Moby Dick, By Herman Melville
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale chronicles the strange journey of an ordinary seaman named Ishmael who signs on for a whaling voyage in 1840s Massachusetts. Take this quiz to see if you can remember the basic plot of Herman Melville's classic novel Moby Dick.
- 1.
The first three words of this book are perhaps the most famous in literature. What are they?
- A.
Call me Ishmael
- B.
I was born
- C.
In the beginning
Correct Answer
A. Call me IshmaelExplanation
The correct answer is "Call me Ishmael". This answer is correct because "Call me Ishmael" is the opening line of the novel "Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville. These words have become iconic and are widely recognized as the beginning of one of the most famous literary works in history.Rate this question:
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- 2.
Where is the story set?
- A.
Maine
- B.
Massachusetts
- C.
Hawaii
Correct Answer
B. MassachusettsExplanation
The story is set in Massachusetts.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Ishmael travels to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he stays in a whalers’ inn. Since the inn is rather full, he has to share a bed with a harpooner from the South Pacific. What is the name of the whaler?
- A.
Ahab
- B.
Tipegu
- C.
Queequeg
Correct Answer
C. QueequegExplanation
Ishmael travels to New Bedford, Massachusetts and stays in a whalers' inn. Due to the inn being full, he has to share a bed with a harpooner from the South Pacific. The name of the whaler Ishmael shares a bed with is Queequeg.Rate this question:
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- 4.
The two decide to seek work on a whaling vessel together. They take a ferry to Nantucket, the traditional capital of the whaling industry. There they secure berths on what ship?
- A.
Pequod
- B.
Fairfield
- C.
Pasquit
Correct Answer
A. PequodExplanation
The correct answer is Pequod. The passage mentions that the two individuals decide to seek work on a whaling vessel and they take a ferry to Nantucket, which is known as the traditional capital of the whaling industry. Therefore, it can be inferred that they secure berths on the Pequod, which is the only option provided that is a whaling vessel.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Peleg and Bildad, the Pequod’s Quaker owners, drive a hard bargain in terms of salary. They also mention the ship’s mysterious captain. What is his name?
- A.
Ahab
- B.
Ishmael
- C.
Pequod
Correct Answer
A. AhabExplanation
The correct answer is Ahab. In the given passage, it is mentioned that Peleg and Bildad, the owners of the ship Pequod, talk about the ship's mysterious captain. Although the passage does not directly state the captain's name, it can be inferred that the captain being referred to is Ahab.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Ahab makes his first appearance on deck, balancing gingerly on his false leg, which is made from a sperm whale’s jaw. He announces his desire to pursue and kill the whale who took his leg. What is the name of the whale?
- A.
Mutara
- B.
Pequit
- C.
Moby Dick
Correct Answer
C. Moby DickExplanation
In the given passage, Ahab makes his first appearance on deck and announces his desire to pursue and kill the whale who took his leg. The name of this whale is Moby Dick.Rate this question:
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- 7.
From time to time, the ship encounters other whaling vessels. Ahab always demands information about Moby Dick from their captains. One of the ships, the Jeroboam, carries Gabriel, a crazed prophet. What does he predict?
- A.
Doom for anyone who threatens Moby Dick
- B.
That Ahab will get the whale
- C.
That they will never see the whale
Correct Answer
A. Doom for anyone who threatens Moby DickExplanation
Gabriel, the crazed prophet aboard the ship Jeroboam, predicts doom for anyone who threatens Moby Dick. This suggests that Gabriel believes Moby Dick to be a powerful and dangerous entity, and that any attempt to harm or challenge the whale will result in disastrous consequences for the person involved.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Soon after, the Pequod meets the Samuel Enderby, a whaling ship whose skipper, Captain Boomer, has lost an arm in an encounter with Moby Dick. The two captains discuss the whale; what is Captain Boomer's feelings towards the whale?
- A.
The same as Captain Ahabs.
- B.
He is just happy to have escaped and can't understand Captain Ahab's quest for revenge.
- C.
He has no feelings towards Moby Dick.
Correct Answer
A. The same as Captain Ahabs.Explanation
Captain Boomer's feelings towards the whale are the same as Captain Ahab's. This suggests that Captain Boomer also harbors a deep sense of revenge and obsession towards Moby Dick, similar to Captain Ahab's relentless pursuit of the whale.Rate this question:
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- 9.
The Pequod approaches the equator, where Ahab expects to find the great whale. The ship encounters two more whaling ships, the Rachel and the Delight, both of which have recently had fatal encounters with the whale. What happens next?
- A.
Captain Ahab spots the whale.
- B.
Captain Ahab finally sees reason and turns back.
- C.
The crew, fearing for their safety, kill Ahab.
Correct Answer
A. Captain Ahab spots the whale.Explanation
Captain Ahab spots the whale. This answer is supported by the information provided in the question, which states that Ahab expects to find the great whale near the equator. Additionally, the encounter with the two other whaling ships that had fatal encounters with the whale suggests that the whale is nearby. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that Captain Ahab spots the whale as the next event.Rate this question:
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- 10.
How does the story end?
- A.
Ahab is then caught in a harpoon line and hurled out of his harpoon boat to his death. The boat sinks, and only Ishmael survives.
- B.
Captain Ahab kills Moby Dick, but in doing so, sinks the boat and they all drown.
- C.
They kill Moby Dick and return to their homes.
Correct Answer
A. Ahab is then caught in a harpoon line and hurled out of his harpoon boat to his death. The boat sinks, and only Ishmael survives.Explanation
The story ends with Ahab being caught in a harpoon line and thrown out of his harpoon boat, resulting in his death. The boat then sinks, leaving only Ishmael as the sole survivor.Rate this question:
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