes

1.1. Whaling as a metaphor for lifeWhaling as a metaphor for life

2.2. AlienationAlienation

3.3. FriendshipFriendship

4.4. Loyalty and obedienceLoyalty and obedience

5.5. Man’s search for knowledgeMan’s search for knowledge6.6. Man’s search for control over natureMan’s search for control over nature

7.7. FateFate

8.8. ObsessionObsession

WRITING WRITING ARTICULATIONARTICULATION

Writing SITUATIONWriting SITUATION

Where your story takes place is Where your story takes place is just as important just as important as the story’s plot or the characters themselvesas the story’s plot or the characters themselves. . Setting Setting draws the reader further into the storydraws the reader further into the story world by creating or intensifying world by creating or intensifying moodmood. They . They story’s setting is also a significant part of its story’s setting is also a significant part of its architecturearchitecture. It . It frames the narrative’s meaningframes the narrative’s meaning ((themetheme) and often ) and often reflects the internal lives of reflects the internal lives of the charactersthe characters. Sometimes . Sometimes setting can even act setting can even act as a symbol in the storyas a symbol in the story..

Writing DIRECTIONSWriting DIRECTIONS

In a well-developed and insightful In a well-developed and insightful essay, analyze the various functions essay, analyze the various functions of setting that apply to your text of setting that apply to your text ((moodmood, , characterizationcharacterization, , symbolsymbol). Be ). Be sure to also discuss sure to also discuss how setting how setting reflects significant themesreflects significant themes. Use . Use evidence from the storyevidence from the story to support to support your claims.your claims.

Please take out your Please take out your Moby Moby DickDick film notes packets. We film notes packets. We will watch the first half of the will watch the first half of the film today.film today.Tomorrow: Independent Tomorrow: Independent

reading—bring your book (10 reading—bring your book (10 points).points).

Please take home your reading Please take home your reading projects today.projects today.

Advanced Placement Advanced Placement applications due NLT Friday.applications due NLT Friday.

Biblical allusion - Biblical allusion - Parable of Jonah and the WhaleParable of Jonah and the Whale Told in Father Mapple’s sermonTold in Father Mapple’s sermon

THINK: What is the lesson people are supposed THINK: What is the lesson people are supposed to learn from the parable of Jonah? How is that to learn from the parable of Jonah? How is that story—and that lesson--related to the story and story—and that lesson--related to the story and

the characters in the characters in Moby DickMoby Dick?? ““Jonah was a prophet from Galilee and his story takes place somewhere between 780 B.C and 760 B.C. Jonah was a prophet from Galilee and his story takes place somewhere between 780 B.C and 760 B.C.

During this period of history, Assyria was a powerful, evil nation and Israel’s most dreaded enemy. The During this period of history, Assyria was a powerful, evil nation and Israel’s most dreaded enemy. The Lord spoke to Jonah and told him to go to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, and preach to the Ninevites. Lord spoke to Jonah and told him to go to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, and preach to the Ninevites. (Jonah 1:2) Jonah was supposed to warn the Ninevites to repent or suffer the consequences of their (Jonah 1:2) Jonah was supposed to warn the Ninevites to repent or suffer the consequences of their wickedness…Jonah had other ideas, though. Instead of heading for Nineveh, he took off for Tarshish, wickedness…Jonah had other ideas, though. Instead of heading for Nineveh, he took off for Tarshish, Spain. His motives could have been fear or revenge or both. The Assyrians had committed terrible Spain. His motives could have been fear or revenge or both. The Assyrians had committed terrible atrocities against the people of Israel: traveling into their midst would have been frightening. Jonah also atrocities against the people of Israel: traveling into their midst would have been frightening. Jonah also despised the Assyrians and probably would have liked to see God punish them. Yet, Jonah knew God’s despised the Assyrians and probably would have liked to see God punish them. Yet, Jonah knew God’s nature. He knew that if he preached repentance to the Ninevites, they would repent and God would spare nature. He knew that if he preached repentance to the Ninevites, they would repent and God would spare them. (Jonah 4:2)”them. (Jonah 4:2)”

““Jonah hops on a boat headed for Tarshish, attempting to hide out from God. At night, a huge storm comes Jonah hops on a boat headed for Tarshish, attempting to hide out from God. At night, a huge storm comes up and tosses the boat wildly. The sailors are afraid and all start to pray to their gods, while Jonah sleeps up and tosses the boat wildly. The sailors are afraid and all start to pray to their gods, while Jonah sleeps soundly below deck. (Jonah 1:4-6) The captain goes down to Jonah’s cabin and pulls him out of bed. “And soundly below deck. (Jonah 1:4-6) The captain goes down to Jonah’s cabin and pulls him out of bed. “And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come they said to one another, ‘Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.’ So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.” (Jonah 1:7).upon us.’ So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.” (Jonah 1:7).

