Chapter 25 - Postscript Quiz — Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

What is the main argument Ishmael makes in this chapter about whaling and royalty?

• Kings and queens depend on whale products for their coronation ceremonies
• Whaling is more dangerous than ruling a kingdom
• Royal families historically owned whaling fleets
• Coronation ceremonies were originally performed on whaling ships

What ceremony does Ishmael describe as involving the anointing of a monarch's head?

• A royal wedding ceremony
• A coronation of kings and queens
• A naval commissioning ritual
• A state funeral procession

What comparison does Ishmael draw when describing how a king's head is oiled?

• It is oiled like the hull of a ship
• It is oiled like a head of salad
• It is oiled like a leather boot
• It is oiled like a wooden barrel

What does Ishmael say about a mature man who uses hair oil in everyday life?

• He is likely a man of great refinement and taste
• He probably has a quoggy spot in him somewhere
• He must be preparing for a ceremonial occasion
• He is imitating the practices of foreign royalty

Which oils does Ishmael explicitly rule out as the coronation oil?

• Olive oil, macassar oil, castor oil, bear's oil, train oil, and cod-liver oil
• Whale oil, sesame oil, and palm oil
• Linseed oil, turpentine oil, and kerosene
• Coconut oil, sunflower oil, and peanut oil

How does Ishmael describe sperm oil at the end of the chapter?

• The rarest and most expensive of all oils
• The most ancient and traditional of all oils
• The sweetest of all oils in its unmanufactured state
• The purest and most sacred of all oils

What role does Ishmael assume in the opening of this chapter?

• A historian documenting whaling practices
• An advocate defending the dignity of whaling
• A scientist analyzing the properties of whale oil
• A merchant promoting the whale oil trade

Which of the following events or claims actually appear in this chapter?

What does 'fain' mean as used in: 'I would fain advance naught but substantiated facts'?

• Reluctantly or with hesitation
• Gladly or willingly
• Secretly or covertly
• Forcefully or aggressively

What does 'quoggy' mean as used in: 'that man has probably got a quoggy spot in him somewhere'?

• Soft, marshy, or unsound
• Dark, hidden, or mysterious
• Rough, calloused, or hardened
• Bright, noticeable, or prominent