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Moby Dick Study Guide

by Herman Melville

Moby Dick study guide contains a biography of Herman Melville, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

The novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville is an epic tale of the voyage of the whaling ship the Pequod and its captain, Ahab, who relentlessly pursues the great Sperm Whale (the title character) during a journey around the world. The narrator of the novel is Ishmael, a sailor on the Pequod who undertakes the journey out of his affection for the sea.

Moby Dick begins with Ishmael's arrival in New Bedford as he travels toward Nantucket. He rests at the Spouter Inn in New Bedford, where he meets Queequeg, a harpooner from New Zealand who will also sail on the Pequod. Although Queequeg appears dangerous, he and Ishmael must share a bed together and the narrator quickly grows fond of the somewhat uncivilized harpooner. Queequeg is actually the son…

Read the full Moby Dick Summary

• Moby Dick Summary
• About Moby Dick
• Character List
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 1-20
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 21-40
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 41-60
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 61-80
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 81-100
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 101-120
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 121-Epilogue
• Related Links on Moby Dick
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• Moby Dick: Major Themes
• Moby Dick: Essays
• Moby Dick: Questions
• Moby Dick: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Herman Melville: Biography