Chapter 50 - Ahab's Boat and Crew. Fedallah Quiz — Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

by Herman Melville

Comprehension Quiz: Chapter 50 - Ahab's Boat and Crew. Fedallah

What amazes Stubb about Ahab at the start of Chapter 50?

That Ahab speaks kindly to the crew
That Ahab takes to a whaleboat despite having only one leg
That Ahab refuses to join the whale hunt
That Ahab has befriended the cook

How does Flask respond to concerns about Ahab's disability?

He says Ahab should stay on deck for safety
He argues that since Ahab still has one knee and part of the other, he can manage
He volunteers to take Ahab's place in the boat
He suggests Ahab use a wheeled chair in the boat

What joke does Stubb make about Ahab's leg?

He says Ahab's ivory leg makes a better oar than a real one
He says he never saw Ahab kneel, implying uncertainty about his remaining knee
He says Ahab should use his leg to plug the boat's drain hole
He says the whales are afraid of the ivory leg

What historical figure does Melville compare to Ahab in terms of leaders risking their lives in battle?

Alexander the Great, who led cavalry charges
Tamerlane, whose soldiers begged him to stay out of the thickest fighting
Napoleon, who commanded from the rear
Julius Caesar, who crossed the Rubicon alone

Did the Pequod's owners know about Ahab's plan to serve as a headsman?

Yes, they approved it before the voyage began
No, Ahab took private measures without their knowledge or consent
Yes, but they reluctantly agreed under protest
No, but Starbuck authorized it on their behalf

What did Ahab do to customize his whaleboat for his ivory leg?

He replaced the keel with whalebone for stability
He added extra sheathing to the bottom and carefully shaped the thigh board for his knee
He widened the boat to accommodate a wheelchair
He installed metal reinforcement around the mast step

What did the crew assume Ahab's boat preparations were for?

They thought he was building a private escape vessel
They assumed the preparations were only for the ultimate chase of Moby Dick
They believed he was repairing damage from a storm
They thought he was outfitting a boat for Starbuck

Why does Melville say even Beelzebub could board a whaler without causing alarm?

Because whalers are too busy to notice visitors
Because whalers routinely encounter strange people and castaways from all over the world
Because the crew are all superstitious and worship the devil
Because Beelzebub disguises himself as a common sailor

How do Ahab's subordinate phantom crew members integrate with the Pequod's sailors?

They never interact with the regular crew at all
They soon find their place among the crew, though remaining somehow distinct
They immediately become the most popular members of the ship
They cause a mutiny among the original sailors

How does Melville describe Fedallah's ongoing presence aboard the Pequod?

As a welcome addition who brightens the crew's spirits
As a "muffled mystery" who remained enigmatic to the last
As a capable sailor who quickly earned the crew's respect
As a troublemaker who constantly provoked fights

What kind of influence does Fedallah appear to have over Ahab?

A purely professional influence as his navigation advisor
A half-hinted influence that might even amount to authority over the captain
A comedic influence that lightens Ahab's dark moods
A financial influence as his business partner in the voyage

To what kind of lands does Melville compare Fedallah's origins?

The bustling ports of Europe and the Mediterranean
The unchanging Asiatic communities and Oriental isles that preserve earth's primal character
The frozen wastes of the Arctic where whalers hunt
The new settlements of the American frontier

What biblical allusion closes Chapter 50?

The story of Jonah and the whale from the Book of Jonah
The reference to angels consorting with the daughters of men from Genesis
The parting of the Red Sea from Exodus
The story of Noah's Ark and the great flood

What is a "thigh board" or "clumsy cleat" as described in this chapter?

A board used to measure whale blubber thickness
A horizontal piece in the boat's bow for bracing the knee when darting at the whale
A plank laid across the stern for the steersman to sit on
A wooden shield used to protect against whale spray

What is the primary theme of Chapter 50?

The economics of the whaling industry and ship ownership
Ahab's secret preparations, defiance of authority, and the mysterious supernatural force represented by Fedallah
The daily routines and chores of life aboard the Pequod
A detailed technical description of whaleboat construction

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