View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is the large hunting ground where the Pequod finds itself in the middle of a pod of sperm whales?

2. Given the irony of the coffin turned life buoy, what is the feeling of foreshadowing?

3. What makes Ahab return quickly to the Pequod from the Samuel Enderby?

4. What is Ahab thinking about as he looks out to sea?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ahab change his attitude toward the leaking casks of whale oil?

2. What is the change in the crew as they head out in search of Moby Dick?

3. What is Ishmael trying to ascertain as he ponders fossil remains of whales he has read about?

4. What happens when Tashtego accidentally falls into the oil-filled head of the whale?

5. Explain two instances that Starbuck interprets as signs that God does not support Ahab's revenge on Moby Dick.

6. What is occupying the mind of the captain of the Rachel?

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

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

9. What is so interesting about the perceptions of the Spanish doubloon nailed to the mast?

10. What is the evidence that there is still a vestige of humanity left in Ahab?

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 life in a coastal town. Use the differences Ishmael notices between how people live in New Bedford and Nantucket from the way people live inland. Give your opinion as to what it is about coastal people that make them different from other communities. If you have personal experience with a coastal town, work those into your essay.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the beauty of whales in their natural habitat. Include such things as how they jump out of the water, the impressive look of their spouts, the way they utilize their tails, how graceful they are for such large creatures, and modern recordings of whale songs.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages comparing the character Bildad in MOBY DICK to the Bildad in the book of Job who God said darkened counsel without knowledge. Point out dialog of Bildad that shows his limited understanding of the real world.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 696 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample