Question

Which best explains why Melville begins Chapter 28 of MobyDick with a description of Ahab’s physical absence above the ship’s hatches for several days?

A. to show that Ahab has no real command over his ship
B. to make Ahab’s eventual appearance on deck more dramatic
C. to show that Ahab is no longer interested in the whale hunt
D. to make Ahab’s eventual appearance on deck predictable

I have two hours to finish the test so take your time :)

Answer 1

This is one of my favorite literary classics, the answer for this question would be B, because Melville expresses later in the novel that Ahab in fact has command over his ship. Ahab is very passionate about avenging the white whale. The writer would not want to make his eventual appearance more predictable, this takes away from the plot

Step-by-step explanation:

so the answer would be "B"

Answer 2

The correct answer should be
B. to make Ahab’s eventual appearance on deck more dramatic

He does have full control but he doesn't have to worry about it so he can stay in his cabin without fear because he knows that nobody is brave and stupid enough to not do what he would want. If it's not about Moby, he doesn't care, but when he does show up, you know that something important and highly dramatic is going to happen.