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Moby-Dick, or The Whale by Herman Melville: Complete Summary and Book Analysis
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Unlock the more straightforward side of Moby-Dick, or The Whale with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!
This engaging summary presents an analysis of Moby-Dick, or The Whale by Herman Melville, an exciting tale about an enormous whale named Moby Dick and a ship captain's hunt for revenge. It is now considered one of the most important novels in American literature, and has been adapted numerous times for film and television. Melville remained unknown during his time but his fame has, since his death, skyrocketed and he has even had a whale species named in his honour thanks to the staggering impact his novel has had.
Find out everything you need to know about Moby-Dick, or The Whale in a fraction of the time!
This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:
• A complete plot summary
• Character studies
• Key themes and symbols
• Questions for further reflection
Why choose BrightSummaries.com?
Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you in your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.
See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!
This engaging summary presents an analysis of Moby-Dick, or The Whale by Herman Melville, an exciting tale about an enormous whale named Moby Dick and a ship captain's hunt for revenge. It is now considered one of the most important novels in American literature, and has been adapted numerous times for film and television. Melville remained unknown during his time but his fame has, since his death, skyrocketed and he has even had a whale species named in his honour thanks to the staggering impact his novel has had.
Find out everything you need to know about Moby-Dick, or The Whale in a fraction of the time!
This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:
• A complete plot summary
• Character studies
• Key themes and symbols
• Questions for further reflection
Why choose BrightSummaries.com?
Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you in your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.
See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!
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Reviews for Moby-Dick, or The Whale by Herman Melville
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Book preview
Moby-Dick, or The Whale by Herman Melville - Bright Summaries
Adventure writer
Born in New York in 1819
Died there in 1891
Notable works:
Pierre; or, The Ambiguities (1852), novel
Benito Cereno (1855), novel
Bartleby, the Scrivener (1856), novel
Billy Budd (1891, published posthumously in 1924), novel
Melville was born to a middle-class family of traders in New York. He had a difficult childhood, during which he had to deal with the death of his father when he was 13 years old. In 1841, he joined a whaling crew and left after 18 months of sailing, during a stopover on the Marquesas Islands, where he lived for many months with a cannibal tribe. He managed to escape and sailed on different whalers before boarding an American military ship which brought him to Boston in 1844.
His sea adventures inspired his novels, such as Typee (1846), which recounts his stay on the Marquesas Islands. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (sometimes known simply as Moby Dick) was published in 1851, but was a complete failure, just like Pierre; or, The Ambiguities (1852). The same happened with his short stories, Bartleby (1856) and Benito Cereno (1855), which saw no success. In order to support himself financially, Melville was forced to accept a position as a customs officer in New York. He died in 1891 in destitution and anonymity.
A symbolic odyssey
Genre: novel
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