Read the following excerpt from Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, in which Captain Ahab is about to toss a harpoon at the great white whale:
Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; from hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.
What trait of Gothic literature does this passage have in common with Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven"?
A.
A setting that is dark and foreboding
B.
A portrayal of animals as characters
C.
A pervasive desire to conquer nature
D.
An exploration of humanity's dark side
D. An exploration of humanity's dark side
The correct answer is C. A pervasive desire to conquer nature. Both the excerpt from Moby-Dick and "The Raven" share a common trait of portraying characters who strive to assert their power and dominance over nature. In Moby-Dick, Captain Ahab's obsession with the white whale drives him to his own destruction, symbolizing humanity's futile attempt to conquer the forces of nature. Similarly, in "The Raven," the narrator battles with his emotions and desires to understand the supernatural and conquer its impact on his own psyche.
To determine which trait of Gothic literature this passage from Herman Melville's Moby-Dick has in common with Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven," we can compare the two works and analyze their themes.
First, let's briefly discuss the excerpt from Moby-Dick. In this passage, Captain Ahab expresses his intense anger and desire for revenge towards the great white whale. He personifies the whale by addressing it directly, using vivid and hostile language. The tone of the passage is dark and intense, embodying Ahab's obsession with the whale.
Now, let's consider the traits of Gothic literature often found in Edgar Allan Poe's works. "The Raven" is a well-known example of Gothic literature, characterized by its dark and macabre themes. The poem portrays a narrator overwhelmed by grief and visited by a talking raven, representing death and darkness. The poem conveys a sense of foreboding and the exploration of darker aspects of the human psyche.
Comparing the excerpt from Moby-Dick and "The Raven," we can identify that both passages depict a certain trait of Gothic literature. While "A setting that is dark and foreboding" is a common trait found in Gothic works, it does not directly relate to the specific excerpts mentioned.
The trait that the passage from Moby-Dick has in common with "The Raven" is "D. An exploration of humanity's dark side." In both works, the authors delve into the deep and mysterious aspects of human nature. Ahab's relentless pursuit of revenge and the narrator's descent into grief and madness both reflect the exploration of humanity's darker impulses, which is a common theme in Gothic literature.
Therefore, the answer to the question is D. An exploration of humanity's dark side.