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Questions and Answers
List the 3 main characters in Billy Budd.
List the 3 main characters in Billy Budd.
Billy Budd, Captain Vere, and John Claggart
Who is Billy Budd?
Who is Billy Budd?
A very handsome sailor on the ship HMS Bellipotent
What makes Billy Budd so special?
What makes Billy Budd so special?
He is very good-looking, naive, and innocent. He cannot identify the evil in others and is prone to stutter.
What ship was Billy Budd working on before he was impressed onto the HMS Bellipotent?
What ship was Billy Budd working on before he was impressed onto the HMS Bellipotent?
Name the two main characters on the Rights-of-Man.
Name the two main characters on the Rights-of-Man.
Who was The Red Whiskers?
Who was The Red Whiskers?
Why does The Red Whiskers change his initial opinion of Billy Budd?
Why does The Red Whiskers change his initial opinion of Billy Budd?
Who is Captain Vere?
Who is Captain Vere?
Who is John Claggart?
Who is John Claggart?
What does Claggart look like?
What does Claggart look like?
Who is Billy's main confidante on the HMS Bellipotent?
Who is Billy's main confidante on the HMS Bellipotent?
What are the main themes in Billy Budd?
What are the main themes in Billy Budd?
Name some recurring motifs in Billy Budd.
Name some recurring motifs in Billy Budd.
Name some symbols in Billy Budd.
Name some symbols in Billy Budd.
What happens in the first chapter?
What happens in the first chapter?
What do we discover about Billy Budd in the second chapter?
What do we discover about Billy Budd in the second chapter?
The third chapter discusses two other mutinies. Name one.
The third chapter discusses two other mutinies. Name one.
The fourth chapter talks about Lieutenant Napoleon.
The fourth chapter talks about Lieutenant Napoleon.
Chapter 5: the demands of some mutinous soldiers were met. Why was this an issue?
Chapter 5: the demands of some mutinous soldiers were met. Why was this an issue?
Who do we meet in chapter 6?
Who do we meet in chapter 6?
What does chapter 7 say about Captain Vere?
What does chapter 7 say about Captain Vere?
Who is introduced in chapter 8? What does he do?
Who is introduced in chapter 8? What does he do?
What happens in chapter 9?
What happens in chapter 9?
Billy Budd feels mildly threatened. How does he react?
Billy Budd feels mildly threatened. How does he react?
What does Billy Budd do in chapter 10?
What does Billy Budd do in chapter 10?
How does Claggart react in chapter 10? How does Billy react to him?
How does Claggart react in chapter 10? How does Billy react to him?
What does the narrator say about Claggart in chapter 11? What reason does he give for this description?
What does the narrator say about Claggart in chapter 11? What reason does he give for this description?
What makes Claggart especially bad?
What makes Claggart especially bad?
In chapter 12, why does the narrator decide that Claggart envies Billy?
In chapter 12, why does the narrator decide that Claggart envies Billy?
What happens in chapter 13?
What happens in chapter 13?
What role does Squeak play in chapter 13?
What role does Squeak play in chapter 13?
Pushed by Squeak's affirmations, what does Claggart do?
Pushed by Squeak's affirmations, what does Claggart do?
What happens to Billy in chapter 14?
What happens to Billy in chapter 14?
How does Billy respond to the stranger in chapter 14?
How does Billy respond to the stranger in chapter 14?
What happens in chapter 15 after the meeting with the stranger?
What happens in chapter 15 after the meeting with the stranger?
Describe the awkward moment in chapter 15.
Describe the awkward moment in chapter 15.
What stupid thing does Billy do in chapter 16?
What stupid thing does Billy do in chapter 16?
What does the narrator say in chapter 16?
What does the narrator say in chapter 16?
What action continues to happen in chapter 17?
What action continues to happen in chapter 17?
What is different in chapter 17?
What is different in chapter 17?
Who does the HMS Bellipotent run into in chapter 18?
Who does the HMS Bellipotent run into in chapter 18?
What terrible thing does Claggart do in chapter 18?
What terrible thing does Claggart do in chapter 18?
Chapter 18: How does Vere react to Claggart's statement? How does Claggart respond to this?
Chapter 18: How does Vere react to Claggart's statement? How does Claggart respond to this?
How does Vere react to Claggart's condemning of Billy Budd?
How does Vere react to Claggart's condemning of Billy Budd?
What 'evidence' does Claggart give to prove Billy's mutinous nature? What does Captain Vere say?
What 'evidence' does Claggart give to prove Billy's mutinous nature? What does Captain Vere say?
