Herman Melville's

Moby Dick

1851

One of America's greatest novels, Moby Dick can be read, enjoyed, and appreciated on many levels. That the story of the great whale and the half-crazed captain who attempts to kill him has been so popular for a century and a half throughout the world is a testament to its enduring qualities. It is the epic of the fateful voyage of the Pequod, a whaling ship commanded by the compelling, mysterious figure Captain Ahab, magnificent in his strengths and weaknesses. Throughout the novel, Ahab relentlessly pursues the white whale that years before had taken off his leg and made a "poor pegging lubber" of him. Among the other interesting characters in the novel are the officiers of the Pequod: Starbuck, the first mate; Stubb, the second mate; and Flask, the third mate. The ship's harpooners are Queequeg, "a native of Kokovoko, an island far away to the West and South"; Tashtego, an Indian from Gay Head on Martha's Vineyard; and Daggoo, an African of gigantic size and strength. The narrator of Moby Dick is Ishmael, who has joined this voyage as a common sailor.

[Chowder] [Ahab] [The Quarter-Deck] [The Whiteness of the Whale]

[The Chase -- Third Day]

[Moby Dick -- A Critical Analysis] [Moby Dick -- Chapter Summaries]

[The Origin of the Name 'Moby Dick'] [Helpful Background to Moby Dick]

[Moby Dick: Discussion Questions] [Moby Dick the Whale as Symbol]

[Ahab's Quest for Truth: A Commentary]

  Art and Moby Dick

The University of Michigan's Museum of Art has a retrospective to the art inspired by Melville's Moby Dick. Those artists in my class room must take a look at this page to see how others have depicted the great characters and great moments of this great novel. Besides, I'm being cross curricular and integrating other disciplines in my classroom!
  What if Ahab Had Satellite Technology?

What if Captain Ahab hadn’t needed Starbuck and the rest of the crew to hunt for his white whale? What if, instead, he’d had the satellite technology used by WhaleNet? He could have pinpointed whales from space, studied their behavior, and learned how they migrate. With satellite technology, do you think a modern-day Ahab would want to save or slay the sperm whale?
  Literary Map of Moby Dick

The harris-Seybold Company out of Cleveland, Ohio printed nearly three dozen maps between 1956 and 1964 of various literary works of American Literature. They are all now works of rare art to collectors as well as great learning tools. Check out the Literary Map for Melville's Moby Dick!
  Whales Today

The biggest brain in the animal kingdom belongs to the whale, as does the biggest tail—one capable of smashing wooden ships to splinters. Before you write your report on whales, click your mouse to echolocate The Real Moby Dick at this PBS site. Learn how whales maintain their social bonds, and take a swim with the whales to see why they command our respect.

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