"One of the Greatest True Stories Ever Told"

"The Essex disaster is not a tale of adventure." ~~Epilogue

And so the story ends. But the ramifications continue even today, I think. I can't wait to discuss the book in class. I'm interested to know what you thought of the whaling industry, the quest for profit, and these men's story. A few things I noted:

• The average adult human would provide about sixty-six pounds of edible meat.
• The lottery system in Pollard's boat when they were trying to figure out who would die and become everyone else's meal
• The irony of Coffin's name when he became the first to die by lottery
• Pollard's continued failure on sea, and Chase's continued failure on land

I thought Philbrick did an excellent job with the Epilogue. He notes that Nantucket is now a posh get-away and abode for the rich and the idle. People come there to shop, to tour, and to learn about whaling. But Philbrick states that it is the "glorification" of whaling that is taught, not the kinds of things your read about in this book. 

I love the way he describes their voyage (after the sinking) as "wandering the watery desert." Isn't that a great way of putting it? Very oxymoronic. If you don't know that word, look it up!

So, now that you've finished the book, I have a little assignment for you that will be due ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, AUGUST 7, ALONG WITH YOUR BOOK. I will not take anything LATE. Put your book and your assignment in your book bag before orientation so that you have it. 

OK! Here is your assignment. From the options listed below, CHOOSE ONE and write a ONE PAGE (college ruled notebook paper), DOUBLE SPACED REFLECTION. A reflection means your thoughts, your educated and imaginative thoughts, on the subject. USE AN EXAMPLE FROM THE BOOK and an EXAMPLE FROM SOMETHING ELSE YOU'VE READ, OR SEEN (photo, movie, etc.), OR IMAGINED. If you have any questions, email me. Be sure to read all these directions!

OPTIONS: (choose ONE)

1.  The quality of HOPE. Important? Necessary? What do YOU think? Some had it. Some lost it. Does hope make a difference in one's life?

2.  Our DEPENDENCE ON OIL. You can compare whale oil to fuel oil. Same? Different?

3.  The issue of ECOLOGY. Was it cruel to hunt the sperm whale, almost to endangered species status? Do we have a responsibility to wildlife, or does PROFIT TRUMP EVERYTHING?

I can't wait to see all of you on Friday, August 7, I know, it's too soon, right?! We'll get through it, together. Let's call the first day REVENGE OF THE SUMMER. Don't forget to bring your annotated book and your reflection!

Enjoy your last few days!

Mrs. C.

Three Boats. Separation. Two Dead. No Land in Sight.

"The Scream" by Edvard Munch

LOOK AT THIS FAMOUS PAINTING. This is what I would look like if I had been a sailor on the Essex! Ha! As a side note, did you know that art critics think that this painting (note the crazy colors of the sky) is a response to the weird skies caused by the explosion of a volcano in the Philippines called Krakatoa. Of course, at the time, people in Scandinavia knew nothing about the explosion; they just knew that the sky was a death red.

OK--enough of that. I digress!

Hopefully, you see that, by now, the sailors are in serious trouble. They don't know where they're going. They are ruled more by superstition and heresay than scientific knowledge. They don't really trust one another, and the captain and his first mate are at odds, causing division. No drinkable water. The turtles have been bloodthirstily consumed. The hardtack has been contaminated by salt water. Some of the men decide to stay on an island rather than get back in the water, even though the island has nothing much to offer. And now, Joy and Peterson are dead and their bodies committed to the sea.

Things are about to change, however. And I'd like you to think about what you'd do. What would YOU do?

You will finish the book by the time of our last blog together (next blog on 7/31), at which time I will give you a little assignment and help you get ready for the first day of school. Meanwhile, let me SAY THIS AGAIN!

WHEN YOU POST ON THE LAST CHAPTERS (11-14) AND THE EPILOGUE, ONLY COMMENT ON THIS POST! EVEN IF YOU'RE COMMENTING ON EARLIER CHAPTERS, KEEP ALL THE CONVERSATION ON THIS POST!

Chapter 11 - "Games of Chance"

Here, Philbrick is going to give you a brief history of cannibalism (you've been waiting for this, haven't you?!). Read this carefully and think about it. Think about the IRONY (if you don't know what that means, you need to look it up) in the third paragraph on p. 114. THIS IS CRAZY! Or as some of my students like to say---CRAY-CRAY! Note who dies from there on out. Keep track of this with your annotating.

Also notice the break at the bottom of p. 115. Now, the author is going to cut from one boat to the other boat to give you an idea of how each is handling the horrors on board.

On p. 116, how does Chase change (thank goodness!)?

Again note the change on p. 118 signified by the break. Now we're looking at cannibalism and Hendricks's boat.

And, at the break on p. 119, we find a really horrible idea--a death game. Imagine looking at your fellow sailors and thinking, "Who's for dinner tonight?"

Chapter 12 - "In the Eagle's Shadow"

Back to Chase's boat and more cannibalism. Please pay careful attention to the map on p. 125; check out the near hits and many misses (of civilization) and rescue. Look at the path each boat traveled. It's crazy!

Again, Philbrick, by using breaks and little arrows, takes you, the reader, from boat to boat, keeping you informed of each group's actions, which parallel each other in many ways. You may now connect the dots between the preface of the book, when the Dauphin spotted Pollard's boat and what he found inside. You now have the complete story. (see p. 127)

Back to Chase's boat, note that Nickerson is about to lose it and actually DOES lose it, but he doesn't die. There's a picture of the twine that Lawrence made while out on the open ocean (see p. 129 and the photo on the last page of the photo insert section next to p. 69). You can see this if you ever go to New England and visit the Nantucket Historical Association!

How is Chase finally rescued? And back, once again, to Pollard's and Ramsdell's rescue by the Dauphin on p. 133.

Chapter 13 - "Homecoming"

In the remaining portion of the book, Philbrick is now going to tie up the pieces for you, resolving some nagging questions, and raising others.

Pay careful attention to their rescues and reunions. Note their physical appearance and how it affected the crew of the vessels that rescued them. I find it very interesting that only Nantucketers survived on both Chase's and Pollard's boats (p. 137).

On p. 138 and following, the author ties up the loose ends of the three marooned sailors on Henderson Island. And remember---there was one more boat that was separated from Pollard's boat. The story of its fate begins on p. 141.

As you finish this chapter, note their reception on arriving back in Nantucket. How do the townspeople take the news? Welcome or not welcome them? Which of the two, Pollard or Chase, has the hardest time? What do you think of the two men?

Chapter 14 - "Consequences"

This chapter ties up the question of what became of the men. What happens to Pollard, and why does the saying "lightning never strikes twice" not apply to him?

What about Chase? And how does Herman Melville (by the way, WHO IS MELVILLE?! You need to know!) figure into the story of the Essex?

What happens to the rest of the men? And finally, note (beginning on p. 155) how each remaining man met his death and established his legacy.

"Epilogue"

In these few pages, Philbrick is now going to comment on the entire story and give his assessment of the tragedy. Do you agree? Disagree?

What did you think of this true event?

Remember, POST YOUR COMMENTS TO THIS BLOG POST! I look forward to hearing from you by 7/29.

TAKE THAT, ESSEX! - CHAPTERS 4-6

The plot has definitely thickened! Imagine that nose up above you in that picture, ramming your boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, not once--but twice--and actually sinking it. Who could have imagined such a thing? Surely not Pollard, Chase, or any other member of the Essex, but that's exactly what happened. Thank goodness for the smart thinking of William Bond and others.

I cannot fathom being stuck in one of those little whale boats with a little bit of bread, a few turtles, and some sailcloth. Several of you have mentioned the personalities of Pollard and Chase. Pollard seems doomed to fail, but Chase is so arrogant. I can't decide which of the two I would want to sail under. What would you do if you were in that situation? Panic? Cry? Think of Nickerson. He was so young! Your age!

Remember that you will be responsible for the questions I raise in each post. And PLEASE NOTE! Do NOT respond to any post but this current one! Don't go back to the older posts to post! If you need to read them, that's fine, but only post to the current post. That will keep everything simpler!

Notes for the next section:

Chapter 7 - "At Sea"

Note how overloaded each boat was and who was in each boat. Note the items in each boat and how they maintained communication between the three boats. This cannot have been easy! The dietary issues, as well as the problems occurring from exposure to salt water, were serious. How would you have fared?

PICTURE/PHOTOGRAPH BREAK! Be sure to look at them all!

Pay attention to how hard it was for them to "know" where they were. Maps with longitude and latitude were not as they are now! Longitude was especially difficult to figure. You should annotate the information on "dead reckoning" and your big assignment is to figure out where we get the term "log in" for computers! Check out p. 70 for help with this!

Consider what an effect salt had on the body, especially after it infiltrated the bread they had on board. Not a pretty picture. And---the salt water also had dire effects on the boats as well. This was a terrible predicament to be in! After they decided to eat the turtles, note how "blood" thirsty they were. Why?

Again, fate prevailed to keep them away from Tahiti and civilization/rescue. Doomed.

Chapter 8 - "Thirst"

I guess you can figure out this chapter in advance! But, try to go without drinking water or any other drink for a few hours and multiply that in your mind by days. You should annotate the problems that occur from extreme dehydration (without water, literally) on pp. 81-84.

Why was 61-year-old Richard Peterson important to all the men (p. 86)? What does this say about prayer?

Continue to note their physical torments.

Chapter 9 - "The Island"

Another stroke of fate! The men are mistaken in exactly where they have landed, but they are only a couple of hundred miles from civilization--again! Check your map to see where they were. The map is critical!

What is wrong with this island?
What is wrong with Joy?
Who ends up staying on the island? What would you have done? Stayed on the island? Continued on?

Chapter 10 - "The Whisper of Necessity"

Discover what happens to Joy and how they take care of the situation.
On p. 107, right before the 3 asterisks, what are the two choices? How can anyone make such a choice? Put yourself in their place. This really happened, remember.

Who stole bread on Chase's boat, and how would you feel as the boats were separated? Who are the two men who died in this chapter? How were they disposed of?

Happy Reading, and Happy 4th of July!
See you again on July 15th!

Mrs. C.