1. Herman Melville Moby Dick

2. Contents The Romantic Novel An American Shakespeare? Styles & Themes Influences Moby Dick Reading Review Discussion Questions

3. Moby Dick

4. The Romantic Novel Period of mainly Poetry and Short Stories but with growth of popular literature against bad reputation of fiction in the 19 th century Traveller Tales especially popular but also philosophical basis to many stories, including Moby Dick Important themes in Puritan past & the Sea Examples?

5. The Great American Novel Moby Dick is considered one of the First Great American Novels. Why do you think this is and what other examples may there be in American Literature?

6. Herman Melville

7. The American Shakespeare? Child of the Revolutionary heroes but to work at 15 – voyage to Liverpool – later sailed on whaler with horrible conditions – deserting & living with cannibalistic tribe Writing travel stories (Typee) after return but damaged by Mardi – Moby Dick and Billy Budd badly received after published in England & US – Madness, Suicide, Death

8. Styles & Themes Literature based on Experiences at Sea with deep philosophical and religious themes Enthusiasm – key to Melville’s work with many sources researched and presented Writing for telling Shakespearean Truths about human nature and the universe Big themes of: Colonialism, Slavery, History, Religion, Culture & Sexuality discussed

9. Melville & Hawthorne

10. Influences Greatly influenced by Bible & Shakespeare for language, style and themes (Moby Dick) Friendship with Hawthorne leading to inspiration for Shakespearean Tragic Epic Reynold’s ‘Mocha Dick’ & Chase’s sinking of Essex by whale taken to inspire Whale Story Great Influence on British literature and (later) American literature – Melville revival

11. Moby Dick Magnum Opus about Whaling ship – once considered philosophy – now greatest novel Heavy symbolism with Biblical theme of Job, Shakespearean tragic hero & philosophical topics – universe, nature & what makes a whale Themes of Obsession – Fanaticism – Influence but also Colonialism, Cultures & Sexualities Collisions between Democracy & Dictatorship

12. Moby Dick

13. Important Characters Ishmael – outcast & narrator discussing free will, predestination, holds democratic ideals Ahab – tragic hero & enemy of God, sees evil in whale & obsessed self-relying spirit Moby Dick – whale & symbol of nature, God Starbuck – chief mate & voice of reason Queequeg – noble savage & disillusioned

14. Reading Review Read the following chapter of Moby Dick and reflect on the following: Who is telling the story and How? What is the style of the Novel? What are the main themes? Is it understandable?

15. Notes to Chapter 41 1) The Sperm whale is only whale in all oceans 2) North-West passage – through the Arctic 3) “Holy Land by underground Passage” – see Greek mythology 4) Ophites – serpent worshipping Christians 5) Hotel de Cluny – Medieval building in Paris over Roman ruins 6) Job’s Whale – see Bible (Job 41.1)

16. Video Please watch the following video and think about the following questions: What makes Ahab’s influence so strong? What perspective do we get in the Video? Does Ahab appear mad or sane? Why?

17. Discussion Questions What does Moby Dick represent to the crew and what perspective does Ishmael give us? How can Melville’s literary & philosophical Enthusiasm be seen in Moby Dick? Do you think that Ahab is mad? Is this the same Madness as in the Black Cat? How are Biblical references used in Moby Dick and why are these Important?

18. More Information http://melvillesociety.org/ http://www.melville.org/ http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal /chap3/melville.html http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal /chap3/melville.html Moby Dick – A Norton Critical Edition The Norton Anthology of American Literature

19. Next Time Realism, Regionalism, and the American South during the late 19 th century Read Chapter 1 and 2 from Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn & focus on how the language differences from the Romantic and on how the American south is depicted.