It is important to note Nemo's cultivation of the giant pearl. He wants
to leave it undisturbed so that it will become greater. This is juxtaposition
with the Nautilus. The longer the vessel remains undiscovered the
more powerful it becomes. Like the Nautilus, pearls have different
kinds of power. Like Land, many men are interested in the financial gain
they promise; like the divers, many risk and lose their lives in pursuit
of the pearls. However, the peals also have an aesthetic value. For this
value, Aronnax prizes them. Similarly, the Nautilus is used for
good and evil. Through their experiences on the ship, Captain Nemo and
Aronnax will be able to significantly contribute to the scientific community
and benefit mankind. However, the ship is also used to destroy humanity
His excellent eye sight is symbolic of his ability to rely on his senses.
He has excellent senses--he is able to sleep and read all day because
he knows the creature is not near the boat. He does not believe anything
that he has not seen or experienced himself-this is a reoccurring theme
throughout the novel.
Title
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Author
Jules Verne
Date of first publishing
1870
Meaning of the Title
Refers to traveling thousands of miles under surface of the oceans.
Appropriate because of the setting on a submarine. A league is a unit
of distance not commonly used today. It is the equivalent of approximately
2.5 to 3.5 miles.
Genre
Science-fiction adventure
Point of view
First person-limited
Narrator
Dr. Pierre Aronnax
Setting
Aboard the Nautilus, the submarine vessel designed
by Captain Nemo. 1866-1868
Protagonist
Dr. Pierre Aronnax
Antagonist
Captain Nemo
Climax
Chapter 22,Captain Nemo's Last Words. The men make the decision
to escape from the Nautilus
Outcome
The men survive the giant whirlpool while Captain Nemo's fate and
the fate of the Nautilus remains unknown.
Rising Action
The rising action of the story begins with Nemo's attack on a warship.
Major Theme
Man versus Nature
Minor Themes
Revenge. Liberty.
Symbolism/Motifs
The giant pearl, Ned Land's perfect eyesight
Mood
Mysterious and dark
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas contains a plethora of scientific
words and measurements that can be confusing:
Acre - a measurement of surface area equal to 43,560 square feet, approximately
the size of a football field.
Annelids - worms
Babiroussa - A pig from the East Indies
Byssus - filament that certain mollusks, such as mussels, use to attach
themselves to rocks
Cetacean - any marine mammal classified as a Cetacea. They include
dolphins, whales, and porpoises.
Dugong - A plant-eating marine mammal that has flippers and can be
found in the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Pacific Ocean.
Echeneis - a type of fish that adheres to other large fish and
vessels with a sucker.
Echinoderm - a marine invertebrate that has parts radiating symmetrically
from its center - for example: a starfish
Fathom - a nautical measurement for 6 feet or depth from the surface.
Fucus - brown algae
Hydrophytes - a plant adapted to grow in water
Hyracotherium - This is an extinct genus of horse
Ichthyologist - a scientist that studies fish.
Kraken - A sea monster that is featured in Norwegian legend.
League - Three miles of distance.
Leviathan - a huge and monstrous sea creature that is discussed
in the bible
Narwhal - An arctic whale with an ivory horn protruding from its head.
Nereocysti - Giant Seaweed
Oreodon - An extinct mammal, similar to a deer.
Pintadine - a kind of shellfish, some of which produce pearls
Polyp - coelenterate, such as a hydra or coral
Poop - An enclosed structure at the stem of a ship
Port - left side of a ship (as one faces the front of the ship)
Starboard - right side of a ship (as one faces the front of the ship)
Terra firma - solid, dry ground; land
Zoophytes - invertebrate animals, such as a sea anemone or sponge
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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