The American Renaissance and Herman Melville

Overview

This course explores Moby-Dick, Melville's great American novel. You will listen to a series of short lectures on the historical and cultural context that informed the writing of Moby-Dick. You will examine Starbuck’s argument with Ahab to explain why the crew does not mutiny in Moby-Dick, how the drowning of Pip qualifies as an example of the narrative performing the work of testimony, and the differences between Ishmael’s speculative and testamentary narratives. You will also explore different ideological appropriations of Moby-Dick.

Syllabus

Herman Melville: Introduction

This module explores Moby-Dick, Melville's great American novel by listening to a series of short lectures on the historical and cultural context that informed the writing of Moby-Dick.

Herman Melville's Scenes of Survival

This module explores Moby-Dick, Melville's great American novel by listening to a series of short lectures on the historical and cultural context that informed the writing of Moby-Dick.