From Katie R.
On Monday March 5, the school attended a performance in the PAC. David Coffin presented what he had to say through traditional songs accompanied by an accordion. He spoke about topics such as Nantucket and whaling which both directly relate to our studies of Revenge of the Whale.
Did you enjoy the performance? What was your favorite (or least favorite) part of the show? Did you learn anything new or valuable? What were your overall thoughts of the presentation?
Monday, March 12, 2007
Friday, March 9, 2007
Cannibalism
From Peter H.
Would you eat a person if you wanted to survive?
I would rather die than eat a human. I could never live with the guilt. The crew of the Essex faced cannabalism amongst themselves when they were trying to avoid it from the people who inhabited the islands off South Aerica in the first place. The crew must have been delusional or their determination to survive must have been very strong to drive themselves to eat each other. If the crew had only been able to predict what might happen if they ran out of food, then they might have brought more survival tools, like fishing pools, fishing nets, etc.
Your thoughts?
Would you eat a person if you wanted to survive?
I would rather die than eat a human. I could never live with the guilt. The crew of the Essex faced cannabalism amongst themselves when they were trying to avoid it from the people who inhabited the islands off South Aerica in the first place. The crew must have been delusional or their determination to survive must have been very strong to drive themselves to eat each other. If the crew had only been able to predict what might happen if they ran out of food, then they might have brought more survival tools, like fishing pools, fishing nets, etc.
Your thoughts?
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Is It Worth Going to Sea?
Thoughts from classmate Isabella S.
In Revenge of the Whale, the main topic, other than survival and death, was whaling. Whaling was and still is a very difficult line of work. First, you have to catch the whale, drag it on board, cut it up, then separate the blubber from the skin and bones. It is very difficult labor. And, it is also very dangerous.
In Revenge of the Whale, the sailors went on a journey of a lifetime. They went on the Essex to go whaling, but ended up having to cast lots to survive. When they got hit on the side of the boat by the whale, the crew members tried to get as many supplies as they could into their lifeboats before the entire ship sank. They knew that from then on the journey was going to be long and hard. They didn't know before that a whale could attack a ship.
But, if you have any common sense, you would know that any type of travel on the sea isn't completely safe because your boat could sink or you could drown or you could even fall overboard. Many things could happen.
Now, if you knew that these things could happen to you, would you still go? If you knew that you would spend months and even years away from your family and could get attacked by a whale at any moment, would you still go? The sailors of the Essex knew all of this and they still went only to get paid a low wage. If you were living back at that thime, would you go whaling considering all of the things that could happen to you?
Please comment.
In Revenge of the Whale, the main topic, other than survival and death, was whaling. Whaling was and still is a very difficult line of work. First, you have to catch the whale, drag it on board, cut it up, then separate the blubber from the skin and bones. It is very difficult labor. And, it is also very dangerous.
In Revenge of the Whale, the sailors went on a journey of a lifetime. They went on the Essex to go whaling, but ended up having to cast lots to survive. When they got hit on the side of the boat by the whale, the crew members tried to get as many supplies as they could into their lifeboats before the entire ship sank. They knew that from then on the journey was going to be long and hard. They didn't know before that a whale could attack a ship.
But, if you have any common sense, you would know that any type of travel on the sea isn't completely safe because your boat could sink or you could drown or you could even fall overboard. Many things could happen.
Now, if you knew that these things could happen to you, would you still go? If you knew that you would spend months and even years away from your family and could get attacked by a whale at any moment, would you still go? The sailors of the Essex knew all of this and they still went only to get paid a low wage. If you were living back at that thime, would you go whaling considering all of the things that could happen to you?
Please comment.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Religion
From Charlotte Goff
In Revenge of the Whale, it seems like religion plays a key role in the survival ofthe men. Although you could argue that food (satisfied the crew's hunger), and water (quenched the crew's thirst) were more vital for their safe return, I believe that religion (nourished thier souls) was just as crucial. Boatsteerer Thomas Chappel isquoted on page 139: "I found religion not only useful, but absolutely necessary toenable me to bear up under these severe trials." The other examples of theimportance of religion include when African-American crew members such as Richard Peterson led the crew in prayer. I think that the crew of the Essex would not have survived if they had not used their faith to endure their overwhelming hardships.
Comments?
