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More Quals > Melville > Flashcards

Melville Flashcards

1
Q

Billy Budd: What is the name of the ship on which the story primarily takes place?

A

H.M.S. Bellipotent

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2
Q

Billy Budd: How does Billy come to serve on the RH.M.S. Bellipotent?

A

He is impressed by Lieutenant Ratcliffe

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3
Q

Billy Budd: What is the name of the Captain of the H.M.S. Bellipotent?

A

“Starry” Vere

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4
Q

Billy Budd: What is the name of the Master at arms?

A

Jimmy “Legs” Claggart

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5
Q

Billy Budd: What is the name of the wise veteran sailor who offers Billy advice?

A

The Dansker

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6
Q

Billy Budd: What is the name of the ship on which Billy originally serves?

A

The Rights-of-Man

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7
Q

Billy Budd: What are Billy’s final words?

A

“God bless Captain Vere!”

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8
Q

Billy Budd: Say a little about the publication history of “Billy Budd.”

A

“Billy Budd” was found in manuscript form after Melville’s death. He never completed it, though there is evidence that he revised it many times. It didn’t appear in print until 1924.

The part of the story that generally appears as a Preface is actually an excised part of Chapter 19.

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9
Q

Billy Budd: What happens to Captain Vere?

A

Shortly after Billy is hanged, the Bellipotent is engaged in war with the French ship Athée (atheist). Vere is wounded and dies shortly afterwards.

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10
Q

Billy Budd: What are Captain Vere’s last words?

A

“Billy Budd, Billy Budd”

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11
Q

Billy Budd: What is Billy’s legacy?

A

His fellow sailors remember him almost like a saint, honoring the spar on which he was hanged. One even honors him by composing a ballad.

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12
Q

Billy Budd: What “type” of man is Billy?

A

The Handsome Sailor, who is attractive and well-liked by everyone

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13
Q

Billy Budd: What is Billy’s one eccentric trait?

A

He develops a stutter or becomes speechless when angry or provoked

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14
Q

Billy Budd: What is the moniker the text bestows upon Billy in its opening chapters?

A

He is “the fighting peacemaker”

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15
Q

Billy Budd: What event was a precursor to Billy’s experience with Claggart?

A

Aboard the Rights-of-Man, there was one person who didn’t like Billy - Red Whiskers. One day, after being bullied, Billy strikes Red Whiskers with such force that he earns Red Whiskers’ respect.

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16
Q

Billy Budd: What is Claggart’s plot against Billy?

A

He sets up circumstances to accuse Billy of Mutiny. Billy is too dim/innocent to understand what is going on before Captain Vere is informed of his supposed disloyalty.

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17
Q

Billy Budd: When does the story take place? Why is this important?

A

1797; There had been many recent mutinies within the British Navy, making it a particularly hot topic of contention

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18
Q

Billy Budd: Is Billy Budd a Christ-like figure?

A

Though some traits of Billy’s make him seem Christlike - his ability to make peace, his innocent nature, his good looks, the manner of his death and the way he is revered after it - it would be a mistake to fully align him with Christ. Billy doesn’t make a conscious sacrifice for others, but is instead at the mercy of others’ evil. Whereas the importance of Christ’s sacrifice is that he truly knew what he was doing with his death, Billy has no understanding at all.

The text maybe clues us in to this is that Billy is 21, not 33. Billy is also completely unable to understand the Chaplain’s teachings in the hours before his death.

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19
Q

Billy Budd: Is Claggart a Satan figure?

A

In many respects he seems to be. He “tempts” Billy into an evil act, murder, and is described as a “dead snake.” Like Eve, Billy doesn’t really know what he’s done wrong at first.

But Claggart is motivated by personal dislike, not engaging in any kind of “higher” battle. Another difference is that the exact same tactic has worked for Billy before. He hit Red Whiskers, and Red Whiskers became is friend. This isn’t the first time Billy has performed an “evil” act - just the first time it hasn’t worked out.

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20
Q

Bartleby: Where does this story take place?

A

Wall Street in New York

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21
Q

Bartleby: Who is the narrator of this story?

A

The Lawyer who hires Bartleby

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22
Q

Bartleby: Who are the two other scriveners in the Lawyer’s office?

A

Turkey: Older man who works well in the morning but gets irascible and unreliable in the afternoon.

Nippers: Young and ambitious. Suffers from stomachaches in the mornings and can’t focus on work, but does well in the afternoon.

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23
Q

Bartleby: Who is Ginger Nut?

A

The errand boy who works for the lawyer. He gets his name from being sent out to get Ginger Nut cakes for the people who work in the office.

24
Q

Bartleby: What rumor about Bartleby does the Lawyer hear after his death?

A

That he was forced out of a job in the Dead Letter Office.

25
Q

Bartleby: Describe Bartleby’s trajectory.

A

When the Lawyer first hires him, Bartleby is very productive and a reliable worker. One day, however, when the Lawyer asks him to look over a document, Bartleby responds, “I would prefer not to.” This soon becomes his refrain for everything - even for leaving the office. The Lawyer, at a loss as to what to do, eventually vacates the space, which leads Bartleby to be arrested for vagrancy and eventually dying in prison.

26
Q

Bartleby: Describe Bartleby’s trajectory.

