NCHS AP English Language

Kyle Smith #10 Spirit-Spout

10. In Chapter 51, what is the "spirit-Spout?" You deduce this based on your reading and research you care to do.


After traveling on the sea for many long hours during the day, the crew of the Pequod began to suddenly become a little bit delusional. They spot a huge spouting of water across the ocean, which they deduce to be the spout of a whale. Since the fountain was so big and beautiful, Ahab is convinced that the spouting belongs to the large whale that had taken his leg: Moby Dick. He chases the whale for many hours, but has no luck catching the beast of the sea. However, despite not catching and killing Moby Dick, the crew's spirits are raised because they now know that they have spotted the whale in which they have come to kill. Thus, that is why the chapter is called the "Spirit-Spout."

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 9:30 PM