1. Professor Aronnax serves as the narrator of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. What thematic benefits arise from his role as the storyteller?

2. Captain Nemo is a mysterious figure. Provide a character analysis of him, detailing his motivations behind specific actions in the novel.

3. Edgar Allan Poe's works significantly influenced Verne's literary career. Read Poe's "Descent into the Maelstrom" (1841). What parallels can you draw to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? How do the authors' writing styles and techniques compare?

4. How do modern submarines compare to Captain Nemo's Nautilus in terms of superiority or inferiority? Investigate the development of the earliest submarines and contrast these initial designs with Verne's concept of the Nautilus.

5. Much of science fiction explores journeys into the unknown and encounters with strange or alien creatures. Why are such adventures so captivating? What is so intriguing about encountering unfamiliar life forms?