““The sailors all question Jonah about what he’s done to bring this storm on them. He confesses that he is The sailors all question Jonah about what he’s done to bring this storm on them. He confesses that he is running away from the Lord’s will and tells the sailors to throw him overboard to spare their lives. This running away from the Lord’s will and tells the sailors to throw him overboard to spare their lives. This they do. (Jonah 1:8-15)”they do. (Jonah 1:8-15)”

““As Jonah is sinking into the sea, a big fish (whale) swallows him. (Jonah 1:17) The story says that God As Jonah is sinking into the sea, a big fish (whale) swallows him. (Jonah 1:17) The story says that God intervenes and spares Jonah’s life. Jonah sits in the whale’s belly for three days and nights. He spends that intervenes and spares Jonah’s life. Jonah sits in the whale’s belly for three days and nights. He spends that time in prayer thanking God for saving him. He is sincere in his prayer and God tells the whale to spit time in prayer thanking God for saving him. He is sincere in his prayer and God tells the whale to spit Jonah out on shore. (Jonah 2:1-10)”Jonah out on shore. (Jonah 2:1-10)”

http://www.essortment.com/all/jonahwhale_rsug.htmhttp://www.essortment.com/all/jonahwhale_rsug.htm

Parable of Jonah and the WhaleParable of Jonah and the WhaleBible StoryBible Story

““Jonah in sailors' superstitionJonah in sailors' superstition A long-established expression among sailors uses A long-established expression among sailors uses

the term “a Jonah" as meaning a person (either a the term “a Jonah" as meaning a person (either a sailor or a passenger) whose presence on board sailor or a passenger) whose presence on board brings bad luck and endangers the ship. This brings bad luck and endangers the ship. This presumably arose from Christian sailors taking presumably arose from Christian sailors taking the Biblical story of Jonah at face value. the Biblical story of Jonah at face value.

Later on, this meaning was extended to "A Jonah" Later on, this meaning was extended to "A Jonah" referring to "a person who carries a referring to "a person who carries a jinxjinx, one who , one who will bring bad luck to any enterprise.” will bring bad luck to any enterprise.” (from (from www.wikipedia.com)www.wikipedia.com)

VocabularyVocabulary charisma charisma (noun) – personal magnetism, charm or (noun) – personal magnetism, charm or

power of emotional persuasionpower of emotional persuasion charismaticcharismatic (adj) – uses personal magnetism, charm (adj) – uses personal magnetism, charm

or power of emotional persuasion (charisma) to or power of emotional persuasion (charisma) to motivate and inspire people.motivate and inspire people. Ahab is a Ahab is a charismaticcharismatic leader. leader.

malice malice (noun) – (noun) – intentintent to harm to harm If you do something If you do something with malicewith malice, you intended to cause , you intended to cause

harm. harm. If you are If you are absent of maliceabsent of malice, it means you did not intend to , it means you did not intend to

cause harm. cause harm. fluke (noun)

1. one side of a whale’s tail. 2. a stroke of luck; a chance happening; an accident.

It was a fluke that a man found my stolen wallet in the bushes.

St. Elmo’s FireSt. Elmo’s Fire

A form of luminous corona A form of luminous corona discharge that sometimes discharge that sometimes occurs during electrical occurs during electrical storms.storms.

St. Elmo is the patron saint St. Elmo is the patron saint of sailors.of sailors.

St. Elmo’s FireSt. Elmo’s Fire ““St. Elmo’s Fire is a luminous discharge of electricity St. Elmo’s Fire is a luminous discharge of electricity

extending into the atmosphere from some projecting or extending into the atmosphere from some projecting or elevated object. It is usually observed (often during a elevated object. It is usually observed (often during a snowstorm or a dust storm) as brush-like fiery jets extending snowstorm or a dust storm) as brush-like fiery jets extending from the tips of a ship's mast or spar, a wing, propeller, or from the tips of a ship's mast or spar, a wing, propeller, or other part of an aircraft, a steeple, a mountain top, or even other part of an aircraft, a steeple, a mountain top, or even from blades of grass or horns of cattle. Sometimes it plays from blades of grass or horns of cattle. Sometimes it plays about the head of a person, causing a tingling sensation. The about the head of a person, causing a tingling sensation. The phenomenon occurs when the atmosphere becomes charged phenomenon occurs when the atmosphere becomes charged and an electrical potential strong enough to cause a discharge and an electrical potential strong enough to cause a discharge is created between an object and the air around it. The amount is created between an object and the air around it. The amount of electricity involved is not great enough to be dangerous. The of electricity involved is not great enough to be dangerous. The appearance of St. Elmo's fire is regarded as a portent of bad appearance of St. Elmo's fire is regarded as a portent of bad weather. The phenomenon, also known as corposant, was long weather. The phenomenon, also known as corposant, was long regarded with superstitious awe.” (factmosnster.comregarded with superstitious awe.” (factmosnster.com