After reading the final three chapters of the book entitled "The Chase," blog about the novel's conclusion and your reaction to it. What did you learn about whaling? What did you learn about life?
Discuss your reading of the novel, one of the most complex works in American Literature. How did you do? What were some challenges? What were some successes?
Finally, imagine yourself 20 years from now, as a teacher or parent. Would you ask your students or children to read it? Why or why not?
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Teachings
Each student will find group's google doc under captain's name above, and add the following to the chapter assignment:
1. a one-sentence summary of the chapter
2. a memorable passage (quote and cite)
3. your opinion on what the chapter means (beyond literal)
4. one question for your captain
1. a one-sentence summary of the chapter
2. a memorable passage (quote and cite)
3. your opinion on what the chapter means (beyond literal)
4. one question for your captain
Friday, April 15, 2011
Captain Crowsnest's Blog
From the philosophy readings, we learned about sea poems, sea songs, and the power of the color of white. We read a sentence from Melville that is 471 words long!
Blog about a song or poem about the sea. Add a link to the song or poem, if you can, so we can share the experience as well.
Blog about a song or poem about the sea. Add a link to the song or poem, if you can, so we can share the experience as well.
Captain Fairfax's blog
From the history readings, we learned about the wreck of the whaleship Essex. We also learned more about Ahab, Moby-Dick, and the gam - that social gathering of ships at sea.
Blog about a time when you were in a social gathering with a lot of people you did not know. What happened? What did you talk about? Did you rush to leave, or did you linger? Did you wish you had never met them, or did you make new friends and stay in touch?
Blog about a time when you were in a social gathering with a lot of people you did not know. What happened? What did you talk about? Did you rush to leave, or did you linger? Did you wish you had never met them, or did you make new friends and stay in touch?
Monday, April 11, 2011
Captain Nemo's blog
From the science readings, we learned about cetology, or the study of the whale. Melville used types of books as an analogy to classify types of whales. We also learned what happens to the human body when it drowns, based on a chapter from the novel The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger.
Blog about the ocean and its inhabitants. Write about your first trip there - fishing or swimming in it, or maybe sailing on it. Tell us about a time when you were face to face with a sea creature. Make an analogy of your experience to something else, as Melville does with whales and books.
Blog about the ocean and its inhabitants. Write about your first trip there - fishing or swimming in it, or maybe sailing on it. Tell us about a time when you were face to face with a sea creature. Make an analogy of your experience to something else, as Melville does with whales and books.
Captain Hook's blog
From the adventure readings, we learned about mates, harpooners, and pirates. Each group has its own hierarchy, or "pecking order." Whalers even ate meals according to this order, with those in power getting better food and more time to enjoy it.
Blog about a group you are in that has a hierarchy. You could discuss your family, a sports team, a club, activity, or your job. Tell us where you fit in to the pecking order. Who is above you? Who is below you? Discuss how you act differently when dealing with different people.
Blog about a group you are in that has a hierarchy. You could discuss your family, a sports team, a club, activity, or your job. Tell us where you fit in to the pecking order. Who is above you? Who is below you? Discuss how you act differently when dealing with different people.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Pequod post
Follow the link above to read an essay on the Pequod Indians, the tribe after which Melville named his fated ship.
Then blog your opinion of the essay. What did you learn? Whose side are you on? Why do you think Melville named his ship after them?
Then blog your opinion of the essay. What did you learn? Whose side are you on? Why do you think Melville named his ship after them?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
parent post
Talk to a parent about Moby-Dick. Ask what s/he knows about the book, and then post a blog about it.
Consider such topics as Ishmael and Queequeg, Jonah and the Whale, Captain Ahab and the Pequod.
(also ask what books were being taught when they were in school - did they read them? did they like them? what's the last book they read?)
Consider such topics as Ishmael and Queequeg, Jonah and the Whale, Captain Ahab and the Pequod.
(also ask what books were being taught when they were in school - did they read them? did they like them? what's the last book they read?)
Friday, March 18, 2011
Queequeg
The beginning tells us all about Ishmael and why he went whaling. (Check out our rewrites below.)
Next we learn about Queequeg. Post a comment here about this character. Who is he? From where does he come? How does he get along with Ishmael? What do you think will happen next?
