Moby Dick Further Study Questions - Macmillan Readers

Further Study Questions Answer key Upper
4 Ishmael sees a group of mysterious men join the ship
These ghostly figures also add to the atmosphere of mystery and of supernatural forces surrounding
the Pequod.
5 The Pequod meets a ship (the Rachel) that has lost a boat during the hunt for the white whale
The boat is a reminder of the dangers of hunting Moby Dick. But Ahab is too obsessed to pay any
attention to the warnings or to stop and help the captain find his missing son.
6 Ahab sees Moby Dick for the first time
The captain had offered a reward to the first seaman to see Moby Dick, but Ahab sees him first. This
seems right because the hunt for the great white whale is very personal to Ahab, it is about one
man’s search for revenge.
7 The Pequod is struck by an electrical storm
The crew of the Pequod are terrified by the storm. They see it as a sign that the journey is cursed.
The storm is coming from the east, where Moby Dick is. The men want to turn round and go home
but Captain Ahab stands up to the storm. His crew do not know who they are more afraid of, Ahab
or the storm. But Ahab beats the storm. From this point there is no turning back. Ahab has shown
how determined he is.
8 Fedallah is pulled from his whaling boat by Moby Dick
In their second attempt to catch Moby Dick, Fedallah was caught up in Ahab’s line and pulled out of
his boat and to his death. So the first part of Fedallah’s prophecy came true. He had said he would
die before Ahab.
9 Moby Dick attacks the Pequod
Ahab’s whaling boat is the only one left in the water, but instead of attacking Ahab, Moby Dick
attacks the Pequod. He breaks a hole in its side and the ship sinks with the whole crew. The current
created by the ship as it sinks pulls the last whale boat and the rowers down under the water with
it. Only Ishmael survived.
10 Queeqeg’s coffin floats to the surface of the sea
The only thing that remains of the ship once it has sunk is Queeqeg’s coffin. Ironically, the coffin
saves Ishmael from the sharks until he is eventually picked up by the Rachel as she continues her
search for her missing whaling boat.
3 The role of prophecies in Moby Dick
1 “Any man who sails on that ship will never return.” (p 20)
Elijah: This prophecy almost comes true; Ishmael is the only man to survive the voyage.
2 “Beware of the white whale! … Think of your whaleboats, holed and sunk! Think about
your men, lost or drowned!” (p 37l)
Macmillan Readers Moby Dick 2
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