Moby Dick Quizzes

Moby Dick Quiz 1

By Jeremy Ross · Last reviewed June 18, 2001

1 In which inn does Ishmael stay while in New Bedford?

The Trap

The Swordfish

The Spouter

The Crossed Harpoons
2 Which character does Ishmael describe as "neither caterpillar nor butterfly"?

Queequeg

Ahab

Starbuck

Moby Dick
3 What is Ishmael's reason for signing up for a whaling voyage?

He has lost his wife and has no reason to stay on land.

He has debts that he must quickly repay.

He wishes to study cetology.

He thinks that going to sea provides fresh exercise.
4 To which historical person does Ishmael compare Queequeg?

George Washington

Thomas Jefferson

Oliver Cromwell

Julius Caesar
5 What happens after Ahab kicks Stubb in the leg?

Stubb has a strange dream about the incident.

Ahab demotes Stubb from second mate to third.

Ahab pulls a gun on Stubb.

Stubb breaks Ahabs' ivory leg.
6 Why is the hawk considered an ill omen?

The hawk replicates the story of Tarquin.

The hawk foreshadows a mutiny on the Pequod.

The hawk falls from the sky after stealing the hat.

The hawk does not return Ahab's hat.
7 Which character is not properly matched with his ethnicity?

Daggoo: African

Fedallah: Persian

Tashtego: American Indian

Queequeg: Australian Aboriginal
8 Which character chooses to rob the Rosebud of their whales for their ambergris?

Stubb

Fedallah

Starbuck

Flask
9 When Ahab receives his harpoon, which of the following does he not do?

Claims that he wants it tempered with the blood of Daggoo, Tashtego and Queequeg

Speaks in Latin

Howls

Baptizes it "in the name of the father"
10 Which of the following ships is a British whaling ship?

The Samuel Enderby

The Virgin

The Rachel

The Rosebud
11 Which character is the only survivor from the Pequod?

Ahab

Queequeg

Starbuck

Ishmael
12 What is the importance of the color of the whale?

It perfectly mirrors the color of Ahab's skin.

It is not a color, in fact, but is in fact the absence of color.

It means that Moby Dick represents purity and innocence.

It changes depending on one's perspective of the whale.
13 Which of the following terms does Ishmael not use to describe Queequeg?

Agent

Executor

Lawyer

Bosom Friend
14 Why does the Pequod pursue and kill a Right Whale?

It is good luck to have the head of a Right Whale and a Sperm Whale on the sides of a ship.

The Right Whale is among a group of Sperm Whales.

Stubb mistakes the Right Whale for Moby Dick.

They believe that it has ambergris.
15 Which of the following characters leads a mutiny on his ship?

Starbuck

Radney

Gabriel

Dr. Bunger
16 Which character nearly dies when he falls into the whale's tun?

Pippin

Daggoo

Tashtego

Queequeg
17 Who does Ishmael consider to be the first whaleman?

Ahab

Jonah

Mercutio

Perseus
18 Which character is described as having "drowned the infinite of his soul"?

Stubb

Pippin

Ishmael

Ahab
19 What does Ahab promise to whoever first spots Moby Dick?

A share of the Pequod's profits

A gold doubloon

Use of his cabin

An antique harpoon
20 What reason does Queequeg give for his newfound good health?

He converted to Christianity.

He makes up his mind to cure himself.

He did not struggle against his disease.

He prayed to his pagan god Yojo.
21 What is the significance of the epilogue?

It gives the final meaning behind the whale's actions.

It places the events of the novel in historical perspective.

It fully explains the religious symbolism of the novel.

It explains a seeming inconsistency in the narration.
22 Which of the following is not used for prophetic purposes in the novel?

Seals

Birds

Dreams

Wind
23 What is the significance of the picture in the Spouter Inn?

It foreshadows the fearsome nature of Moby Dick.

It illustrates a theme of the novel by blurring the line between the whale and the whaling boat.

It is ironic, for it portrays the captain as an unmitigated hero vanquishing a whale.

It foreshadows the demise of the Pequod.
24 From where does the Pequod first set sail?

Nantucket

New Bedford

Mystic

Boston
25 What is Ishmael's opinion of Queequeg's Ramadan?

He feels that it is nonsense and bad for health.

He is curious about this religious practice.

He eagerly participates along with Queequeg.

He is suspicious yet respectfully participates with Queequeg.

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