Chapter 20 - All Astir Practice Quiz — Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
by Herman Melville — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 20 - All Astir
What is happening aboard the Pequod at the start of Chapter 20?
The ship is in a state of great activity as old sails are mended, new sails arrive, bolts of canvas and coils of rigging are loaded, and preparations are hurrying to a close.
What role does Captain Peleg play during the preparations?
He stays aboard the ship in his wigwam, keeping a sharp lookout on the crew and roaring orders at the men in the hatchways and the riggers at the masthead.
What is Captain Bildad responsible for during the outfitting?
Bildad handles all the purchasing and provisioning at the stores, carrying a long list and checking off each item as it arrives.
What warning do Ishmael and Queequeg receive after Queequeg signs the articles?
They are told that their chests must be on board before night, as there is no telling how soon the vessel might sail.
Does the Pequod actually sail immediately after the warning?
No. The ship does not sail for several more days despite the urgency of the notice.
To what does Ishmael compare outfitting a whaling ship?
He compares it to housekeeping, noting the multitude of supplies needed for a three-year voyage far from grocers, doctors, bakers, and bankers.
Why do whaling vessels need more supplies than ordinary merchant ships?
Because of the great length of the voyage, the specialized articles needed for whaling, the impossibility of replacing them at remote harbors, and the higher exposure to accidents.
What are the only two things the Pequod does NOT carry in duplicate?
A spare captain and a duplicate ship.
Who is Aunt Charity?
She is Captain Bildad's sister, a lean, determined, kindhearted Quaker woman whose real name is Charity. She busily provisions the ship with comforts and necessities.
Name three items Aunt Charity brings aboard the Pequod.
A jar of pickles for the steward's pantry, a bunch of quills for the chief mate's desk, and a roll of flannel for someone's rheumatic back.
What startling sight does Aunt Charity present on the last day before sailing?
She comes aboard carrying a long oil-ladle in one hand and a whaling lance in the other, creating a comic contrast with her gentle Quaker nature.
What do Ishmael and Queequeg repeatedly ask about during the preparations?
They keep asking about Captain Ahab—how he is, and when he will come aboard the ship.
What answer do they receive about Captain Ahab?
They are told that Ahab is getting better and better and is expected aboard every day, while Peleg and Bildad can handle everything necessary.
How does Ishmael describe his own reaction to never having seen Captain Ahab?
He admits that if he had been honest with himself, he would have plainly seen that he only half fancied committing to the voyage without laying eyes on the absolute dictator of the ship.
What does Ishmael say about a man who suspects something is wrong?
He says that when a man suspects any wrong and is already involved, he insensibly strives to cover up his suspicions even from himself.
What decision do Ishmael and Queequeg make about sleeping arrangements?
They resolve to sleep ashore at the inn until the very last day before the ship sails.
What literary device does Melville use in Ishmael's housekeeping comparison?
Extended analogy—he compares the provisioning of a whaling ship to domestic housekeeping to make the maritime details accessible and humorous.
How does Aunt Charity's image with the whaling lance function thematically?
It creates a comic juxtaposition between Quaker pacifism and the violent whaling trade, compressing a central tension of the novel into a single vivid image.
What type of foreshadowing does Ahab's absence create in Chapter 20?
It builds suspense and foreboding about the unseen captain who will hold absolute power over the crew, hinting that something is deeply wrong.
What word does Ishmael use to describe Ahab's future role aboard the ship?
He calls Ahab the "absolute dictator" of the ship once it sails upon the open sea.
What does Ishmael resolve at the end of the chapter?
He says nothing and tries to think nothing about his doubts, suppressing his suspicions about the voyage and Captain Ahab.