Study Questions
1. What does Ahab nail to the mast?

2. Who will win the Spanish coin?

3. What distinguishing characteristics does Moby Dick have?

4. Who objects to Ahab’s purpose?

5. What is Ahab’s emotional state as he talks of the whale’s taking off his leg?

6. What sound comes from the hold?

7. On what does Ahab place his hand as the crew swears an oath?

8. What is the oath the crew swears?

9. What is Stubb’s reaction to all that has happened?

10. What are some of the nationalities represented by the
sailors?

Answers
1. Ahab nails a Spanish doubloon to the mast.

2. The man who first sights Moby Dick will win the coin.

3. Moby Dick has a white head, a wrinkled brow, a crooked jaw, and a spout like a shock of wheat.

4. Starbuck objects to Ahab’s purpose.

5. He becomes intensely emotional and angry, making a sound like an animal sob.

6. A low laugh comes from the hold.

7. Ahab places his hand on the three crossed harpoons.

8. The crew’s oath is “Death to Moby Dick!”

9. Stubb chooses to laugh at whatever may come.

10. The nationalities include Chinese, French, Spanish, African, Portuguese, and Danish.