Chapter 19: Billy is brought to the cabin with Claggart and Vere. What happens next?
Chapter 19: Billy is brought to the cabin with Claggart and Vere. What happens next?
Vere tells Billy to take his time. How does Billy react?
Vere tells Billy to take his time. How does Billy react?
What does the surgeon say about Claggart's death?
What does the surgeon say about Claggart's death?
What does the surgeon's quote mean?
What does the surgeon's quote mean?
What happens in chapter 20, just after Claggart's death?
What happens in chapter 20, just after Claggart's death?
How does Vere handle Billy's murder?
How does Vere handle Billy's murder?
How does Billy act during his trial?
How does Billy act during his trial?
What question is Billy unable to answer during his trial and why?
What question is Billy unable to answer during his trial and why?
What is the final verdict on Billy Budd's trial?
What is the final verdict on Billy Budd's trial?
What happens in chapter 22?
What happens in chapter 22?
What happens in chapter 23?
What happens in chapter 23?
What character is introduced in chapter 24? What is his purpose?
What character is introduced in chapter 24? What is his purpose?
Describe the scene of Billy's execution.
Describe the scene of Billy's execution.
What happens in the last 4 chapters?
What happens in the last 4 chapters?
Describe the 'Individual vs. Society' theme.
Describe the 'Individual vs. Society' theme.
Describe the 'Conscience vs. Law' theme.
Describe the 'Conscience vs. Law' theme.
Describe the 'Vulnerability of Innocence' theme.
Describe the 'Vulnerability of Innocence' theme.
Give examples of the 'Christian Allegory' motif.
Give examples of the 'Christian Allegory' motif.
Give examples of the 'Suggestion through Names' motif.
Give examples of the 'Suggestion through Names' motif.
Study Notes
Main Characters
- Billy Budd: A handsome, naive sailor impressed into HMS Bellipotent from the Rights-of-Man.
- Captain Vere: The intellectual captain of the HMS Bellipotent, known as "Starry Vere."
- John Claggart: The master-at-arms and antagonist on the HMS Bellipotent who secretly harbors hatred for Billy.
Billy Budd's Characteristics
- Possesses remarkable looks and innocence, failing to perceive evil in others, alongside a tendency to stutter.
- His naivete leads to misunderstandings and vulnerability to manipulation.
The Rights-of-Man
- Billy's prior ship, where Captain Graveling and The Red Whiskers serve as notable figures.
- The Red Whiskers initially antagonizes Billy but eventually respects and grows fond of him after a confrontation.
Themes
- Individual vs. Society: Billy's innocence stands against societal laws, leading to his wrongful conviction.
- Conscience vs. Law: Captain Vere struggles to prioritize legal responsibility over personal belief in Billy's innocence.
- Vulnerability of Innocence: Billy's inability to recognize evil results in his downfall, as Claggart exploits this innocence.
Recurring Motifs
- Christian Allegory: Billy represents Christ-like innocence, while Claggart embodies evil, akin to Satan.
- Suggestion through Names: The Rights-of-Man suggests liberty, while HMS Bellipotent signifies militaristic control.
Claggart's Characterization
- Tall, pale, and secretive; simultaneously presents a façade of kindness while concealing malevolence.
- Exhibits envy towards Billy’s innocence and looks, which fuels his hatred.
Major Plot Points
- Billy takes Claggart's accusations of mutiny with disbelief, resulting in a fatal confrontation.
- Following Claggart's death, Billy is put on trial, stripped of his liberty despite Captain Vere's internal conflict.
- The tragedy culminates in Billy's execution, reflecting society's failure to recognize innocence.
Key Events
- Upon Claggart's accusation, Billy stutters in defense and accidentally kills him in a moment of rage.
- The surgeon's remark upon Claggart's death underscores the complexity of Billy's innocence amidst moral wrongdoing.
- Captain Vere's anguish reflects the burden of enforcing harsh justice against an innocent man.
Climax of the Story
- Billy is executed despite his innocence, invoking mixed sympathies from the crew, who echo his final blessing for Captain Vere.
- The narrative concludes with Billy's death mischaracterized as a mutiny, overshadowing his true nature and sacrifice.
Final Reflections
- The narrative reveals ingrained societal flaws in punishing innocence, underscoring the importance of understanding the nature of evil and vulnerability.
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Description
Explore key characters and themes from Herman Melville's 'Billy Budd' through these flashcards. Learn about the main characters, Billy's characteristics, and his role aboard the HMS Bellipotent. Ideal for literature students or anyone studying this classic novel.
