The Whale is a novel by

Appreciation of Moby-Dick⏹American epic: one of the world’s greatest masterpieces: an encyclopedia of everything,history, philosophy and religion etc.⏹Shakespearean tragedy: man fighting against naturePlotCall Me Ishmael Ishmael, A thoughtful but gloomy young man, Ishmael begins his odyssey in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a prosperous whaling town and crossing point to the island of Nantucket(楠塔基特岛). Queequeg, a fierce-looking harpooner（叉鱼者）covered with tattoos（纹身）and carrying a tomahawk(美洲印第安人用的战斧)and a shrunken head. They sign the ship’s papers, but on their way back to the inn to get their belongings, they meet Elijah(以利亚), a shabbily dressed old man who haunts the docks.Elijah hints at the dangers to come and warns the two not to get involved with the vengeful captain. The Quest The Pequod leaves Nantucket on Christmas day headed for the whaling grounds in the Pacific. Captain Ahab remains in his cabin for several days, while the crew accustoms itself to life at sea. When Ahab does emerge, his appearance startles Ishmael.A long, white scar runs down Ahab's face, and he walks on an artificial leg made of whalebone. Soon he calls the entire crew together and informs them that their voyage will be no ordinary whaling cruise. Ahab has returned to sea with the sole purpose of finding and killing the whale that took his leg on the previous voyage. He offers a sixteen-dollar gold piece to the first man who spots the white whale, Moby-Dick, and drink to the death of the whale.The ChaseCaptain Ahab●“a grand, ungodly, godlike man,”●two things about Ahab, captain of the Pequod in Moby-Dick:●Ahab was orphaned when he was twelve months old,●one of his legs was lost as a result of his most recent whaling voyage.●The wound is so fresh that the stump（残肢）is still bleeding. Ahab does not make aproper appearance in the book until Chapter 28. The long delay in Ahab's involvement in the action of the novel helps to build him up as a grand figure, the major tragic character Melville wants his readers to see.Ishmael(以实玛利)⏹narrator. A rootless individual, brought up as a good Christian⏹Wanderer disinherited and dismissed from his home in favor of his half brother Isaac(以撒). outcast, drifter, no family, no last name. ran away from society to nature. His running away symbolizes human being's departure from Eden.⏹Then after the experience on the sea, he wished to return to the land.⏹He believed God not to be conquered, survived⏹Whiteman who considers Indians as equal and should share brotherly love. (Queequeg’scoffin)Queequeg⏹ a highborn native of an uncharted south-seas island. His father was a High Chief, and hisuncle a High Priest. Queequeg is covered in tattoos(文身)and worships pagan gods, including a small black idol, Yojo.⏹But the real point about Queequeg is his friendliness. He and Ishmael strike up an instantcomradeship.Themes1.Individual Vs. Nature2.(Ahab) versus Nature (symbolized by Moby-Dick）3.Tragic hero\noble4.Tragedy of man: revenge on nature5.Anyone who wants to revenge will be defeatedGod and Religion⏹religion and God's role in the natural world. westward.⏹God and man, who is the controller⏹Nature and man (Newton: man can study\examine nature)Symbols⏹Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas orconcepts.voyage- "search and discovery, the search for the ultimate truth of experience."the Pequod -the ship of the American soulMoby Dick---a symbol of good and evilits whiteness--- paradoxical colorThe Pequod⏹Named after a Native American tribe in Massachusetts⏹did not long survive the arrival of white men and thus turned to be an extinction⏹the Pequod is a symbol of doom.⏹It is painted a gloomy black and covered in whale teeth and bones, --violent death. It is,in fact, marked for death. Adorned (decorate) like a primitive coffin, the Pequod becomes one.⏹American dream :Ishmael thought he found dream and freedom in it.⏹Others sacrifices for the whiteMoby Dick⏹To the Pequod's crew⏹An unknown God whose whiteness represents goodness and tranquility, evil and violence.⏹Ahab : Moby Dick is a manifestation of all that is wrong with the world, and he feels thatit is his destiny to erase this symbolic evil.⏹it represents the destruction of the environment by expansion and exploitation in the 19th⏹For the author and the readers, Ishmael, it is a mystery of the universeQueequeg's Coffin⏹Queequeg‘s coffin alternately symbolizes life and death.⏹Queequeg has it built when he is seriously ill, but when he recovers, it becomes a chestto hold his belongings and an mark of his will to live. He make the knowledge tattooed on his body last forever, by carving it onto the coffin’s lid.⏹The coffin further comes to symbolize life, in a morbid way, when it replaces thePequod…s life buoy（救生衣）. When the Pequod sinks, the coffin becomes Ishmael's buoy, saving not only his life but the life of the narrative that he will pass on.The novel can be understood from three levels⏹ 1. It is a novel of journey and whale catching.⏹ 2. It is a conflict between Captain Ahab and Moby Dick.⏹ 3.It is a story of Ishmael, his thought about human body’s ego realization, therelationship between man and nature, man and God, man and man, etc.Melville’s views of lifea. negative attitude towards life.b. One of the major themes of his is alienation （far away from each other.c. Other themes: loneliness, suicidal individualism (individualism causing disaster and death）, rejection and quest, confrontation of innocence and evil, doubts over the comforting 19th-century idea of progressMelville’s contr ibution to American literature and featuresAutobiographical elements, Moby-Dick for instance SymbolismAhab Moby dick AND Sea whiteness Pequod VoyageThe style of Melville⏹There is a threefold quality in his writing; the style of fact, the style of oratory celebratingthe fact, and the style of meditation.⏹His style is highly symbolic and metaphorical. The novel has many non-narrative chapters,and this is how Melville changed an adventure story into a philosophical novel.⏹He used the technique of multiple views to achieve the effect of ambiguity.⏹Melville manages to achieve the effect of ambiguity through employing thetechnique of multiple view of his narratives.O Captain My CaptainO Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done,The ship has weathered every rack（刑架）, the prize we sought is won,The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;But O heart! heart! heart!O the bleeding drops of red,Where on the deck my Captain lies,Fallen cold and dead.O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;Rise up--for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills,For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths for you the shores a-crowding,For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;Here Captain! dear father!This arm beneath your head!It is some dream that on the deck,You've fallen cold and dead.My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;Exult O shores, and ring O bells!But I, with mournful tread,Walk the deck my Captain lies,Fallen cold and dead.。

