NCHS AP English Language

#3 Numinous - Patrick Collins

Numinous is something that inspires awe in humans. It is described as something supernatural or spiritual that we feel, often times reminding us of a previous time, that we believe is there but really is not. This feeling happens to Ahab as he wakes up after sleeping with Queequeg in the Spouter-Inn. He feels his arm on his a has a flashback or revelation to a time when he was a child. He recals being sent to bed early for some reason or another and all he remembers is waking up and feeling a phantom hand grasping his body. He knew the hand was not physically there, but he still was aware of it. He feels somehow comforted by the arm even though it is not really there. When he wakes up with Queequeg and his arm is wrapped around his body Ishmael cannot help but reminded of his experience as a child. Queequegs arm gives Ishmael the same sense of comfort that he felt when he woke up as a child. This supernatural feeling is an example of numinous.
Patrick Collins

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 10:08 AM