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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What had one of the boats from The Rachel accomplished?

2. How did the watch on the mast of The Rachel know that Moby Dick had probably been harpooned.

3. What does Ahab order the ship's blacksmith to do?

4. What is Captain Ahab doing as the Pequod sails away from The Delight?

5. What does Fedallah say is the advantage of having the Right Whale on the other side of the ship?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the encounter with the Bachelor irritate Ahab?

2. Why does Ahab order a basket to take him to the top of one of the masts?

3. How is Ahab killed?

4. Why does Ahab transfer onto the Samuel Enderby to hear its captain's story?

5. What contest occurs between the Pequod and a German whaling ship?

6. What conundrum does Ishmael pose about the whale's biological system?

7. What is the ominous message from the whaling ship Delight?

8. What is happening to Queequeg's coffin?

9. Describe the madness of Ahab that loses his humanity.

10. Explain how Stubb uses his sense of humor to trick a French whaling ship into leaving a dead whale.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on religion in Melville's novel, MOBY DICK. Begin with the sermon in the Whaleman's Chapel. Mention Queequeg's devotion to his Yojo. Go to the argument Ishmael has with the man from Sar Harbor. Conclude with the religious parallels to the names Melville chose for his characters.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on why Ishmael's idea that the whale could never become extinct was just the thing that has almost made the whale disappear. Explain how man's use of natural resources has done a great deal of damage to species and to the planet.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on Fearing the Unknown. Using the example of Ishmael's initial reaction to Queequeg, demonstrate in your essay how people tend to fear what is new or unexplained. Note how as Ishmael begins to learn Queequeg's ways, he becomes less fearful and soon they bond as friends. End your essay with a statement about how eliminating prejudicial fear would make the world a better place.

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This section contains 727 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample