Moby dick (saddleback classics)

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STUDY GUIDE
MOBY
DICK
HERMAN MELVILLE

Saddleback E-Book

SADDLEBACK EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING, INC.


STUDY GUIDE
MOBY
DICK
HERMAN MELVILLE

1


The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Dracula
Great Expectations
Jane Eyre

Moby Dick
Robinson Crusoe
The Time Machine

Development and Production: Laurel Associates, Inc.
Cover Art: Black Eagle Productions

Three Watson
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Website: www.sdlback.com
Copyright © 1999 by Saddleback Educational Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book
may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the
publisher, with the exception below.
Pages labeled with the statement Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 are intended for
reproduction. Saddleback EducationalPublishing grants to individual purchasers of this book the right to
make sufficient copies of reproducible pages for use by all students of a single teacher. This permission is
limited to a single teacher, and does not apply to entire schools or school systems.

ISBN 1-56254-259-1
Printed in the United States of America
05 04 03 02 01 00 M 99
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2


CONTENTS
16

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

Notes to the Teacher............................ 4
Facts About the Author ....................... 5
Facts About the Times......................... 5
Facts About the Characters ................. 6
Chapter Summaries ............................. 7
Answer Key ...................................... 10
Literary Glossary .............................. 12
CHAPTER EXERCISES

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

13
14
15

Sequence of Events, Ch. 7 ........ 29
Words and Meanings, Ch. 8 ..... 30
Comprehension Check, Ch. 8 ... 31
Cause and Effect, Ch. 8 ............ 32
Words and Meanings, Ch. 9 ..... 33
Inference, Ch. 9 ........................ 34
Synonyms/Antonyms, Ch. 9..... 35
Words and Meanings, Ch. 10 ... 36
Sequence of Events, Ch. 10 ...... 37

Words and Meanings, Ch. 1 ..... 14
Personalizing the Story, Ch. 1 .. 15

END-OF-BOOK EXERCISES

Words and Meanings, Ch. 2 ..... 16

25
26
26

Cause and Effect, Ch. 2 ............ 17
Inference, Ch. 2 ........................ 18

Book Sequence ......................... 38
Final Exam, Part 1 .................... 39

Final Exam, Part 2 .................... 40

Words and Meanings, Ch. 3 ..... 19
Character Study, Ch. 3.............. 20

UNIVERSAL EXERCISES

Words and Meanings, Ch. 4 ..... 21

27
28
29
30
31
32
33
33

Comprehension Check, Ch. 4 ... 22
Words and Meanings, Ch. 5 ..... 23
Descriptive Words, Ch. 5.......... 24
Recalling Details, Ch. 5 ............ 25
Words and Meanings, Ch. 6 ..... 26
Point of View, Ch. 6 ................. 27
Words and Meanings, Ch. 7 ..... 28
3

Beyond the Text ....................... 41
Plot Study ................................. 42
Theme Analysis ........................ 43

Character Study ........................ 44
Vocabulary Study ..................... 45
Glossary Study ......................... 46
Book Review, Part 1 ................. 47
Book Review, Part 2 ................ 48


SADDLEBACK CLASSICS

NOTES TO THE TEACHER
THE NOVELS

Saddleback Classics were expressly
designed to help students with limited
reading ability gain access to some of the
world’s greatest literature. While retaining
the essence and stylistic “flavor” of the
original, each Saddleback Classic has been
expertly adapted to a reading level that
never exceeds grade 4.0.

reproducible, are designed to be used
chapter-by-chapter as the student’s reading
of the novel proceeds. At least two
exercises are provided for each book
chapter. One of the two always focuses on
key vocabulary. The other may be a simple
comprehension check or present an
important literary concept such as
character analysis, point of view, inference,

or figurative language. A two-page final
exam is also included in every Saddleback
Classics Study Guide.

A perfect introduction to later, more indepth investigations of the original works,
Saddleback Classics utilize a number of
strategies to ensure the involvement of
reluctant readers: airy, uncomplicated page
design, shortened sentences, easy-reading
type style, elimination of archaic words
and spellings, shortened total book length,
and handsome illustrations.

USING THE STUDY GUIDES

Before assigning any of the reproducible
exercises, be sure your students each have
a personal copy of the Glossary and the
Facts About the Author and About the
Times. Students will need to be familiar
with many of the literary terms in order to
complete the worksheets. The Facts About
the Author and About the Times lend
themselves to any number of writing, art, or
research projects you may wish to assign.

THE STUDY GUIDES

The Saddleback Classics Study Guides
provide a wealth of reproducible support

materials to help students extend the
learning experience. Features include
critical background notes on both
the author and the times, character
descriptions, chapter summaries, and eight
“universal” exercises—focusing on plot,
theme, character, vocabulary, important
literary terms, and book report structure.
All may be used to follow up the reading
of any Saddleback Classic novel.

The title-specific exercises may be used
as a springboard for class discussions or
role-playing. Alternatively, you may wish
to assign some exercises as homework and
others as seatwork during the closing
minutes of a class period.
All exercises in this Guide are designed
to accommodate independent study as well
as group work. The occasional assignment
of study partners or competitive teams
often enhances interest and promotes
creativity.

In addition to the universal exercises,
26 title-specific exercises are included
to review, test, or enrich the student’s
grasp of important vocabulary and
concepts. These enjoyable worksheets, all

4


MOBY DICK

FACTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR

HERMAN MELVILLE
(1819–1891)
Melville was 24 when he returned home
from his adventures at sea. It was then that
he began reading widely to develop his
knowledge of the world’s great literature.
Along with his more prosperous friend,
Nathaniel Hawthorne, he began to write.
His masterpiece, Moby Dick, was
published in 1851, when Melville was 32
years old.

Herman Melville, the renowned
American novelist, short-story writer, and
poet, was born into a once prominent New
York family in 1819. Melville was just 13
years old when his father died. It was then,
to help support the family, that he left
school and took a job as a bank clerk.
A few years later, Melville tried his hand
at school teaching. But the imaginative
young man soon became bored in the
classroom and went to sea as a common

seaman. There he had all the adventure he
had been longing for. On one voyage to
the South Seas, he deserted his ship and
took refuge among the Typees, a
cannibalistic tribe. On another voyage he
became involved in a mutiny.

After traveling to England, Melville
returned to the United States in 1857.
Because the genius of his work was not
recognized until many years after his death,
economic necessity forced Melville to work
as a customs inspector for the next 20 years.
In these later years, he wrote mostly poetry.
Melville died in 1891, at the age of 72.

FACTS ABOUT THE TIMES
Fillmore was U.S. president . . . gold was
discovered in Australia . . . the New York
Times appeared for the first time.

In 1819, when Melville was born . . .
James Monroe was U.S. president . . .
Florida was purchased from Spain . . .
Beethoven lost his hearing . . . the future
Queen Victoria was born . . . professional
horse racing was introduced in the United
States . . . a maximum 12-hour workday
for juveniles was made law in England.

In 1891, when Melville died . . .
Java Man was discovered . . . Russia
suffered from famine . . . the zipper was
invented . . . Benjamin Harrison was U.S.
president . . . Van Gogh exhibited his
paintings in France . . . an earthquake
wracked Japan . . . Arthur Conan Doyle
published his first Sherlock Holmes story.

In 1851, when Moby Dick was published . . .
Isaac Singer invented the sewing machine
. . . Nathaniel Hawthorne published The
House of Seven Gables . . . Millard

5


MOBY DICK

FACTS ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
ISHMAEL

CAPTAIN AHAB

a young schoolteacher who looks for
adventure as a whale hunter on the Pequod

one-legged captain of the Pequod; a man
turned evil by his desire for revenge on the
white whale that took his leg

PETER COFFIN
STUBB

landlord of the Spouter Inn in New
Bedford, Massachusetts

second mate on the Pequod; a friendly,
joking fellow

QUEEQUEG
FLASK

tattooed South Sea islander, an expert
harpooner, who befriends Ishmael and
signs up with him to sail on the Pequod

third mate on the Pequod; a bitter man
who hates all whales

TASHTEGO

FATHER MAPPLE

a harpooner; an American Indian whose
New England tribe hunted whales

a priest at the church in New Bedford

PELEG

DAGGOO

former sea captain who signs on Ishmael
and Queequeg; one of the Pequod’s owners

a harpooner; an African who gained his
skills by hunting lions

ELIJAH

FEDALLAH

a crazed old sailor who warns Ishmael
and Queequeg about the evil Ahab

Ahab’s personal harpooner; an Arabian
prophet

STARBUCK

CAPTAIN GARDINER

first mate on the Pequod and the voice
of reason against Ahab’s madness

captain of the Rachel who has lost a son
at sea; rescuer of Ishmael

6

MOBY DICK

CHAPTER SUMMARIES
also meet three harpooners: Tashtego,
Daggoo, and Fedallah. For the second time
they hear strange stories about the
mysterious, and possibly evil, Captain Ahab.

CHAPTER 1

Desiring adventure as a whale hunter,
Ishmael, a young schoolteacher, arrives in
New Bedford, Massachusetts in December
1851. At the Spouter Inn, the landlord,
Peter Coffin, says that the inn is full, but
Ishmael can share a room with a harpooner
who is out for the evening. Later, peeping
from under the covers, Ishmael is shocked
to see that the harpooner is a huge man,
heavily tattooed, who looks like a cannibal.
When Queequeg, the strange-looking
harpooner, sees Ishmael in his bed, he lets
out a wild cry.

CHAPTER 4

After several days at sea, Ahab appears.
He is a stern-looking, one-legged man who

wears an ivory pegleg. The evil look in his
eyes makes Ishmael shudder. Ahab offers
a gold Spanish coin to the first man who
sights the white whale, Moby Dick. Only
Starbuck refuses to pledge Ahab his help
in chasing Moby Dick. In spite of Ahab’s
taunts about Starbuck’s lack of courage, the
first mate declares that Ahab’s anger at a
dumb animal is “madness.”

CHAPTER 2

Peter Coffin properly introduces Ishmael
and Queequeg, after which they quickly
fall asleep. The next day Queequeg
explains his background to Ishmael as they
explore the town. They attend a church
service together when the weather turns
bad. Having quickly become fast friends,
they sail to Nantucket the next day and sign
up on the crew of the Pequod.

CHAPTER 5

For the first time, Ishmael hears the cry,
“There she blows!” He takes part in his first
whale hunt, which turns out to be a neardeath experience when the Pequod
accidentally hits the whaleboat in a storm.
Ishmael is fascinated to learn many facts
about whales as well as to participate in

both the kill and the processing of the
whale’s blubber. He also marvels at his first
sight of a giant squid.

CHAPTER 3

As Ishmael and Queequeg work to get
the ship ready for her voyage, they meet
an old sailor named Elijah who warns them
that Captain Ahab is evil and the Pequod
is doomed. They brush him off as “not right
in the head.” Captain Ahab is nowhere to
be seen when the Pequod sets sail on
Christmas Day. But Ishmael and Queequeg
do meet the first mate, Starbuck, the second
mate, Stubb, and the third mate, Flask. They

CHAPTER 6

Against Ahab’s resistance to interrupting
their hunt for Moby Dick, Starbuck insists
that they stop to get wood from an island
to repair leaking oil barrels in the ship’s
hold. After repairing the barrels, Queequeg
becomes very ill and asks the ship’s

7


carpenter to make him a watertight coffin

in the shape of a canoe. When his fever
suddenly disappears, Queequeg decides to
use the coffin as a sea chest to store his
things. The voyage continues. Then one
day a lookout falls and drowns in the sea;
this is taken by many of the sailors to be a
bad omen. Bad luck is further hinted at
when Fedallah predicts that both he and
Ahab will soon die.

CHAPTER 8

When Captain Gardiner of the Rachel
asks Ahab’s help in finding his son who
has been lost at sea, Ahab coldly refuses.
Feeling the nearness of Moby Dick “in his
bones,” he finally spots the white whale
and awards the Spanish coin to himself.
As the boats are lowered, Starbuck refuses
to join the hunt. Ishmael is terrified when
Moby Dick attacks the whaleboat, tossing
them overboard. Just in time, the Pequod
rescues the men, including Ahab, and
drives the huge whale away. Ishmael
realizes this is not the last they will see of
the fearsome Moby Dick.

CHAPTER 7

Ishmael overhears a furious argument

between Ahab and Starbuck. Again,
Starbuck begs Ahab to forsake his insane
obsession with Moby Dick, and again,
Ahab refuses. Starbuck warns that “Ahab
should fear Ahab.” When St. Elmo’s Fire
lights up the sky with a mysterious,
greenish glow, Ahab insists that it will
“light their way to the white whale.” Ahab
catches a flame on the tip of his harpoon
and then pinches it out, proclaiming that
he is thereby “blowing out the last of our
fears.” Ishmael is very uneasy about
whether or not Ahab can control the evil
force inside himself.

CHAPTER 9

Another confrontation with Moby Dick
occurs the next day. This time Ahab’s ivory
pegleg is destroyed, and Fedallah, who
harpooned the white whale, cannot be
found. Again, Starbuck begs Ahab to
abandon the hunt before it costs all of them
their lives. But Ahab is determined. Three
days later the white whale again appears.
This time Fedallah’s dead body can be seen
caught in the tangled line of his harpoon
as it juts out of Moby Dick’s hump. Both
Moby Dick and Ahab have the same mad
glint in their eyes as the whale charges

Ahab’s whaleboat. Caught around the neck
by his own harpoon line, Ahab is dragged
down to the depths of the sea. Fedallah’s
prophecy has come true: Ahab’s first
hearse was indeed a rope.

8


CHAPTER 10

Now that Ahab is dead, Moby Dick
attacks the Pequod, ripping it to shreds, and
finally swims around the wreck until a giant
whirlpool is formed. The ship is soon
sucked down, disappearing into the sea.
Now another of Fedallah’s prophecies has
come true: Ahab’s second hearse would be
“made of wood from America.” Treading
water, Ishmael is the only man to survive.
For two days he floats on top of Queequeg’s
watertight coffin. Then the Rachel comes
by, still searching for Captain Gardiner’s
lost son, and instead rescues “another
orphan of the sea,” Ishmael.

9


MOBY DICK

ANSWER KEY
1 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 1
A.

2
3

4
5

T
G R E B E C
D
A
I
D A
R K
T
V O N N
O
N
T Z O S N
L
A E O P R O
D
D P E O
Y
N
R A S

S E
A
A R
A
D
L H S
C
G R U B B M O T K

I

8

C
A
N
N
I
B
A
L

9

B. 1. grub 2. annoyed 3. cannibal 4. ivory
5. harpoon 6. dozed 7. landlord 8. tomb
9. iceberg 10. knapsack 11. tattoos
12. spears
PERSONALIZING THE STORY: C HAPTER 1
Answers will vary.

WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 2
A. 1. e 2. h 3. g 4. a 5. c 6. i 7. b
8. d 9. f
B. ACROSS : 1. docked 4. sober 6. prow
7. seafaring 8. pulpit 9. homeland
DOWN: 2. congregation 3. gesture
5. barren
CAUSE AND EFFECT: C HAPTER 2
A. 1. f 2. e 3. d 4. a 5. b 6. h 7. c 8. g
B. 1. F 2. T 3. T 4. F
INFERENCE: C HAPTER 2
Answers should approximate: 1. He already
knew that Queequeg was a gentle soul.
2. Stores were closed, and people were at
church. 3. They had heard that Nantucket
was a fine seaport, and that it was famous
as a base for whaling ships. 4. Captain
Ahab’s missing leg would show Ishmael
that whaling was a dangerous profession.
5. Their signatures showed their agreement
to sail on the Pequod . The paper was a kind
of contract.

6 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 3
A.

V
D O O M
S
Y

G
P S
N N
L
I
I
P
L
G
M
I
N
G
P A
I
G B I T T E
E R U T

S
E
T
A
M

D
N
L
G
E
A

U R
T
R
A N

10

I P R E
E
R
C
W
E A
B
R
F O A M C
T
S
S
D I U
H U M P
D I D N

11

12

13

K

C
E
W
O
T
S

14

B. 1. gangplank 2. rigging 3. voyage
4. clasp 5. nature 6. stow, gear
7. doomed, mates 8. pilings
9. stump 10. bitter

7 CHARACTER STUDY: C HAPTER 3
A. 1. Elijah 2. Starbuck 3. Stubb
4. Flask 5. Tashtego 6. Daggoo
7. Fedallah 8. Ahab

10

B. 1. African, lion hunter 2. scarred, onearmed 3. Arab, prophet 4. kindly, first
mate 5. New Englander, American Indian
6. one-legged, mysterious
WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 4
A. ACROSS : 2. spouts 3. oil 5. tow
7. scour 8. seasoned
DOWN: 1. quarterdeck 4. lookout
6. mast 7. swayed
B. 1. scour 2. swayed 3. quarterdeck

4. tow 5. seasoned 6. mast 7. spouts
8. lookout 9. oil
COMPREHENSION CHECK: C HAPTER 4
1. b 2. a 3. b 4. d 5. a 6. d 7. c
WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 5
P
S
A.
Y
P
L R R
O A
O
C
I
L
L
A
Q S
S
E L P

D

G
S
U
C
K
E

R
S

B. 1. prow 2. hump 3. squid, suckers
4. pierce 5. scales, gills 6. foam
7. carcass 8. splendid 9. starboard
10. prey
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS: C HAPTER 5
A. 1. chill 2. slick 3. inky 4. black
5. giant 6. freezing 7. strong 8. ivory
9. thick 10. butchered
B. 1. valuable=precious 2. pitching=tossing
3. waterlogged=soaked 4. dangerous=
hazardous 5. splendid=marvelous
RECALLING DETAILS: C HAPTER 5
A. 1. head 2. ten 3. Two 4. suckers 5. arms
6. tentacled 7. chews 8. whales
B. 1. T 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. F 6. T 7. F 8. T
WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 6
A. 1. rude 2. chart 3. gleam 4. calm
5. pilot 6. hearse 7. surface
8. carpenter 9. canoe 10. broth
B. ACROSS : 2. rude 3. calm 6. carpenter
7. pilot 8. gleam 9. canoe
DOWN: 1. hearse 3. chart 4. surface
5. broth
POINT OF VIEW: C HAPTER 6
Answers should approximate: 1.a. They
looked forward to receiving letters and
other news of home. 1.b. He wanted to

ask the captain if they had seen Moby
Dick. 2.a. He thought they should get
wood from an island to repair the barrels.
2.b. He didn’t want to lose time by
stopping to get wood. His only interest
was in hunting Moby Dick 3.a. He
refused at first, thinking it was more
important for his sick friend to eat
something. 3.b. He wanted to ask the
carpenter to make him a watertight coffin.


15 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 7
A.
Y
R
U
F

R
E
T
R
E
A
T
A

B U N
L

A
P
E R I
S Y
P
U
D R O

C
G N I

K

2. They had seen Fedallah harpoon the
whale, so they realized he must have
been towed underwater by the harpoon
line. 3. Fedallah had predicted that he
would die before Ahab did. 4. Sharks
were waiting for the whale hunt to begin
and bloody the water. 5. The whale had
lost a lot of blood and was growing weak
and tired. 6. Sometimes the whale grew
very quiet just before he exploded from
the water to ram the boat.

G

N
I O
Z B

D
E E
E
S
G
T
N
O P O U
D
L
N E T S I L G

22 SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS: C HAPTER 9
1. gentle 2. damage 3. weak 4. loyal
5. snarled 6. sanity 7. peeked
8. cloudless 9. yelled 10. gushed
11. insignificant 12. endured
13. forgiveness 14. frigid

B. 1. obey 2. glistening 3. douse 4. fury
5. eerie 6. capsizing 7. blaze 8. pistol
9. droop 10. retreat, lunged

16 SEQUENCE OF EVENTS: C HAPTER 7

23 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 10

1. 11/glow 2. 14/voyage 3. 2/breath
4. 13/mast 5. 3/overhears 6. 1/tears
7. 16/control 8. 7/afraid 9. 10/typhoon

10. 15/flames 11. 8/fear 12. 9/sleep
13. 5/pistol 14. 4/mocks 15. 12/mercy
16. 6/obeyed

A. 1. massive 2. spars 3. whirlpool
4. crackle 5. buckled 6. gash 7. hold
8. shroud
B. ACROSS : 2. spars 5. gash 6. buckled
7. hold 8. crackle DOWN: 1. massive
2. shroud 3. summoning 4. whirlpool

17 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 8
A. ACROSS : 3. victim 4. moist 8. oarlock
9. barnacles 10. lee
DOWN : 1. stubbornly 2. Ahoy
5. seaweed 6. churning 7. craft
B. 1. e 2. h 3. f 4. c 5. d 6. g 7. b 8. a

24 SEQUENCE OF EVENTS: C HAPTER 10
1. 10/vast 2. 4/rams 3. 13/horizon
4. 2/shipmates 5. 11/bumps 6. 3/target
7. 14/spots 8. 1/sinks 9. 7/circles
10. 12/floats 11. 6/floods 12. 8/hearse
13. 5/timbers 14. 9/dives

18 COMPREHENSION CHECK: C HAPTER 8
A. 1. Ahab 2. had 3. his son 4. time 5. cold
6. feel in his bones 7. sail on 8. standing up
B. 1. T 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. T 6. F

19 CAUSE AND EFFECT: C HAPTER 8
A. 1. d 2. e 3. f 4. a 5. b 6. c 7. h 8. g
B. 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T
T S
S
H
E A
D R
I K
H S
V
R
P

U R H T
F A T E
O
R
C
E
U
H
T
P
V
O W T R
E I
W
N
S P L U N

E U C S E

1. 6/mend 2. 2/shrunken 3. 12/tooth
4. 5/squid 5. 1/adventure 6. 9/rope
7. 3/plaques 8. 11/patron
9. 10/capsizes 10. 4/evil
11. 7/helplessly 12. 14/wreckage
13. 13/splinters 14. 8/dreams

26 FINAL EXAM, Part 1

20 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 9
A.

25 BOOK SEQUENCE

1. d 2. c 3. a 4. c 5. b 6. a
Y
H
D U
E
R
O
L
L E
D
G E D
R

B. 1. swerved 2. hurled 3. thrust 4. rescue

5. fate 6. vow 7. sharks 8. plunged
9. erupting 10. prophecy, foretold

21 INFERENCE: C HAPTER 9
Answers should approximate: 1. The whale’s
hide was so thick and tough that the
harpoons bounced off harmlessly.

11

FINAL EXAM, Part 2
Answers should approximate: 1. The
whaleboat had just been hit by the
Pequod ; the men had had a narrow
escape. Starbuck meant that whaling was
dangerous and could be deadly. 2. They
towed it back to the Pequod, cut off its
blubber, and boiled the blubber down into
oil. 3. Starbuck meant the evil that Ahab
saw in Moby Dick was really in himself.
Answers will vary. 4. Accept any
reasonable answers. 5. He said that
they already had enough oil to make the
ship owners happy, and that the crew
members missed their families.
6. Ahab’s bitterness and wish for revenge
is evil because it causes him to sacrifice
many lives. Starbuck’s arguments
represent the forces of good and reason.

27–33 Answers will vary.


SADDLEBACK CLASSICS

LITERARY GLOSSARY
effect in literature, an impression
created by the writer

action what happens in a story; the
acts or events that take place

Murder mysteries often create a
suspenseful, chilling effect.

The war story was full of battle action.

author the writer of a book, story,
article, etc.

event a specific occurrence;
something that happens

Ernest Hemingway was an American author.

A plane crash is the first event in that
adventure novel.

author’s purpose the author’s
specific goal or reason for writing

a certain book

fiction a literary work in which the
plot and characters are the products of
the author’s imagination

In that novel, the author’s purpose was to
make readers laugh.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a popular
work of fiction.

character a fictional person who
plays a part in a story or novel

imagery figures of speech that help
the reader to visualize the characters
or setting; pictures in words

Long John Silver is an important character
in Treasure Island.

classic excellent artwork, novel,
painting, symphony, etc. that remains
popular over many years

In Stephen Crane’s imagery, the color of
blood suggests courage.

introduction a short reading that

presents and explains a novel;
sometimes the first part of a novel that
sets the scene

Norman Mailer’s The Naked and the Dead
has become an American classic

climax the outcome of the novel’s
main conflict

The introduction to Frankenstein is in the
form of a letter.

The capture of the criminal was the climax
of the detective story.

mood the overall feeling or
atmosphere the author creates in a
story or novel

conflict The struggle between
characters or forces at the center of
the story

The author’s skillful use of language
created a dismal, hopeless mood.

The conflict was resolved when the
suspect confessed.

moral the instructive point of a story
or novel; the lesson to be drawn by the
reader

description the parts of a story or
novel that tell about the appearance of
the setting or characters

The moral of the story is to choose your
friends carefully.

His description of the Alps was
breathtaking.

motive the driving force, either
internal or external, that makes a
character do something

dialogue words spoken by the
characters in a novel, story, or play

What was the character’s motive for lying?

The dialogue in that comedy is very witty
and amusing.

12


sequence the order in which story

events take place

narrator, narration the character
who tells the story in his or her own
words; the telling of a story’s events

To solve the crime, the detective must
determine the exact sequence of events.

Jim Hawkins is both the narrator of and a
character in Treasure Island.

setting where and when a story
happens; the location and time

novel a long form of fictional
literature with a complex plot

The setting of A Christmas Carol is London
in the mid-1800s.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is
one of the greatest American novels.

style the special way a writer uses
language to express both literary form
and his or her own life experience

pace the speed at which a story or
novel develops and moves along

Ernest Hemingway’s style is famous
for his use of short sentences and
easy-to-understand words.

The pace of the rescue scene was very fast
and exciting.

passage a section of a written work;
may include just one line or several
paragraphs

symbol a person or thing that stands
for, or represents, something else
In Hawthorne’s famous novel, the scarlet
letter is a symbol for adultery.

My favorite passage described the
character’s childhood.

plot the chain of events in a story that
leads to its outcome

theme the central meaning of a story,
play, or novel; the main idea, the point

The war novel’s plot is packed with action.

Ambition and revenge are common themes
in Shakespeare’s plays.

point of view the mental position
from which a character sees the events
of the story unfold

tone the feeling given by the author’s
voice; the attitude expressed by the
author’s use of language

The character’s great wealth influenced his
point of view about the poor.

Is the tone of her dialogue humorous or
formal?

quotation a passage quoted; the exact
words spoken by a character; the words
set off between quotation marks

voice the author’s unique way of
telling a story; a combination of
personality and use of literary tools;
the quality that sets one writer apart
from other writers

“It was a season of hope. It was a season
of despair,” is a famous quotation from
A Tale of Two Cities.

Mark Twain’s colorful voice is not hard

to recognize.

realism the author’s emphasis on
showing life as it really is, not
romanticized or idealized
Stephen Crane used great realism in
describing the sights and sounds of battle.

13


MOBY DICK •

Chapter

1

1

WORDS AND MEANINGS
NAME

A.

B.

DATE

Circle the hidden words. They may go up,
down, across, backward, or diagonally.

Check off each word as you find it.
___ TATTOOS

___ ICEBERG

___ HARPOON

___ GRUB

___ IVORY

___ LANDLORD

___ KNAPSACK

___ DOZED

___ CANNIBAL

___ ANNOYED

___ TOMB

___ SPEARS

T
O
K
M
W

Z
E
C
H
R

E
A
C
N
V
O
Q
A
S
U

G
V
T
W
A
D
R
R
U
B

R
I

W
T
E
P
A
E
P
B

E
E
V
Z
O
E
S
Y
N
M

B
Y
O
O
P
O
P
A
O
O

E
D
N
S
R
V
S
N
C
T

C
A
N
N
O
Y
E
D
Q
K

I
G
C
A
N
N
I

B
A
L

Write a word from the puzzle under the definition it matches.
1. slang word for food
______________________________
2. bothered or irritated
______________________________
3. one who eats human flesh
______________________________
4. substance of animal tusks
______________________________
5. barbed spear attached to a line
______________________________
6. slept lightly
______________________________

14

B
D
R
O
L
D
N
A
L
G

7. owner of property someone rents
______________________________
8. grave or vault for the dead
______________________________
9. ice mass broken away from a glacier
______________________________
10. backpack worn by hikers
______________________________
11. permanent ink designs on skin
______________________________
12. weapons with a long shaft and a
sharp head
______________________________

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MOBY DICK •

Chapter

2

1

PERSONALIZING THE STORY
NAME

DATE

Read the boldfaced lines from the story. Then relate each story event to your
personal experience. Write in complete sentences.
1. There is something about the open seas that lifts my spirits when
I am feeling down.
Is there a special place you like to go when you feel bored or unhappy?
Is there an activity or person that always cheers you up? Explain what
you do to make yourself feel better at such times.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. I knew there was good money in the whaling trade.
Are you familiar with any trades or professions that “pay good money”?
What are they? How do you happen to know about them? How much
pay do you think is “good money”?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. My dark mood was no way to begin an adventure.
Have you ever fallen into a bad mood—even when you’re doing something
you wanted to do? What did you do to cheer yourself up?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. I saw a collection of whalers’ tools—harpoons, clubs, and spears.
Are you familiar with the range of tools used in any trade or profession?
Name the job and describe the tools used to do that kind of work.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. Queequeg was a giant of a man. His skin was tattooed all over with designs.
Do you know a person who is very, very tall? Or someone who has many
tattoos? Give a description of one of these people, or describe an interesting

tattoo you have seen.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
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15


MOBY DICK •

Chapter

3

2

WORDS AND MEANINGS
NAME

A.

B.

DATE

Write a letter to match each word with its definition.
1. ____ seafaring

a. controlled in drinking; not drunk

2. ____ congregation

b. platform where clergyman stands
to preach

3. ____ homeland

c. describes land with no trees or grass

4. ____ sober

d. body motion that expresses an
idea or feeling

5. ____ barren

e. having to do with life at sea

6. ____ docked

f. the forward part of a ship

7. ____ pulpit

g. country in which you were born or
have lived a long time

8. ____ gesture

h. members of a particular church

9. ____ prow

i. landed; brought a ship to shore

Use the clues to solve the crossword puzzle.
ACROSS

1. When a ship ___ at Queequeg’s
island, he tried to go aboard.

1

2

C

3

G

5

4

B

4. “Better to sleep with a ___ cannibal
than with a drunken Christian!”

6

6. The pulpit was built to look like
the ___ of a ship.

7

P
R
F

R

G

7. Queequeg’s tribe were a ___ people.
8. Father Mapple stood at his ___ to
give the sermon.
9. Queequeg left his ___ to see the world.
DOWN

8

P

9

H

I

E

N

2. The church ___ was singing.
3. Queequeg meant the slap to be a friendly ___.
5. Nantucket was a sandy, ___ place.
16

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com


MOBY DICK •

Chapter

4

2

CAUSE AND EFFECT
NAME

A.

DATE

Read the causes on the left. Then write a letter to match each cause with
its effect on the right.

1. ____ Queequeg raises his
tomahawk over his head.

a. No one gets in his way or
makes fun of him.

2. ____ Ishmael and Queequeg spend
their first day together.

b. Ishmael and Queequeg slip
into a nearby church.

3. ____ Queequeg hides on board a
visiting ship.

B.

c. He’s not sure he wants to hire
a wild-looking pagan.

4. ____ Queequeg is a huge man who
has very good aim.

d. He sails all over the world.

5. ____ An icy wind starts to blow.

e. They become fast friends.

6. ____ Ishmael notices a great many

widows at the church service.

f. Ishmael calls for the landlord.

