The ambition of this short literary essay is two-fold. Firstly, it aims to briefly explore some of the literary sources used to shape and create Herman Melville’s 1851 novel, Moby Dick. A multitude of literary sources could be suggested to influence Melville’s work but the principle works focused upon in this discussion are William Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth and John Milton’s epic poem ‘Paradise Lost’. By drawing upon linguistic and symbolic parallels present between Moby Dick and these two works, the essay aims to show how Melville alludes to classical sources to create a refreshingly modern piece of work. The second goal of the essay is to explore in greater detail Melville’s use of language in ‘Moby Dick.’ Several critics have noted in past discussion that Moby Dick’s triumph lies embedded in its sophisticated verse, with Richard Brodhead crediting a large portion of the novel’s greatness to be owed to the author’s powerful command on the English language. With this view in mind, the essay examines some of Melville’s own linguistic accomplishments in order to decide whether “more persistently than anything else – more persistently than it is the heroic, or philosophic, or whatever – Moby-Dick is a book in love with language” (Brodhead, 1986).
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Melville's Literary Influences: Shakespeare and Milton
- Shakespearean Influences
- Miltonic Influences
- Melville's Use of Language in Moby Dick
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay has two main objectives: to explore the literary sources that influenced Herman Melville's "Moby Dick," specifically focusing on Shakespeare's "Macbeth" and Milton's "Paradise Lost," and to analyze Melville's unique use of language in the novel. The essay aims to demonstrate how Melville's allusions to classical works contribute to the modernity of his writing and to evaluate the significance of language in shaping the novel's overall impact.
- Literary Influences on "Moby Dick"
- Parallels between "Moby Dick" and Shakespeare's "Macbeth"
- Parallels between "Moby Dick" and Milton's "Paradise Lost"
- Melville's Linguistic Style and its Significance
- The Role of Language in Creating the Novel's Impact
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section lays out the essay's twofold ambition: to examine the literary sources that shaped "Moby Dick," particularly Shakespeare's "Macbeth" and Milton's "Paradise Lost," and to delve into Melville's masterful use of language within the novel. It highlights the critical acclaim surrounding the novel's sophisticated language, emphasizing the need to explore how this linguistic prowess contributes to the book's overall impact and power. The introduction sets the stage for the subsequent analysis, offering a clear outline of the essay's direction and methodology.
Melville's Literary Influences: Shakespeare and Milton: This section explores the significant influence of Shakespeare and Milton on Melville's writing of "Moby Dick". It details the various thematic, stylistic, and linguistic parallels between Melville's work and those of the two literary giants. The analysis includes specific examples, such as the parallels between the character of Ahab and Macbeth, the mirroring of prophecies, and the use of similar stylistic devices and language patterns. The discussion highlights how Melville cleverly integrates these influences into his narrative, creating a rich tapestry of allusions that both enrich and add complexity to the story.
Melville's Use of Language in Moby Dick: This section focuses on Melville's unique and powerful use of language in "Moby Dick." It analyzes specific examples of his sophisticated vocabulary, sentence structure, and narrative techniques to demonstrate how these choices create a unique literary experience. The analysis delves into the role that language plays in conveying themes, developing characters, and building the atmosphere of the novel. This section aims to show how the novel's remarkable language is not merely a stylistic choice but a crucial element of its artistry and lasting appeal.
Keywords
Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Shakespeare, Macbeth, Milton, Paradise Lost, literary influence, language, style, linguistic analysis, classical allusions, modern literature, narrative technique, characterization.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Moby Dick
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive language preview of an essay analyzing Herman Melville's Moby Dick. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The preview is designed to offer a structured and professional overview of the essay's content for academic use.
What are the main objectives of the essay previewed in this document?
The essay has two main objectives: 1) To explore the literary influences on Herman Melville's Moby Dick, specifically focusing on Shakespeare's Macbeth and Milton's Paradise Lost; and 2) To analyze Melville's unique use of language in the novel. The essay aims to demonstrate how Melville's allusions contribute to the modernity of his writing and to evaluate the significance of language in shaping the novel's overall impact.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
The key themes include literary influences on Moby Dick, parallels between Moby Dick and Shakespeare's Macbeth, parallels between Moby Dick and Milton's Paradise Lost, Melville's linguistic style and its significance, and the role of language in creating the novel's impact.
What is covered in the Introduction chapter?
The introduction lays out the essay's twofold ambition: to examine the literary sources shaping Moby Dick (Shakespeare and Milton) and to delve into Melville's use of language. It highlights the novel's sophisticated language and emphasizes how this contributes to its overall impact. The introduction sets the stage for the analysis.
What does the chapter on Melville's Literary Influences cover?
This section explores the influence of Shakespeare and Milton on Melville's writing of Moby Dick. It details thematic, stylistic, and linguistic parallels between Melville's work and those of Shakespeare and Milton, including specific examples such as parallels between Ahab and Macbeth and the use of similar stylistic devices.
What is discussed in the chapter on Melville's Use of Language in Moby Dick?
This section focuses on Melville's unique and powerful use of language in Moby Dick. It analyzes his vocabulary, sentence structure, and narrative techniques, demonstrating how these choices create a unique literary experience and convey themes, develop characters, and build atmosphere.
What are the keywords associated with this essay?
The keywords include: Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Shakespeare, Macbeth, Milton, Paradise Lost, literary influence, language, style, linguistic analysis, classical allusions, modern literature, narrative technique, and characterization.
What type of audience is this document intended for?
This document is intended for academic use, focusing on the analysis of themes in a structured and professional manner.
Where can I find the full essay?
This document is a preview only. The location of the full essay is not provided within this preview.
- Quote paper
- Lindsey McIntosh (Author), 2014, 'Old Antiquities and New Features'. Melville's Style and Literary Influences in 'Moby Dick', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/306203
