Sample Essay Outlines

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Topic #1
Discuss the significance of at least six of the nine gams the Pequod has with other ships. Provide a brief description of the gam and then explain its significance.

Outline
I. Thesis Statement: The gams provide contrast, show varying attitudes to Moby Dick, and contribute to major themes.

II. The Albatross
A. Appearance and name
B. Theme of alienation

III. The Town-Ho
A. Congenial atmosphere
B. Attitude toward Moby Dick

IV. The Jeroboam
A. Significance of name
B. Attitude toward Moby Dick
C. Theme of alienation

V. The Samuel Enderby
A. Captain Boomer
B. Attitude toward Moby Dick
C. Theme of alienation
D. Theme of the unity of man

VI. The Rachel
A. Captain Gardiner
B. Theme of alienation
C. Theme of the unity of man

VII. The Delight
A. Appearance and name
B. Attitude toward Moby Dick
C. Theme of alienation

Topic #2
Discuss the multiple symbolic meanings of the sea, the coffin, the doubloon, and Moby Dick. Explain the thematic implications of this multiplicity of meaning.

Outline
I. Thesis Statement: By investing the major symbols of the novel with multiple meanings, Melville suggests that the “phantom of life” is truly “ungraspable.”

II. The sea
A. Self-knowledge
B. A benevolent universe
C. A hostile universe
D. Isolation
E. Life

III. The coffin
A. Death
B. Life
C. Unity of man

IV. The doubloon
A. Engravings on the coin
B. Ahab’s interpretation
C. Starbuck’s interpretation
D. Stubb’s interpretation
E. Flask’s interpretation
F. The Manxman’s interpretation
G. Queequeg’s interpretation
H. Fedallah’s interpretation
I. Pip’s interpretation

V. Moby Dick
A. Interpretations of his whiteness
B. Gabriel’s interpretation
C. Ahab’s interpretation
D. Starbuck’s interpretation
E. Ishmael’s descriptions

Topic #3
Prove that Ahab has many of the characteristics of the classical tragic hero. Explain how Melville imparts heroic qualities to a Nantucket whaling captain. How does Ahab’s story evoke both pity and fear? Analyze Ahab’s tragic flaw and subsequent downfall.

Outline
I. Thesis statement: Ahab achieves the stature of a tragic hero, evokes both pity and fear, and suffers a downfall because of his hubris.

II. Heroic stature
A. Biblical allusion to King Ahab
B. Effect of delayed introduction
C. Bildad and Peleg’s description
D. Ahab’s appearance
E. Elijah’s remarks
F. Ahab’s first encounter with Moby Dick
G. Ahab’s power over his men
H. Ahab during the lightning storm
I. Ahab’s mystic relation with Fedallah

III. Pity
A. Ahab’s loneliness
B. Ahab’s physical injury and suffering
C. Ahab’s intimate conversation with Starbuck

IV. Fear
A. Association with Fedallah
B. Tempering his harpoon
C. Threatening Starbuck
D. Ahab’s madness

V. Hubris
A. Interpretation of engravings on the doubloon
B. Smashing the quadrant
C. Making a compass
D. Ignoring warnings and predictions
E. Turning his back on the light

VI. Downfall
A. Ahab’s three-day struggle with the White Whale
B. Ahab’s death

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Critical Evaluation