Billy Budd Chapter 1-3 Flashcards

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.