In Revenge of the Whale, it seems like religion plays a key role in the survival ofthe men. Although you could argue that food (satisfied the crew's hunger), and water (quenched the crew's thirst) were more vital for their safe return, I believe that religion (nourished thier souls) was just as crucial. Boatsteerer Thomas Chappel isquoted on page 139: "I found religion not only useful, but absolutely necessary toenable me to bear up under these severe trials." The other examples of theimportance of religion include when African-American crew members such as Richard Peterson led the crew in prayer. I think that the crew of the Essex would not have survived if they had not used their faith to endure their overwhelming hardships.
Comments?
Monday, February 12, 2007
Where Are We: Navigation
From Brian Felsenthal
During the voyage of the crew of the Essex, the sailors had absolutely no idea how far west they were off of South America. They had charts, but they were lost along with the Essex. The only pieces of navigational equipment they were able to salvage were the sextants , copies of Nathaniel Bowditch's "Navigator," and compasses. This lack of knowledge of position made the crew quite apprehensive of the surrounding isles. They were unwilling to stop at many places due to either the fear of cannibals or the possibility of island confusion.
What would you do if you were in Pollard's position? Would you stay on course for South America or head for possible supplies at the Society Islands? Would you have stayed at Henderson like Seth Weeks, William Wright, and Thomas Chappel, or left because you knew staying on the island meant death because of those other skeletons and lack of food?
During the voyage of the crew of the Essex, the sailors had absolutely no idea how far west they were off of South America. They had charts, but they were lost along with the Essex. The only pieces of navigational equipment they were able to salvage were the sextants , copies of Nathaniel Bowditch's "Navigator," and compasses. This lack of knowledge of position made the crew quite apprehensive of the surrounding isles. They were unwilling to stop at many places due to either the fear of cannibals or the possibility of island confusion.
What would you do if you were in Pollard's position? Would you stay on course for South America or head for possible supplies at the Society Islands? Would you have stayed at Henderson like Seth Weeks, William Wright, and Thomas Chappel, or left because you knew staying on the island meant death because of those other skeletons and lack of food?
Sunday, February 11, 2007
A note to the Whalers on this blog
From Mrs. Anthony
I am thrilled to see your postings and comments on the blog and the additions to the wiki. We have gotten off to a slower start than I had thought, so I don't want anyone to feel any pressure. Keep comments and postings coming and start to think through the project. After vacation, I will take another look at the grading and the number of points needed --not to worry, I will reduce the numbers required to get an A -- probably by around 20 points at least.
Everyone should make some contributions. Remember, your project could be a section of the wiki. See me for details.
If anyone has any concerns or is feeling any pressure, please see me. Mrs. Anthony
I am thrilled to see your postings and comments on the blog and the additions to the wiki. We have gotten off to a slower start than I had thought, so I don't want anyone to feel any pressure. Keep comments and postings coming and start to think through the project. After vacation, I will take another look at the grading and the number of points needed --not to worry, I will reduce the numbers required to get an A -- probably by around 20 points at least.
Everyone should make some contributions. Remember, your project could be a section of the wiki. See me for details.
If anyone has any concerns or is feeling any pressure, please see me. Mrs. Anthony
Casting Lots
From Sarah S.
For me, one of the most interesting issues in this book was the casting of lots. Casting lots was an old sea tradition, a completely random way to determine who would sacrifice themselves for the good of the crew—which essentially meant that they would allow the rest of the crew to kill them for food. This tradition raised many moral issues. Is it right to do this? Should one member of a group sacrifice him or herself for the benefit of many? What are everyone's thoughts on this issue? (I have some…so yes, Iwill be posting on my own blog-starter. :-) )
For me, one of the most interesting issues in this book was the casting of lots. Casting lots was an old sea tradition, a completely random way to determine who would sacrifice themselves for the good of the crew—which essentially meant that they would allow the rest of the crew to kill them for food. This tradition raised many moral issues. Is it right to do this? Should one member of a group sacrifice him or herself for the benefit of many? What are everyone's thoughts on this issue? (I have some…so yes, Iwill be posting on my own blog-starter. :-) )
Survival
From Isabella S.
The crew on the Essex were very remarkable. They suffered cold, fatigue, and many other symptoms. They couldn't even bear to stand up. "...they barely had the strength 'to move about in our boats, to perform the necessary labors appertaining to [them]'........upon our attempt to rise again, the blood would rush into the head, and an intoxicating blindness come over us, almost to occasion our suddendly falling down again." To survive they had to eat the dead shipmates' bodies to fill thier empty stomachs, and they drank the blood.