Moby-DickHerman Melville's "Moby-Dick" stands as an epic voyage into the heart of human obsession, the unfathomable depths of the ocean, and the existential quest for meaning. Published in 1851, this American classic is a multifaceted exploration of the human condition, blending elements of adventure, philosophy, and symbolism in a narrative that transcends its seafaring setting.At its surface, "Moby-Dick" is the tale of Captain Ahab's relentless pursuit of the elusive white whale, Moby Dick, who had previously maimed the captain. However, Melville weaves a tapestry that extends far beyond a simple revenge narrative. The novel is a philosophical odyssey that delves into the complexities of fate, the nature of good and evil, and the profound isolation inherent in the human experience.One of the novel's central themes is the exploration of the destructive force of obsession. Captain Ahab's monomaniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick becomes a powerful metaphor for the all-consuming nature of human desires and the perilous consequences of unchecked ambition. Ahab's single-minded pursuit not only endangers the crew of the Pequod but also underscores the potential for self-destruction when one succumbs to the abyss of obsessive fixation.Melville's narrative style adds depth to the exploration of obsession, employing various literary techniques to evoke a sense of cosmicsignificance. The novel incorporates a range of genres, from adventure and philosophy to encyclopedic detail on whaling practices and marine biology. This amalgamation of styles creates a rich and immersive experience, mirroring the vastness and complexity of the sea itself.The character of Ishmael, the novel's narrator, serves as a literary device that allows readers to witness Ahab's obsession from a more detached perspective. Ishmael's reflective and philosophical musings provide insight into the deeper dimensions of the narrative, offering readers a lens through which to explore the existential questions posed by Ahab's quest and the enigmatic nature of the ocean."Moby-Dick" is also a symbolic exploration of the eternal struggle between man and nature. The white whale, Moby Dick, embodies the primal force of the natural world, indifferent to the desires and aspirations of humankind. Ahab's quest becomes a symbolic confrontation with the unknowable and uncontrollable forces that govern existence. The novel's depiction of the sea as both a source of life and a realm of peril reflects the timeless tension between human ambition and the vast, indifferent expanse of nature.Furthermore, Melville incorporates a rich tapestry of symbolism throughout the novel. The white whale, often seen as a symbol of the unknowable and transcendent, takes on various interpretations. Some view Moby Dick as a representation of the divine, an inscrutable forcethat eludes human understanding. Others see the whale as a manifestation of the existential void, an enigma that defies attempts to rationalize or control the mysteries of existence.The Pequod itself becomes a microcosm of society, with its diverse crew representing the complex tapestry of humanity. The multicultural makeup of the crew reflects Melville's exploration of diversity and the inherent tensions that arise when individuals from different backgrounds coexist in close quarters. This dynamic mirrors the broader societal challenges faced by 19th-century America, grappling with issues of race, class, and identity.Melville's narrative also explores the theme of isolation, both physical and existential. The vastness of the ocean becomes a metaphor for the isolation inherent in the human condition, highlighting the individual's struggle to find meaning and connection in a seemingly indifferent universe. The characters on the Pequod grapple with their own personal isolation, reflecting the broader human quest for purpose and understanding amid the vastness of existence."Moby-Dick" is a literary masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers, transcending its 19th-century origins to offer profound insights into the human condition. Melville's exploration of obsession, the struggle between man and nature, and the existential quest for meaning elevates the novel beyond its seafaring setting. Through itsrich symbolism, diverse characters, and philosophical depth, "Moby-Dick" invites readers on a timeless journey into the heart of the unknown, encouraging reflection on the complexities of human nature and the enduring mysteries of the universe.。

