Chapter 124 - The Needle Practice Quiz — Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
by Herman Melville — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 124 - The Needle
What has happened to the Pequod's compasses at the start of Chapter 124?
The lightning from the Typhoon has reversed the magnetic polarity of the compass needles, causing them to point in the opposite direction.
How does Ahab first realize the compasses are wrong?
He notices the sun is astern (behind the ship) even though the steersman reports they are heading East-south-east. The sun should be ahead if sailing east in the morning.
What does the steersman report as the ship's heading?
East-sou-east (East-south-east).
How does Ahab react when the steersman gives the heading?
He smites the steersman with his clenched fist and calls him a liar, because heading East with the sun astern is impossible.
What does Ahab compare the Pequod to in his opening reverie?
The sea-chariot of the sun, imagining himself driving the sun across the sea.
In which direction are the compasses pointing, and which way is the ship actually sailing?
The compasses point East, but the ship is actually sailing West.
What scientific explanation does Melville give for the reversed compasses?
The magnetic energy in compass needles is essentially the same as electrical energy in lightning. Violent storms can reverse or destroy a needle's magnetism.
How does Starbuck react to the discovery of the reversed compasses?
He responds gloomily, saying that while he has heard of such accidents, it has never happened to him personally.
What crushed object does Ahab see on the deck?
The crushed copper sight-tubes of the quadrant he had destroyed the previous day (Chapter 118).
What three items does Ahab request to make a new compass needle?
A lance without the pole, a top-maul (hammer), and the smallest of the sail-maker's needles.
How does Ahab magnetize the needle?
He knocks the steel head off the lance, has Starbuck hold the iron rod upright, hammers it repeatedly to magnetize it, then places the small needle on top and hammers it more gently to transfer the magnetism.
How does Ahab suspend the magnetized needle to test it?
He threads it with linen thread and suspends it horizontally by its middle over a compass card.
What does the new needle do when first suspended?
It goes round and round, quivering and vibrating at either end, before finally settling to its place pointing true.
What does Ahab exclaim after the needle settles?
"Look ye, for yourselves, if Ahab be not lord of the level loadstone! The sun is East, and that compass swears it!"
What does "loadstone" mean?
A naturally magnetized mineral (lodestone) historically used to magnetize compass needles. Ahab uses the term to claim mastery over the force of magnetism itself.
How does the crew react to Ahab's compass-making demonstration?
They watch with fascinated eyes and abashed glances of servile wonder, then peer into the binnacle one by one and slink away, convinced by what they see.
How does Starbuck behave during Ahab's demonstration?
He looks away, refusing to watch and refusing to be awed like the rest of the crew.
What is Melville's description of the sea at the chapter's opening?
"The sea was as a crucible of molten gold, that bubblingly leaps with light and heat."
Why doesn't anyone notice the compass error before Ahab does?
Melville says "its very blinding palpableness must have been the cause" - the reversal was so obvious (the sun was clearly in the wrong position) that no one thought to question it.
What is the final image of Ahab in Chapter 124?
"In his fiery eyes of scorn and triumph, you then saw Ahab in all his fatal pride." This underscores that his triumph over the compass is shadowed by the doom his pride will bring.