Next we learn about Queequeg. Post a comment here about this character. Who is he? From where does he come? How does he get along with Ishmael? What do you think will happen next?
Chapter 1 - Loomings
I’m a poor outcast, and have no interest in being on shore. My soul is damp and weak. My morals keep me from stepping into the street, where I want to knock off people’s hats. When I take to the sea, nothing seems surprising to me. I’m whaling because I dont care if i live or die.
Everywhere you go in the city of the Manhattoes there will always be a way to water. NY’ers lives run waterward. Business people are watergazers.
Walk and look around metro on a weekend afternoon, see a crew of men chilling, daydreaming, leaning - average people used to landlife. Mortal men thinking: Why are they here?
People come from the cities, stop what they are doing to meet up. People w/o experience will swim without knowing the true dangers of water.
You have to choose the path to take, and you’ll be carried to a magic stream. The most absent-minded men will infallibly lead you to water - amazing yet dangerous, and wedded forever to thought.
Life at sea is the most glorious thing a person can experience. An artist can paint a beautiful cottage and shepherd, but needs a stream to draw people to it.
I’m in the habit of going to sea when I grow hazy about the eye, but not a passenger, cook, or captain.
I went from being a schoolmaster to a sailor, knowing I will be ordered to do things against my will. It’s a hard and hurtpride life before the mast, takin’ orders all day but you tough it out.
I’m a slave for life, but we are all cogs in the machine, not just me. We serve a purpose.
But you get paid as a sailor, you pay as passenger. This is the one of the glorious attractions of the sea.
Behind every leader is a group of people who do the work, making the leader look good. I go to sea as a sailor, though, not a captain.
I’m not sure why the stage manager Fate gave me this “shabby part” of the whaling voyage, instead of a jolly cruise. The future comes to me in disguises.
Despite all this, the experience I wanted was the portentous, mysterious monster of the ocean. I love to sail to wild lands, have horror excite me, bring me fear, and then treat it as a friend.
Although the voyage was long and dangerous, the sea and Moby-Dick were calling my name, welcoming and motivating me. So it was decided: the hunt that sparks my wonder and lifts my self-esteem is a go; my taste for adventure drags me to this whale, even to my death.
-opening chapter of Moby-Dick, as re-written by
Westbrook High School American Literature juniors, March 2011
Everywhere you go in the city of the Manhattoes there will always be a way to water. NY’ers lives run waterward. Business people are watergazers.
Walk and look around metro on a weekend afternoon, see a crew of men chilling, daydreaming, leaning - average people used to landlife. Mortal men thinking: Why are they here?
People come from the cities, stop what they are doing to meet up. People w/o experience will swim without knowing the true dangers of water.
You have to choose the path to take, and you’ll be carried to a magic stream. The most absent-minded men will infallibly lead you to water - amazing yet dangerous, and wedded forever to thought.
Life at sea is the most glorious thing a person can experience. An artist can paint a beautiful cottage and shepherd, but needs a stream to draw people to it.
I’m in the habit of going to sea when I grow hazy about the eye, but not a passenger, cook, or captain.
I went from being a schoolmaster to a sailor, knowing I will be ordered to do things against my will. It’s a hard and hurtpride life before the mast, takin’ orders all day but you tough it out.
I’m a slave for life, but we are all cogs in the machine, not just me. We serve a purpose.
But you get paid as a sailor, you pay as passenger. This is the one of the glorious attractions of the sea.
Behind every leader is a group of people who do the work, making the leader look good. I go to sea as a sailor, though, not a captain.
I’m not sure why the stage manager Fate gave me this “shabby part” of the whaling voyage, instead of a jolly cruise. The future comes to me in disguises.
Despite all this, the experience I wanted was the portentous, mysterious monster of the ocean. I love to sail to wild lands, have horror excite me, bring me fear, and then treat it as a friend.
Although the voyage was long and dangerous, the sea and Moby-Dick were calling my name, welcoming and motivating me. So it was decided: the hunt that sparks my wonder and lifts my self-esteem is a go; my taste for adventure drags me to this whale, even to my death.
-opening chapter of Moby-Dick, as re-written by
Westbrook High School American Literature juniors, March 2011
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