you and eventually become
something inhabiting your body,
somthing separate from your
own personality.
Man 1
Complex
relationship
2 Nature
Harm Revenge Indifference
manner.
Ishmael Ahab Moby Dick Starbuck
Plot 1
The captain, Ahab(亚哈). He has a white leg, made from the jaw（下巴） of a sperm whale （抹香鲸）,because his own leg is torn away by Moby Dick（莫比敌）.
Ishmael A giant, albino Sperm whale. The main antagonist of the novel. Appear at the end of the novel. Kill the entire crew except Ishmael. God, nature, fate, the ocean, universe
Plot 2
After losing his leg he is determined to pursue Moby Dick and kill it.
Plot 3
The white whale appears The first day: boat is smashed The second day: ivory leg is snapped off The third day: All on board get drowned except Ishmael

高中英语非限制性定语从句练习题50题【含答案解析】1. In the novel "Pride and Prejudice", Elizabeth Bennet, ______ is known for her intelligence and strong will, attracts Mr. Darcy.A. whoB. whichC. whereD. when答案解析：A。

在非限制性定语从句中，先行词Elizabeth Bennet是指人，关系代词who用于指人且在从句中作主语，这里表示伊丽莎白·班纳特以她的智慧和坚强意志而闻名，所以用who。

B选项which用于指物，不能指人；C选项where 用于表示地点的先行词，这里先行词不是地点；D选项when用于表示时间的先行词，这里也不是时间相关的内容。

2. "The Great Gatsby", ______ was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, tells a tragic love story.A. whoB. whichC. thatD. what答案解析：B。

先行词"The Great Gatsby"是一本书，为物，在非限制性定语从句中，which可用来指代物。

A选项who用于指人；C选项that不能用于非限制性定语从句；D选项what不能用于引导定语从句。

3. Harry Potter, ______ magic power is amazing, is the main character in J.K. Rowling's series.A. whoseB. whoC. whichD. that答案解析：A。

这里先行词是Harry Potter，关系代词whose表示所属关系，在从句中作定语，用来修饰magic power，表示哈利·波特的魔法力量，是正确的用法。