MD-Notes

1.How many narrators does the author use in Moby Dick? The author uses a total of 2 narrators; Ahab, Ishmael.

2.What purpose does each narrative voice seem to have? Ahab: He shows how self-centered he is and how he only cares about what he wants, which is to kill the white whale Moby Dick for his personal pleasure of revenge. This obsession causes him to ignore the opinions of others and place their lives in risks. Ishmael: He is the neutral character. He brings in views from both sides of the issue and analyses the controversial situation (which is whether or not to continue on the treacherous voyage). Starbuck: He is a unique character because he notices the change in Ahab’s attitude and behavior. He is the first to notice his hazardous obsession and begins to worry about the crew’s safety.

3.How many genres of writing does the author use in writing Moby Dick? Novel: common way of writing about a book at that time Scientific Journal: explain about cytology and importance of that industry at that time. Travel narrative: detailed story about the life of a whaler at work/ Drama: Gives some intensity and excitement in the story. Epic: Adventure story concerning an industry of the late 1800's

4.Who is the protagonist? Ishmael.

5.Whose story is being told in Moby Dick? Why does the author spend so much time focusing on seeing minor characters who don’t contribute to the main plot? The author includes minor characters demonstrate different points of view and perspectives about the issue and what is going on within the ship. One thing to a person can mean something and it can mean a different thing to another person. This is important because it allows the story to be told from numerous perspectives in order to show all sides of the issue which enables us to further comprehend the issues going on within the shipmates.

6.What is a frame story? How does this structure help the author develop the themes of his novel? A frame story is also knows as a frame tale, which is a story made up of one or more related tales. These numerous “unrelated or related tales” help establish and make-up several themes, with each related tale helping to establish a different theme. Themes such as; too much ambition may lead to disaster or how different people may have different perspectives, opinions, and ideas regarding a same subject.

7.What about the chapters on cetology? What purpose do they serve in the author’s development of a central purpose? The cetology chapters provide insight and background for the readers regarding the whales and also a description of the labor of a whaler and the process they must endure in order to obtain their oil from the whales. In order to obtain oil, whale-hunting was one of the most crucial and hazardous industries at that time (early and mid 1800’s)

8.What seems to be the author’s purpose in writing this book? The author’s purpose is to make the reader aware that not only could an obsession be hazardous to the person obsessed, but it may also affect the people surrounding him such as Captain Ahab’s crew. A secondary purpose may be to never disregard or ignore the advices or opinions of others because everybody is equal therefore everybody’s opinion matters.

9.As a whole, how does the author’s use of narrative structure help the author to achieve his purpose? His use of multiple narrators helps the reader to further comprehend the plot and what exactly is going on in the story. With the perspectives of several characters we are able to see their change in thought and ideas, regarding Ahab, gradually begin to alter as the journey progresses. This also helps the author get his message across in a more simple manner rather than having to explain it or make the reader see it through only one narrator.