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Questions and Answers
What does 'cynosure' mean?
The center of attention
What does 'welkin-eyed' describe?
Sky blue eyes
What does 'impressed' mean in the context of a ship?
Assigned to
What does 'complement' refer to?
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What does 'demur' mean?
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What does 'reproach' mean?
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What does 'corpulence' refer to?
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What does 'prepossessing' mean?
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What does 'aridity' refer to?
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What does 'rueful' mean?
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What does 'treacle' refer to?
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What does 'ugly row' mean?
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What does 'celerity' mean?
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What does 'genial' mean?
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What does 'vicissitude' mean?
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What does 'fatalist' mean?
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What does 'sulleness' refer to?
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What does 'hearth' mean?
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What is the name of Billy's old ship?
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How does Billy react when he gets picked to leave the ship?
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How do Billy's shipmates react to his reaction of being picked to leave?
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Who is Captain Graveling?
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How does Captain Graveling react to being told Billy is being taken from him?
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What does the Lieutenant tell Captain Graveling about the king?
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Why does the Lieutenant yell at Billy while the ship is leaving?
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What does 'rectitude' mean?
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How is the reaction to Billy Budd by the other sailors different here in the Indomitable than it was on the Rights?
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How does Billy Budd look relevant to his age?
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How is Billy's appearance contrasted with that of the other sailors?
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How do the harder faces and the intelligent sailors react to Billy?
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How does Billy respond when asked about his place of origin?
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What do we learn about Billy's level of education and his hobby?
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Why does Melville describe Billy as an 'upright barbarian'?
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What do we learn about Billy's speech?
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What does the author say about Satan and Billy?
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How does the fact about Billy's stutter affect the nature of the story?
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Explain the circumstances of the recent mutinous spirit among various ships in the English fleet.
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How does the English government deal with the mutinous mood of the time?
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Study Notes
Vocabulary Terms
- Cynosure: Refers to the center of attention, a focal point in a situation.
- Welkin-eyed: Describes someone with sky blue eyes, suggesting beauty and innocence.
- Impressed: Indicates being assigned or enlisted into military service.
- Complement: Means a full group or a complete set, typically referring to personnel on a ship.
- Demur: Denotes an objection, often utilized in formal contexts.
- Reproach: Means to scold or express disappointment towards someone's actions.
- Corpulence: Describes obesity or being overweight, a physical trait.
- Prepossessing: Indicates being careful or attractive, often implying charm.
- Aridity: Refers to dryness, whether literal (climate) or metaphorical (lack of emotion or vitality).
- Rueful: Conveys feelings of sadness or regret over something lost or done.
- Treacle: A term for a sticky substance like honey; can also refer to something overly sentimental.
- Ugly row: A phrase that means an argument or a fight, typically involving heated emotions.
- Celerity: Represents speed or quickness in action or response.
- Genial: Describes someone who is friendly and cheerful, fostering a pleasant atmosphere.
- Vicissitude: Refers to change or variations, particularly in circumstances or fortunes.
- Fatalist: Denotes an attitude of accepting events as inevitable, going with the flow.
- Sulleness: Reflects a state of being very sad, often characterized by a gloomy demeanor.
- Hearth: Represents the fireplace, symbolizing home, warmth, and family life.
Key Characters & Events
- Billy's Old Ship: The vessel he previously sailed on is named "The Rights of Man."
- Billy's Reaction to Leaving: He expresses happiness upon being selected to leave the ship, showcasing a positive outlook.
- Shipmates' Reaction: Billy's shipmates are surprised and scold him for his joyful demeanor, which contrasts with expectations.
- Captain Graveling: He is the captain of "The Rights of Man" and shows deep regret and upset over losing Billy to another ship.
- Lieutenant's Commentary: The lieutenant informs Captain Graveling that the King would be impressed to learn of his sacrifice in parting with his best sailor.
- Billy's Departure: While leaving the ship, Billy bids farewell, prompting a reprimand from the lieutenant.
- Billy's Adaptation: Upon joining the Indomitable, Billy receives less attention from sailors, blending in rather than standing out.
Characteristics of Billy Budd
- Physical Appearance: At age 21, Billy has a youthful, soft, and feminine appearance, making him look younger than his age.
- Contrasting Sailors: Compared to other sailors, Billy appears less experienced, which highlights his innocence.
- Reception by Sailors: The hard-faced, intelligent sailors smile upon seeing Billy, indicating his charm still has an effect, albeit subtly.
- Origin and Education: Billy is not aware of his place of origin, is illiterate, and has a passion for singing.
- "Upright Barbarian": Critiques of Billy highlight that while he is uncivilized, he embodies goodness and honesty despite social inadequacies.
- Speech Impediment: Billy possesses a stutter, which contributes to his characterization as complex and imperfect.
- Satan's Influence: The narrative suggests that his innocence is marred by his stutter, paralleling themes of purity and corruption within the story.
Societal Context
- Mutinous Spirit: There is an atmosphere of rebellion among various ships in the English fleet, with crews attempting to take control.
- Government Response: The English government manages the situation by containing revolts and keeping unrest at a minimum.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
Test your knowledge with this set of flashcards covering key vocabulary from chapters 1 to 3 of 'Billy Budd'. Each card features a word along with its definition, helping you to enhance your understanding of the text. Perfect for students looking to improve their literary vocabulary.