Moby Dick Study Guide – Flashcards
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What was the name of Melville's first novel?
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Typee
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What was the name of the first whale ship on which Melville actually sailed in real life.
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Acushnet
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In his novel "White-Jacket", Melville describes his real life service aboard an American warship (the USS United States). What fictional name does he give that warship in the novel?
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The Neversink
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What is the name of the small wooden idol, used by Queequeg in his religious worship?
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Yojo
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What is the name of the minister who preaches the sermon heard by Ishmael at the Whaleman's Chapel in New Bedford?
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Father Mapple
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What biblical character is the subject of the sermon in the Whaleman's Chapel?
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Jonah
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Inside the Whaleman's Chapel, Ishmael sees several marble tablets hanging on the walls. What is engraved on these tablets?
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"In Memory of Dead Whaler's"
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Why does Ishmael go to sea?
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Peace, Rest, Money, Escape, Excercise, Pure Air, and a good Paycheck
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What is the 'ungraspable phantom' of life?
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The Ocean
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What character practices a religious holiday/rite referred to as Ramadan?
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Queequeg
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What is the name of the proprietor of the Spouter Inn?
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Peter Coffin
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What is the last name of the proprietors of the Try-Pots Inn?
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Hussey
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What is the name of the island where Queequeg grew up?
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Kokovo
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Describe Queequeg's first experience with a wheelbarrow.
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He strapped it to his chest and walked with it
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What is the name of the island to which Ishmael and Queequeg travel to by packet schooner, in order to sign up for a whaling voyage?
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Nantucket
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Who is Bulkington?
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Bulkington is a seaman that Ishmael met at The Spouter Inn, who died at sea
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Which crewmen on the ships are referred to as Squires?
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The Harpooners
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Who is the first mate and who is his harpooner?
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The First Mate is Starbuck and his harpooner is Quequeg
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Who is the second mate and who is his harpooner?
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The Second Mate is Stubb and his harpooner is Tashtego
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Who is the third mate and who is his harpooner?
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The Third Mate is Flask and his harpooner is Daggoo
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Which character on the Pequod is referred to as the Parsee?
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Fedallah
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What is a gam?
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A meeting of ships
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How does Stubb like his whale meat cooked?
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Rare and Tough
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What is the name of the seemingly insane crewman aboard the Jeraboam?
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Gabriel
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What is Fedallah's nationality or country of origin?
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Persia
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What is the nationality or country of origin of Fedallah's four companions?
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Asia
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Why does Ahab throw his pipe away?
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He wants to deny himself all human pleasures
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Ishmael is to receive the '300th lay' for his service aboard the Pequod. What does this mean?
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1/300th of the profits of the Pequod's voyage
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Why does Queequeg receive a larger salary than Ishmael?
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He is a better harpooner than Ishmael
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Under what circumstances will Ahab stop to have a 'gam' with another whaleship?
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If they have seen a white whale.
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Who was Owen Chace and what was the name of his ship?
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The Captain of The Essex
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Who was the Cabin Boy aboard the Pequod?
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Pip
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What was the Carpenter's name aboard the Pequod?
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The Carpenter is not named. He is simply called "The Carpenter".
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What was the Blacksmith's name aboard the Pequod?
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Perth
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Which character is referred to as 'The Castaway'?
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Pip
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What was the 'monkey rope' used for on the ship?
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The rope that attaches to the man that is cutting up the whale
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What kind of whales usually eat squid?
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Sperm Whales
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What kind of whales usually eat brit?
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Right Whales
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What is brit?
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Yellow Crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles) that the Right Whales eat
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When Tashtego falls into the head of a sperm whale that is sinking, Queequeg jumps in the water and saves him. What extended metaphor does Melville use to describe the rescue?
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Birth
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What rare and expensive substance is some times found in the intestines of dead whales?
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Whale Oil
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What are 'Fast Fish and what are 'Loose Fish'?
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A 'Fast Fish' is attached to the ship, somehow, and a 'Loose Fish'
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Who was the Captain of the Jungfrau (or, Virgin)?
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Captain Dereck De Deer
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Identify the Captain and the Doctor aboard the Samuel Enderby.
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Captain Boomer and Doctor Bunger
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What becomes of the coffin that is constructed for Queequeg?
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It is used as a Life Boat
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The Samuel Enderby has had an encounter with Moby Dick. What happened to the Captain during that encounter?
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The Captain lost his arm
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What is the name of the whale ship that rescues Ishmael at the end of the novel?
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The Rachel
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What was the name of the Cook aboard the Pequod?
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Fleece
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Why is Rose Bud an ironic name for that whaleship?
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It has Roses painted on it
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What does Ahab give to the blacksmith to make a point for his harpoon?
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Nails of racehorse shoes
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When the blacksmith has fashioned the harpoon point from the heated metal, what liquid does Ahab use to quench the heat and temper the metal to maximum hardness?
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The blood of Queequeg, Tashego, and Daggoo
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Which crewmen on the ships are referred to as Knights?
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The First Mate, the Second Mate, and the Third Mate
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What is Cetology
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The Study of Whales