7. ____ Captain Peleg sees Queequeg
for the first time.

g. Captain Peleg hires him
immediately.

8. ____ Queequeg accurately harpoons
a small spot of tar.

h. He begins to worry about the
dangers of whaling.

Write T or F to show whether each statement below is true or false.
1. ____ The fact that Queequeg was a tribal chief’s son was the cause of his
friendship with Ishmael.
2. ____ The fact that Father Mapple was a retired harpooner was the cause of
building his pulpit to look like a ship’s prow.
3. ____ Captain Ahab’s loss of a leg was the effect of a whale attack.
4. ____ Queequeg’s inability to read or write English was the effect of making
an X where his name was supposed to go.

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com

17

MOBY DICK •

Chapter

5

2

INFERENCE
NAME

DATE

Think about the meaning of each boldfaced sentence. Then answer the
questions in your own words. Write in complete sentences.
1. The landlord laughed when Queequeg shook the tomahawk as if he
meant to hit Ishmael.
How did he know that Queequeg intended no harm to Ishmael?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Because it was Sunday morning, there was little to do in town.
Think of two probable reasons why there wasn’t much going on on Sundays.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. On Monday, Ishmael and Queequeg sailed to Nantucket, an island off
the coast of Massachusetts.
Neither Ishmael nor Queequeg had ever been to Nantucket before.
What had they heard about it that made them want to go there?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

4. When Ishmael said he wanted to find out about whaling, Peleg
asked if he had met Captain Ahab.
What was there about Ahab that would tell Ishmael something important
about whaling?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. Queequeg made an X where his name was supposed to go, and Ishmael signed
his name right under Queequeg’s mark.
For what reason were Ishmael and Queequeg asked to sign their names? What
kind of paper did they sign?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
18

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com


MOBY DICK •

Chapter

6

3

WORDS AND MEANINGS
NAME

A.

B.

DATE

Circle the hidden words. They may go up,
down, across, backward, or diagonally.
Check off each word as you find it.
___ GANGPLANK

___ MATES

___ RIGGING

___ PILINGS

___ VOYAGE

___ DOOMED

___ STUMP

___ STOW

___ GEAR

___ CLASP

___ BITTER

___ NATURE

F
T
S
G
N
I
L
I
P
G
F

I
H
W
E
N
Y
D
H
A
B
O

R
D
O
V
R

I
B
N
I
I
E

V
O
L
E
Y
W
G
E
R
T
R

U
O
R
P
D
P
E
G
S
T
U

L
M
Y
S
L
O
M
F
I
E
T

S
E
T
A
M
U
T
U
D
R
A

E
D
N
L
G

E
A
R
T
A
N

D
K
D
C
A
E
W
O
T
S
P

Use words from the puzzle to complete the sentences.
1. Queequeg and I saw shadowy figures hurrying up the ____________________.
2. There were sails to mend and ____________________ to repair.
3. It was a big job to get the ship ready for her ____________________.
4. Elijah’s hand reached out to ____________________ Ishmael’s shoulder.
5. Starbuck seemed to have an even temper and a kind ____________________.
6. Queequeg and Ishmael went below to claim their bunks and
____________________ their ____________________.
7. “You’re sailing on a ____________________ ship!” Elijah cried. “Heaven
help you, ____________________.”
8. Ishamel heard water splashing around the ____________________.

9. Elijah shook the ____________________ of his arm at Ishmael and Queequeg.
10. Starbuck’s losses had not made him ____________________.

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com

19


MOBY DICK •

Chapter

7

3

CHARACTER STUDY
NAME

A.

DATE

Find the name in the box that correctly completes each sentence.
Hint: You will not use all the names in the box.
Elijah

Fedallah

Captain Peleg

Daggoo

Flask

Ahab

Queequeg

Tashtego

Starbuck

Stubb

1. An odd-looking old fellow named _____________________ was dressed
in the patched and ragged clothes of a sailor.
2. _____________________ had lost both a father and a brother to the sea.
3. A jolly fellow named _____________________ was often heard singing
as he went about his work.
4. _____________________ hated all whales, and he lived to kill them.
5. _____________________ belonged to a strong, fearless New England
tribe that hunted whales.
6. _____________________ had gained his skill with a harpoon by throwing
spears as a lion hunter.
7. _____________________, the leader of the oarsmen, was the captain’s
own harpooner.
8. Some said that_____________________ had a kind of evil inside that
had poisoned him.

B.

Circle two words that describe each character.
1. Daggoo
first mate
African
tattooed
lion hunter
2. Elijah
scarred
cheerful
one-armed
youthful

20

3. Fedallah
Arab
prophet
captain
second mate
4. Starbuck
bitter
kindly
first mate
inexperienced

5. Tashtego
New Englander
fearful

teacher
American Indian
6. Ahab
third mate
one-legged
mysterious
playful

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com


MOBY DICK •

Chapter

8

4

WORDS AND MEANINGS
NAME

A.

DATE

Use the clues to complete the crossword puzzle.
ACROSS

2. Ahab said he’d chase Moby Dick “until he

___ black blood and is gone forever.”
3. Starbuck said he hunted whales for their ___,
not for revenge.
5. The sailors would ___ the whale’s body to
the ship before stripping its blubber.
7. A shadow fell across Ishmael as he was
about to ___ the deck.
8. As ___ sailors, most of the crew had many
years of experience.

1

Q

2

4

3

6

P

L

T

5

7

S

8

S

T

R

O
Y

D
C

DOWN

1.
4.
6.
7.

B.

Captain Ahab first appeared on the ___.
From high above the deck, the ___ watched for whales.
To get to the top of the ___, the lookout had to climb the rigging.

The wind ___ the rigging when Ishmael was only halfway up.

Use answers from the crossword puzzle to complete the sentences.
1. You might ________________ a greasy frying pan with soap and a stiff brush.
2. The tall building __________________ during the powerful earthquake.
3. A ship’s ___________________ is usually reserved for officers.
4. If your car won’t move, you may have to call a _________________ truck.
5. A ____________________ pro football player has played many seasons.
6. A ship’s ____________________ is the tall pole that supports the sails.
7. A jet of water ____________________ from a crack in the hose.
8. Ranger Jones works as a ____________________ for forest fires.
9. The chef uses olive _________________ in her famous salad dressing.

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com

21


MOBY DICK •

Chapter

9

4

COMPREHENSION CHECK
NAME

DATE

Circle a letter to correctly complete each sentence.
1. The first thing Ishmael noticed about Captain Ahab was that
a. he was nodding and smiling.

c. he was scouring the deck.

b. he was dressed all in black.

d. he was angry at everyone.

2. The long white scar on Ahab’s face
a. looked like a lightning bolt.

c. had not yet begun to heal.

b. resulted from a sword fight.

d. was from years of harsh weather.

3. The dark fire in Ahab’s eyes
a. showed that he had a fever.

c. made him look tired and sad.

b. made him look fierce and evil.

d. was natural for a ship’s captain.

4. Starbuck thought something was wrong when

a. someone shouted, “There
she blows!”

c. Ahab asked him to climb
the rigging.

b. Elijah shouted his grim warning.

d. Ahab told him to gather the crew.

5. After a dead whale was towed back to the ship,
a. its blubber was stripped.

c. Ahab would congratulate the crew.

b. the lookout called the signal.

d. the whaleboats were lowered.

6. Ahab offered a valuable gold coin to
a. the man who killed the
white whale.

c. every member of the Pequod’s
crew.

b. the first man to sight a whale.

d. the first man to sight the
white whale.

7. Starbuck said that the white whale

22

a. could only be hunted by men
of true courage.

c. had struck Ahab out of fear,
not hatred.

b. was far too dangerous to chase.

d. was thousands of miles away.

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com


MOBY DICK •

Chapter

10

5

WORDS AND MEANINGS
NAME

A.

B.

DATE

Circle the hidden words. They may go up,
down, across, backward, or diagonally.
Check off each word as you find it.
___ STARBOARD

___ PREY

___ CARCASS

___ PIERCE

___ SQUID

___ FOAM

___ HUMP

___ SCALES

___ SUCKERS

___ GILLS

___ SPLENDID

___ PROW

R
Y
O
U
B
O
S
F
R
S
H
L

P
I
E
R
C
E
I
O
T
T
U
D

I
P

N
L
E
A
N
A
U
D
M
I

S
R
G
D
S
N
R
M
L
I
P
D

N
E
W
B
W
B

G
C
S
U
W
N

G
Y
L
O
O
E
Y
L
A
Q
O
E

E
S
R
A
T
O
L
S
E
S

R
L

V
P
R
E
C
I
E
I
D
H
S
P

E
D
O
T
G
S
U
C
K
E
R
S

Circle the word or words that correctly complete each sentence.

1. Starbuck stood in the ( starboard / prow ), urging us to row harder.
2. A whale’s great black ( hump / squid ) rose out of the water.
3. The arms of the ( whale / squid ) were lined with ( suckers / gills ).
4. To ( prow / pierce ) a whale’s tough hide, a harpoon tip must be sharp.
5. A whale’s body looks like a fish without ( humps / scales ) or ( gills / foam ).
6. The whale’s strong tail beats the water into ( foam / prey ).
7. The whale’s huge ( carcass / hump ) was towed back to the Pequod.
8. It seemed a sorry end for such ( starboard / splendid ) animals!
9. To see the whale, Ishmael ran to the ( prow / starboard ) side of the ship.
10. The squid uses its arms to capture its ( suckers / prey ).

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com

23


MOBY DICK •

Chapter

11

5

DESCRIPTIVE WORDS
NAME

A.

DATE

First unscramble the adjectives. Then use the correctly spelled adjective
to complete the phrase.
1. LICHL _______________________

6. NIFEGZER __________________

a ______________________ wind
2. KLICS _______________________

______________________ rain
7. GRONTS ____________________

__________________ green waves
3. NIKY ________________________

a ______________________ tail
8. RIVOY ______________________

______________________ clouds
4. CLAKB _____________________

______________________ handles
9. CHIKT _______________________

a ______________________ hump
5. TANIG ______________________

a ______________________ hide
10. CHEERDTUB ________________

a ______________________ squid

B.

Underline the adjective in each phrase. Then study the words in the box,
and choose a synonym (word that means the same) for that adjective.
Write it on the line. Hint: You will not use all the words in the box.
tossing

24

____________________ carcasses

arid

soaked

inexpensive

marvelous

precious

hazardous

1. a valuable kind of oil

SYNONYM:

_____________________________

2. the pitching boat

SYNONYM:

_____________________________

3. our waterlogged boat

SYNONYM:

_____________________________

4. a dangerous business

SYNONYM:

_____________________________

5. such splendid animals

SYNONYM:

_____________________________

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com