A

When the Lawyer first hires him, Bartleby is very productive and a reliable worker for two days. On the third day, however, when the Lawyer asks him to look over a document, Bartleby responds, “I would prefer not to.” This soon becomes his refrain for everything - even for leaving the office. The Lawyer, at a loss as to what to do, eventually vacates the space, which leads Bartleby to be arrested for vagrancy and eventually dying in prison.

27
Q

Bartleby: According to the lawyer, what is Bartleby’s refrain a form of?

A

Passive resistance

28
Q

Bartleby: What is the subtitle of this tale?

A

“A Story of Wall Street”

29
Q

Bartleby: Why doesn’t the Lawyer fire Bartleby?

A

At first, he is too taken aback by Bartleby’s calm, rational manner to do anything except accept Bartleby’s claims. As time goes on, the Lawyer does try to fire him, but is unable to. Bartleby would “prefer not to” go.

30
Q

Bartleby: What is the biographical interpretation of this work?

A

“Bartleby” was written during the time where Melville’s new kind of writing - Moby Dick and more experimental fiction - was failing to find an audience. It seemed like society wanted Melville to “copy” (like a Scrivener) his earlier, more adventure-filled, novels.

Melville’s new works could be seen as the “Dead Letter Office” from which Bartleby was mysteriously fire, and his gradual rejection of the work as reflective of Melville’s attitude towards the world during the time (1850s) “Bartleby” was written.

There’s also the narrator’s suggestion at the beginning of the work that a full biography of Bartleby would be an incredible contribution to literature, but that is impossible; we have only the Lawyer’s account. (This fits in almost too well with the biography of Melville that rescued his reputation in the 1920s).

31
Q

Bartleby: What does the window near Bartleby’s desk look out onto?

A

A wall

32
Q

Bartleby: How does Turkey get his nickname?

A

From his red neck (which is especially red after lunch, because he is an alcoholic who drunks all afternoon).

33
Q

Bartleby: What words close the story?

A

“Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!”

34
Q

Billy Budd: Where does Rights-of-Man get its name?

A

It’s owner is an admirer of Thomas Paine and Paine’s counter to Burke’s critique of the French Revolution

35
Q

Billy Budd: Who are Billy’s parents?

A

Unknown

36
Q

Billy Budd: Where does Vere’s nickname come from?

A

An Andrew Marvell poem

37
Q

Billy Budd: What is the Dansker’s nickname?

A

Board-Her-In-The-Smoke

38
Q

Bartleby: How does the narrator describe himself?

A

As an “eminently safe man” who believes that the easiest way is the best.

39
Q

Benito Cereno: Where is Delano from?

A

Massachusetts

40
Q

Benito Cereno: What is the name of Delano’s ship?

A

The Bachelor’s Delight (a whaling ship)

41
Q

Benito Cereno: What is the name of Benito Cereno’s ship?

A

The San Dominick

42
Q

Benito Cereno: What are the words chalked below the covered figurehead?

A

“Follow your leader”

43
Q

Benito Cereno: What is Cereno’s initial explanation for the condition of the ship?

A

A combination of illness and bad weather has left them ill-supplied, and killed off every officer.

44
Q

Benito Cereno: Who is Alexandro Aranda?

A

He was the owner of the slaves on board the ship. He is one killed at Babo’s command, and his body is put in place of the San Dominick’s figurehead. It is to his skeleton that the words “Follow Your Leader” refer to as a warning to other white sailors on board the ship.

45
Q

Benito Cereno: What are some incidents on the ship that make Delano suspicious?

A
  • Cereno asking him questions about the number/strength of his crew
  • Seeing two black men push a white sailor to the ground; Cereno doesn’t intervene
  • “meaningful” glances from the Spanish sailors
  • A Spanish sailor seems about to speak to him and then is frightened off
46
Q

Benito Cereno: What topic of conversation precedes the shaving incident?

A

The mention of Cape Horn (when Delano brings it up again during the shave, Babo nicks him with the razor)

47
Q

Benito Cereno: Who are the two leaders of the slave revolt?

A

Atufal and Babo

48
Q

Benito Cereno: What “casts a shadow” over Cereno near the end of the tale?

A

“the Negro”

49
Q

Benito Cereno: Where is Benito Cereno buried?

A

In the same cemetery as Alexandro Aranda

50
Q

Benito Cereno: What is the name of the mulatto steward who Delano is so impressed with? What is his significance?

A

Francesco. During the deposition, we learn that he wanted to poison Delano and Cereno when serving them lunch.

51
Q

Benito Cereno: In what year does this story take place?

A

1799

52
Q

Benito Cereno: In what harbor does this story take place?

A

That of the island of St. Maria

53
Q

Benito Cereno: What is used as an apron during Cereno’s shave?

A

The Spanish flag

54
Q

Benito Cereno: What finally prompts Delano to return to his ship?

A

Tellingly, not his suspicions of treachery, but because of Cereno’s lack of decorum. Cereno has refused an invitation Delano thinks he ought to have accepted - thus he resolves to return to his ship.

55
Q

Benito Cereno: What is suggested is the reason for why Delano’s crewmen attack the San Dominick?

A

They are assured that they will have a part in the treasure if they defeat the mutineers.

56
Q

Benito Cereno: Who kills Aranda?

A

Jose, his personal assistant

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