Do you think this was right? Do you think they should have thrown the body overboard? Should they have kept the body? What would you have done in that situation? Was that kind of ironic was that all of the colored ship-mates died first. Do you think that was a coincidence or was it planned out that way? What are your thoughts on this?This is something that I was thinking about and it really interested me. Do you think that it is ok?
The crew on the Essex were very remarkable. They suffered cold, fatigue, and many other symptoms. They couldn't even bear to stand up. "...they barely had the strength 'to move about in our boats, to perform the necessary labors appertaining to [them]'........upon our attempt to rise again, the blood would rush into the head, and an intoxicating blindness come over us, almost to occasion our suddendly falling down again." To survive they had to eat the dead shipmates' bodies to fill thier empty stomachs, and they drank the blood.
Do you think this was right? Do you think they should have thrown the body overboard? Should they have kept the body? What would you have done in that situation? Was that kind of ironic was that all of the colored ship-mates died first. Do you think that was a coincidence or was it planned out that way? What are your thoughts on this?This is something that I was thinking about and it really interested me. Do you think that it is ok?
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Starvation.....
Classmate Katie R. writes:
After the shipwreck, the men of the Essex faced many tragic struggles. The starvation and dehydration of the men were devastating. As a reader, it was difficult to imagine how they dealt with it. For many of the men, they not only felt pain, but their bodies were falling apart. “They rowed like old men- wincing and groaning… their bodies had been consuming themselves… the simple act of sitting to be a torture … their arms had shrunk to sticks as their muscles withered.” As people today, we all complain at one time or another that we are starving or thirsty. But do we ever have the right to say that? Do we take these words for granted? Do we even have the right to say these words, knowing what the men of the Essex endured? What were your feelings and thoughts while reading this part of the book?
After the shipwreck, the men of the Essex faced many tragic struggles. The starvation and dehydration of the men were devastating. As a reader, it was difficult to imagine how they dealt with it. For many of the men, they not only felt pain, but their bodies were falling apart. “They rowed like old men- wincing and groaning… their bodies had been consuming themselves… the simple act of sitting to be a torture … their arms had shrunk to sticks as their muscles withered.” As people today, we all complain at one time or another that we are starving or thirsty. But do we ever have the right to say that? Do we take these words for granted? Do we even have the right to say these words, knowing what the men of the Essex endured? What were your feelings and thoughts while reading this part of the book?
Monday, January 29, 2007
Our Products: Ideas for What You Will Create
Let's start sharing ideas for what we want to create. Let us use this for tossing out ideas and helping each other formulate a good idea. I will want to make a list of who is doing what. Feel free to work alone or in teams -- both blue and green teams. Use the comments for putting forth your ideas.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Welcome to the Revenge of the Whale Blog
You raised some interesting issues during our lunch meeting. You shared thoughts about racisim/the whaling industry/and other ideas. On this blog I would like some discussion points raised.
1. For students in Mrs. Gray's Whalers, write out a discussion topic with questions, and email it to me at nanthony@marblehead.com so that I can post it on the blog, and others can leave comments to your discussion topic.
2. When commenting on the discussion topics, always choose "other" for posting comments and use your first name and first letter of last name.
Here is a sample for discussion. You can comment on this and you can also create a new discussion topic that I will post.
Sample of a discussion point that YOU can email to me: The men who went to sea on board the Essex were experienced for the most part. Yet, when the boat was attacked, they stuck to the sea and did not try and locate nearby safety in a seaport. The men avoided possible places becausethey were frightened that they would be attacked by cannibals, for example. What are some examples in the book that show that these able seaman were perhaps naive or too frightened to seek safety? Why do you think that they were like that? They had navigation tools, didn't they? How does this add to the tragedy of this episode in history?
1. For students in Mrs. Gray's Whalers, write out a discussion topic with questions, and email it to me at nanthony@marblehead.com so that I can post it on the blog, and others can leave comments to your discussion topic.
2. When commenting on the discussion topics, always choose "other" for posting comments and use your first name and first letter of last name.
Here is a sample for discussion. You can comment on this and you can also create a new discussion topic that I will post.
Sample of a discussion point that YOU can email to me: The men who went to sea on board the Essex were experienced for the most part. Yet, when the boat was attacked, they stuck to the sea and did not try and locate nearby safety in a seaport. The men avoided possible places becausethey were frightened that they would be attacked by cannibals, for example. What are some examples in the book that show that these able seaman were perhaps naive or too frightened to seek safety? Why do you think that they were like that? They had navigation tools, didn't they? How does this add to the tragedy of this episode in history?
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