On Melville's Moby Dick

by CliffsNotes, Stanley P. Baldwin (Editor)

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background.In "CliffsNotes on Moby-Dick, " you follow along this great American novel; the turbulent and adventurous story of a sea captain's obsession with a white whale.

This study guide shares a story about defiance, friendship, duty, and death -- all immersed in symbolism, such as the white whale, itself. You'll gain comfort with the dark and complicated plot as you move through critical commentaries on each of the novel's 135 chapters. Other features that help you figure out this important work includeLife and background of the author, Herman MelvilleAnalyses of the charactersIntroduction to the novelA review section that tests your knowledge and suggests essay topicsA selected bibliography that leads you to more great resources

Classic literature or modern-day treasure -- you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Genres: Nonfiction

148 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 1999

About the author

CliffsNotes is the original (and most widely imitated) study guide. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams.

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very helpful aid. You should always read the section in the main book before going to the Cliffs Notes. Or if it works better to read the Cliffs Notes then the main book that way you have the vocabulary words introduced. The point is to NEVER replace the main book with the Cliffs Notes. The main book is always more robust and the Cliffs Notes are just a supplement to aid in understanding.

[Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was helpful for my graduate class

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than never having read only bits and pieces of the real deal !!!

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t read all of it, but I read a good amount of it.

[anne]

just kidding.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously. The Cliff notes were over 100 pages. Any chapter we discussed in class, I read in the novel. Everything else I read in the cliff notes.