REVISE – Captain Ahab’s chase #639547 - Prove ed esercizi Zanichelli

STEP 1 Ahab's obsession

Read the statements and select the ones that correctly describe Ahab's feelings and behaviour.

A:

Ahab's hatred is mostly directed at the animal itself.

B:

Ahab frames the hunt as a mission that challenges the universal order.

C:

The speech shows that Ahab relies on intimidation and authority to impose his agenda on the crew.

D:

Ahab presents the whale as a neutral force in the world, neither good nor bad.

E:

Ahab praises Starbuck purely to manipulate him into helping him hunt Moby Dick.

Revise

Scelta multipla

STEP 3 Recognise the key themes

Match each theme to the quote that best demonstrates it. Write the correct letters (A-C) in the gaps.

1 Cosmic authority      ________
2 Obsession and revenge      ________
3 Thirst for knowledge      ________

A How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall?
B I'd strike the sun if it insulted me.
C That inscrutable thing is chiefly what I hate; and be the white whale agent, or be the white whale principal, I will wreak that hate upon him.

Revise

Completamento aperto

STEP 5 Think further and prepare for your test: revenge against nature

Read the text and decide if the statements are true or false. Then look at the prompts in brackets and write some extra reflections in your exercise book. You can use the final text as revision material for your test.

Ahab's obsession begins after he loses his leg in an encounter with the white whale. However, this feeling soon becomes more than hatred towards the animal that injured him. Ahab starts to see the whale as a symbol of the mysterious, indifferent forces of nature that cause human suffering. (Refer to 'All about Herman Melville and Moby Dick' in your textbook and, in particular, the box 'Moby Dick', to further discuss Ahab's obsession and hatred for the whale.) For this reason, Ahab believes that by seeking revenge against the whale, he can challenge the entire order of the world. In this sense, then, his obsession is not entirely personal, as he wants to impose his sense of justice on an apparently unjust universe. For this reason, the crew does not perceive Ahab as a villain. (Refer to STEP 4 to discuss how Ahab is perceived by his crew.) His determination reflects a deeply human desire to understand suffering and resist limitations. This tension between courage and pride makes him one of the most complex characters in the novel. (Refer to 'All about Herman Melville and Moby Dick' in your textbook and, in particular, the box 'Captain Ahab'. Describe Ahab's morally ambiguous character.)

A:

Ahab's obsession begins after he loses his leg to Moby Dick.

B:

Ahab believes he fully understands the world he is challenging.

C:

The crew sees Ahab as a villain.

D:

Ahab is presented as a character that is incapable of admirable actions.

Revise

Vero o falso

STEP 2 Ahab's rhetoric

Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences that describe Ahab's speech.

1 When Ahab says that visible objects are 'pasteboard masks,' he means that ________.
2 Ahab describes the white whale as a 'wall' because ________.
3 When Ahab speaks about striking the sun, he means that ________.
4 Ahab points to the reactions of the crew to ________.

Revise

Completamento chiuso

STEP 4 In Starbuck's shoes

Imagine you are Starbuck, reacting to Ahab's speech. Complete the text with the words given.

I stand beside Captain Ahab, trying to ________ my impulses even as his words shock and anger me beyond measure. Part of me cannot help but feel ________ at the power of his will, which seems to ________ the world to his design. But the way he spoke such ________ remarks and ________ us all is unforgivable. His obsession should not lead other men to ________. Still, I try to stay rational as I ________ what may lie ahead of us.

Revise

Posizionamento