Moby Dick: Chapters 1-100. Pretty impressive—if you have read it all (and I have to “trust” that you have). You might be amazed by how much of the detail of Moby Dick that you have soaked in just by muckling through the innumerable details in the many chapters. It may or may not occur to you that you are reading an “epic’ novel that has as broad a sweep of themes as any novel ever written. It is not important that you sit and reflect and say, “Oh, wow, that chapter was all about the terror of the unknown…” All that is really important is that you felt or sensed that terror of the unknown. You might not confide in a friend that Ahab is the eternal prototype for modern day monomaniacal pursuits, but you probably think that Ahab is one crazy dude with a one-track mind—and you would be absolutely right.
For a reading check in, I am going to meet privately with each of you this week to discuss your reading of Moby Dick. It shouldn’t be hard to figure out who has read—or tried his best to read—and who might be trying to game the system. Reading summaries are a very sorry substitute for actual reading—somewhat like eating the menu and no the food on the menu. If you are one of those, fess up, catch up as best you can, and move on with dignity.
- Tuesday (1): In class, quietly read chapters 101-104. It is forty minutes long:
- Homework: Read chapters 105-108.
- Wednesday (2): I will meet with each of you privately. Read Chapters 109-113
- Homework: Read Chapters 114-118
- Thursday(3): Read Chapters 119-123
- Homework (Weekend): Read Chapters 124-127
Finish Strong!!!!