View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What apology does Ishmael make about whalers?
(a) He explains why they are socially low.
(b) He defends their crude manners.
(c) He agrees that whalers are low caste.
(d) He uses history to honor whalers.

2. What is Ishmael's profession before signing on the whaling ship?
(a) newspaper reporter.
(b) bank clerk.
(c) merchant marine.
(d) schoolmaster.

3. How does Stubb handle the strange situation?
(a) by not thinking about it.
(b) with his sense of humor.
(c) by writing in a diary.
(d) with a great deal of tension.

4. Days into the journey, what makes Ishmael uneasy?
(a) He decides he has made a mistake.
(b) He never sees Queequeg again.
(c) He has started to have seasickness.
(d) He has not yet seen the captain.

5. Which crew member does Ishmael single out as having the most responsibility?
(a) the captain.
(b) the first mate.
(c) the harpooner.
(d) the oarsman.

Short Answer Questions

1. What habit of whales do the whaling ships use to find their prey?

2. What is Ishmael's evidence that sperm whales have knowingly and maliciously been destructive to men and their ships?

3. What do Ishmael and Stubb discuss about captains and whaling?

4. Which boat from the Pequod is the first to harpoon a whale?

5. Who is the chaplain of the whaler's place of worship?

Short Essay Questions

1. At what point does Ishmael go into a discussion about whales in general.

2. What is the function of Charity, Bildad's sister, in the preparations for the Pequod's journey?

3. What does Ahab want from the first whaling ship they meet in the ocean?

4. What is the amusing account of Queequeg and the wheelbarrow?

5. Why is the story of Radney and Steelkilt important to the story?

6. How does Ishmael happen to share a bed with a tattooed headhunter?

7. What ominous encounter do Ishmael and Queequeg have after they have signed onto the Pequod?

8. Explain the mistaken identity that causes Ahab to order lowering of the boats.

9. What potential serious problem does Ahab ignore in order to talk to the captain of another whaling ship?

10. What does Ahab do to disturb the crew during the night?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 721 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample