Chapter 80 - The Nut Quiz — Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

by Herman Melville

Comprehension Quiz: Chapter 80 - The Nut

What does Ishmael compare the sperm whale to physiognomically at the start of Chapter 80?

A Greek god whose beauty conceals a ruthless inner nature beneath its sculpted exterior
A Sphinx whose inscrutable face defies all attempts at interpretation or understanding
A Roman emperor whose stern visage commands obedience from all who dare approach
A medieval gargoyle whose grotesque features are designed to frighten away evil spirits

How large is the sperm whale's actual brain cavity according to Ishmael?

Roughly three feet in length and two feet in depth, filling the front portion of the skull
Seldom exceeding ten inches in length and as many in depth, a tiny fraction of the skull
Approximately five feet long and three feet deep, occupying the center of the massive skull
Nearly as large as the skull itself, with the brain stretching from front to back throughout

To what military structure does Ishmael compare the whale's hidden brain?

The Tower of London, surrounded by moats and guarded by centuries of royal authority
The innermost citadel within the amplified fortifications of Quebec, deeply concealed
The walls of Constantinople, layered with defense upon defense against all invaders
The underground bunkers beneath the fortress of Gibraltar, carved into solid mountain rock

What do some whalemen believe is the true seat of the sperm whale's intelligence?

The massive jaw muscles that allow the whale to crush boats with tremendous biting force
The cubic yards of spermaceti in the whale's magazine, rather than the small actual brain
The whale's eyes, which are positioned far apart to give an extraordinarily wide field of vision
The blowhole and nasal passages, which contain dense networks of highly sensitive nerve endings

What does Ishmael mean when he says "the whale, like all things that are mighty, wears a false brow to the common world"?

The whale's skin changes color depending on water temperature, making it appear different from day to day
The whale's exterior skull shape is misleading, and true power always conceals itself behind deceptive appearances
The whale intentionally hides from whalers by diving deep and swimming away from approaching ships
The whale's forehead is covered in scars that disguise its true age and make it look more formidable

What happens when the whale's skull, stripped of spermaceti, is viewed from the rear?

It reveals a complex system of air chambers that allow the whale to regulate its buoyancy underwater
It bears a striking resemblance to a human skull and could be confused with one if scaled down
It shows the enormous optic nerves that give the whale its legendary ability to see in deep darkness
It displays a network of blood vessels that help cool the whale's brain during deep ocean dives

What phrenological traits does a phrenologist find lacking in the whale's skull?

Intellect and creativity, suggesting the whale operates purely on primal hunting instincts
Self-esteem and veneration, which Ishmael interprets as revealing the nature of exalted potency
Caution and benevolence, indicating the whale is both reckless and devoid of compassion
Memory and reasoning, implying the whale cannot learn from past encounters with whalers

What is the "German conceit" that Ishmael references about vertebrae?

That the spinal column stores memories separate from the brain, creating a second consciousness
That vertebrae are absolutely undeveloped skulls, each bearing rudimental resemblance to the skull proper
That the number of vertebrae in an animal determines its lifespan and overall physical vitality
That the curve of the spine reflects the moral character of a nation and its cultural development

What does Ishmael say about the relationship between a person's spine and their soul?

That the spine is merely a structural support with no connection to a person's inner qualities
That a thin joist of a spine never yet upheld a full and noble soul, making the backbone essential
That the spine deteriorates as a person ages, mirroring the gradual decline of spiritual strength
That only doctors and surgeons can properly interpret what the spine reveals about human character

What are the dimensions of the sperm whale's spinal canal at the first neck-vertebra?

Six inches across and four inches in height, forming a narrow cylindrical passage
Ten inches across and eight inches in height, triangular with the base downwards
Fourteen inches across and twelve inches in height, forming a wide oval opening
Two inches across and three inches in height, barely large enough for the spinal cord

How does the sperm whale's spinal cord compare to its brain in size?

The spinal cord is far thinner than the brain and tapers rapidly to almost nothing
For many feet after the brain cavity, the cord remains of undecreasing girth, almost equal to the brain
The spinal cord is exactly twice the diameter of the brain throughout its entire length
The spinal cord varies wildly in thickness, expanding and contracting at unpredictable intervals

What character trait does Ishmael assign to the sperm whale's hump using his spinal theory?

Cunning and deception, since the hump conceals the whale's true strength from onlooking sailors
Firmness or indomitableness, since the hump rises over one of the whale's larger vertebrae
Patience and endurance, since the hump stores energy reserves for the whale's long ocean migrations
Aggression and fury, since the hump tenses visibly whenever the whale prepares to attack a ship

What is the story Ishmael tells about vertebrae being used decoratively?

European museums displaying whale vertebrae as artistic curiosities alongside Greek and Roman sculptures
A foreign friend who inlaid the vertebrae of a slain foe into the beaked prow of his canoe
New England whalemen carving scrimshaw designs into whale vertebrae to sell as souvenirs at port
Native islanders stringing whale vertebrae into necklaces worn as symbols of hunting prowess

What ominous promise does Ishmael make at the very end of Chapter 80?

That the Pequod will soon encounter a storm more powerful than any the crew has ever witnessed
That the great monster is indomitable, and the crew will yet have reason to know this firsthand
That Captain Ahab will reveal the full extent of his obsession at the next crew gathering
That the ocean itself will turn against the whalers when they venture into the Pacific whaling grounds

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