4
AssignmentMultiple Choice

Symbols in Moby-Dick

Question 4 • CA-Common Core English 11 A-CR - VHS

How does the symbol of the whalebone leg support the theme that emotional suffering can sometimes surpass physical pain?

Answer
A
It shows the emotional pain of life at sea.
B
It shows Ahab’s reluctance to serve as a sea captain.
C
It shows Ahab’s fixation on the whale who took his leg.

Explanation

Ahab’s whalebone leg is a physical reminder of the injury inflicted by the whale. More importantly, it represents how his hatred and fixation on that whale consume him emotionally and drive his actions. This supports the idea that emotional suffering can outlast or surpass physical pain. The best choice is C, because it connects the leg to Ahab’s fixation on the whale who took it.

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