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The following is the Lesson Plan for Moby Dick. Feel free to print this page to open discussion with your students. |
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Film Summary M>oby Dick - ferocious, wild and mysterious - is a white whale that has fascinated story lovers for over a hundred years. It is the story of Captain Ahab's obsessed pursuit of the beast who cost him his leg and his peace of mind. It is the story of the men aboard the whaling vessel, the Pequod, driven by the force of Ahab's maniacal mission of vengeance. It is the story of prophecies and omens, adventure and madness played out on the vast seas of the world, as men struggle with the great forces nature: life and death. The Author's Life And Times Herman Melville (1819-1891) is one of America's great novelists. Although born the son of a wealthy, New York merchant, the death of his father forced him to leave school to help support his family when he was only thirteen. At the age of nineteen, Melville signed on a British ship and began the life of a sailor. He sailed the world enduring the harsh and often brutal life at sea, befriending cannibals in the South Pacific and enjoying a pleasant stay among the natives of Tahiti. By 1844, he ended his days as a sailor and began his writings based on his colorful and exotic experiences at sea. Melville was strongly influenced by his love of the sea, but like other authors of his time he was also influenced by a period of romanticism, material progress and the development of democracy. His novel, Moby Dick, is a combination of his life, his times, his genius and his struggle to understand the nature of man's very existence. Symbolism A symbol is a person, place or thing that represents something larger that itself. Many of the images seen in Moby Dick mean more than what they are. Moby Dick is not just a great whale; he is a symbol. The sea and the Pequod are symbolic. The members of the crew each represent a different view of life. Every image represents something larger than itself. Discussion: What are some common symbols that people generally agree upon? For instance, what does the flag of our country symbolize? What is the meaning people attach to freshly fallen snow? What other people, animals or things represent emotions, ideas or qualities? Activity: Find a picture of some person, animal or object that can symbolize something other than what it is and bring it to class. As a class, decide on a few that are most thought provoking. After contemplating each picture that was selected, write a few sentences about what is symbolized by the image. Share your sentences, then compare and contrast your thoughts about the picture. Did the image mean the same thing to everyone? Discuss the similarities and differences of the responses. Journal: Imagine that you are gazing out over the ocean. Visualize as clearly as possible what is before your eyes. Describe what you see. Explain what emotions or ideas are symbolized in the scene that you described. Symbolism In Moby Dick The crew of the Pequod is made up of representatives of various races, cultures and beliefs. Captain Ahab, Starbuck, Stubb, Queequeg and Ishmael each see Moby Dick from a unique perspective. The whale is important to every man for a different reason. Melville created this variety of characters to symbolize the many ways that people view life. Discussion: Each of the men mentioned above is aboard the Pequod and in pursuit of Moby Dick for a different reason. What does this powerful and gigantic creature symbolize for each of the men? How is the motivation for the hunt different in each man? What do their feelings reveal about the way they view life? Activity: Complete the chart with your own conclusions about the characters. Under symbol write a few words telling what Moby Dick symbolizes to that character. Under support, indicate an action or words spoken by the character that support what you wrote in the previous box. Under perspective, write a few words to explain the character's point of view. Discuss what you have written in the boxes. Contrast the characters. What is the relationship that exists between Ahab and Starbuck? Queequeg and Ishmael? What is the significance of their relationships?
Journal: Think of a goal that is important to you. What is the significance of your goal? How strong is your motivation to achieve it? How will your ability to reach the goal be effected by your feelings? Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is a technique used by an author to hint at events that will occur later on in the story. Through the use of clues, Melville creates an eerie mood of impending doom for the whalers. Discussion: What two characters bring about a feeling of foreboding at the beginning of the story? What is the significance of their words? What is the effect of their words on the other characters? What other events in the story create a mood of danger and disaster? Activity: Brainstorm a list of as many examples of foreshadowing as you can recall from the action of Moby Dick. Put them in sequential order. What is the significance of each of these events? How do they reflect the progression of events that follow? What is their effect on the men of the Pequod? How do the reactions of each man mirror his personal outlook? Journal: Imagine that you were a member of the crew of the Pequod. Select three of the events mentioned above and write them as journal entries. Explain the effect that the event had on you. Include a description of your feelings about Captain Ahab and his obsession with Moby Dick. Historical Context Discussion: The movie depicts many interesting details about whales and how they were hunted in the 19th century. What did you learn about whaling as you watched the movie? What elements do you think were actually factual? Discuss several reasons why Melville might have chosen to present his story in the context of the whaling industry. Activity: Research the history of whaling. Compare the facts that you have gathered to what was presented in the film. Why were whales considered such a valuable resource in Melville's time? How were they hunted? What were the major whaling ports of the world? What were the conditions aboard the whaling vessels? Was the setting of Moby Dick realistic? Where did fact leave off and fiction begin? Journal: Suppose that you wanted to write a story about the serious issues people face in their lives. What specific issues would you examine? What type of surroundings would you choose for the setting? Would it be modern or historical? Would it be realistic or fantastical? Introduce the specific issues that you would examine. Describe the setting you chose and explain why it is an appropriate backdrop for the message of your story. Lesson Plan written by Pamela Hance |
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