Media

I made this collage for section one because these pictures are basically the main points. The depth of the ocean picture obviously describes how most characters are all scientists or captains and have experience with the ocean and all of its forms. It also shows how Professor Pierre Aronnax, Ned Land and Conseil went into the ocean to look for the sea creature in their submarine.

Speaking of the submarine, this plays a big role in the story because it is the most adventurous. At the beginning of the story this is introduced as the Nautilus. When they try and find out what this creature is and study more about it, they take the Nautilas down to the depth of the ocean. The submarine is huge, it fits a library and a couple other rooms.

At first no one was sure if this thing under the sea was actually a sea creature, normal fish or just some piece of junk that got mistaken for a living species. This event was really shocking for all the citizens but for the captains, sailors, pilots and scientists this was the most amazing thing ever. They wanted to do more research on it.

This novel starts in New York during 1867, and in the picture shows a picture of NY back then. They do not really talk much about New York and its surroundings because the setting is mostly underwater.

Contemporary Relevance

The protagonist of a story is the main character, who traditionally, undergoes some sort of change. He or She must usually overcome some opposing force. In Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas the protagonist is Dr. Pierre Aronnax. He is the narrator and central character of the tale. Aronnax is repeatedly described as a naturalist throughout the story. A naturalist is, essentially, a person who is well studied in natural sciences such as zoology and botany--as is Aronnax. However, within the context of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, a tale of science fiction, his position of a naturalist is juxtaposed with that which seeks to thwart nature--Captain Nemo and the Nautilus. Ironically, Aronnax’s confrontation with Nemo, during which he sees how science can be used for evil, he chooses his fellow man over science.
The antagonist of a story is the character that provides an obstacle for the protagonist. In this case the antagonist is Captain Nemo. The obstacle is the imprisonment of Aronnax and the other characters aboard the nautalius .
The climax of a story is the major turning point that determines the outcome of the plot. The climax is in chaper 22 “nemos last words”.
 In this novel, the outcome is that the men survive the giant whirlpool. Captain Nemo remains a mystery; we do not know if he has survived, nor do we know where he came from or who he really is. Aronnax plans to return to France.
The mood, or atmosphere of a book, is the general feeling of the story. This is usually portrayed through word choice, description, and characterization. This story is primarily mysterious and dark. The mystery results from the author’s preoccupation with Captain Nemo’s identity. The entire plot is based on the voyages of the Nautilus - of which we know neither its purpose, its destination, nor its intentions. We do not know the language spoken by the crew. We do not know Nemo’s background. We do not know where Nemo goes when he disappears. We do not know what drives Nemo. The darkness of the story is present from the very beginning: before we know what this mysterious object is, we know that it destroys ships and kills innocent people. Although Nemo is often kind and engaging, he is subject to sudden outbursts of rage.

Questioning and critical thinking

Questioning and critical thinking

Each event that occurs in the story presents a different side of nemo, what are his different sides?

Who risked his life for the pearl diver ?

What type of food is on the submarine ?

What kinds of people does nemo admire,  based on the portraits he has on the walls ?

Where does nemo attack the other ship?

Why is the world anxious to find the mysterious sea animal?

How does captain nemo feel about his dead crew members ?

Analysis of Style and structure

Analysis of style and structure

THEME

Man Vs Nature

The major theme of this story  is man vs nature. There is clash among captain Nemo and Pierre Aronnax, Aronnax is the main character, narrator, and protagonist of this novel, while nemo is the antagonist. Pierre Aronnax is a naturalist, and must come to agreement over science and his fellow man. In this novel man vs nature is a bit more complex than the typical man vs nature theme, which usually entails men battling the forces of nature. In this case, which is typical science fiction, man is trying to overcome nature and trying to defy nature. Captain nemo tries to creat an alternate nature, which at the time of this novel was as foreign as living in outer space (which nemo says, himself).

In the Nautilus, captain nemo is subject to the forces of nature. He has to find a way to create the same atmosphere that he found on land and he has to battle natural creatures. It is seeming that nature has won when nemo uses it to end his mission. Even though at his attempt to create a new environment, he cant escape his humanity and emotions, because  his emotions are what drive him to kill.

Revenge and Liberty

One of the minor themes in the novel is revenge because captain nemo keeps mentioning that he is seeking revenge for injustices he incurred while on land. Liberty is another theme that pervades this novel. The world is seeking to liberate itself of the creature/monster the nautilus. Nemo also seeks liberty from society and land itself. Aronnax, counseil, and land seek liberty from nemo.. yet no one is truly free.

“I am not what you call a civilized man! I have done with society entirely, for reasons which I alone have the right of appreciating. I do not, therefore, obey its laws, and u desire you never to allude to them before me again!” –captain nemo

This quotation reveals that nemo believes he has completely separated himself from humanity. Furthermore, it reveals how easily he can anger and that never plans to tell the men about his past or intentions. 

Analysis of setting

Analysis of setting

The story begins in 1866 and ends in 1868. The nautilus goes through the Arctic, Atlantic, Red, Mediterranean, Indian, pacific, and Antarctic oceans and seas. All the action in twenty thousand leagues under the sea starts in new York in the spring of 1867 and finishes over a year later in northern Norway.

The story carries its protagonists across the surface of the globe , to the south pole and back, and far down in the depths of different oceans and seas. The nautilus it self is the true setting of the novel; it is the  imaginative  device that makes the action in this novel possible. Designed by captain nemo, the electrically powered nautilus is two or three hundred feet long, capable of speeds far greater than surface ships of those times, and able to dive great depths. It is large enough to contain  a museum of oceanic research, a library, and even an organ, played by nemo.  

“strike, mad vessel! Shower your useless shot! And the, you will not escape the spur of the nautilus.” –captain nemo

This is an example of nemos madness and how he was on the submarine.

Most memorable moment journal

Most memorable moment journal

To my mind, it’s a quite good example of a science fiction. it was intriguing, the suspense interested me until the first long and detailed scientific description. I realize that the book was written in the epoch when a lot of described things were impossible…It was a little bit boring. But at the same time, the descriptions of underwater landscapes are beautiful and amazing. The adventures of the main characters are written masterfully. I enjoyed the fantastic details, like navigation under the Suez Canal. But my most favorite part and the most memorable was vigo bay close to chapter 8.

When they  reaching the Atlantic, Land decided to execute their plan of escape. He came to Aronnax and told him they would have to leave that night at 9pm., while they were only a few miles off the Spanish coast. So  Land made the preparations.

For the rest of the day Aronnax was overcome with emotion. He did not want to leave his underwater studies unfinished, especially not the Atlantic, which he considered his ocean. However, he knew he must go. He wandered around the museum that he loved so dearly. Aronnax found Captain Nemo’s austere room empty and went in. He observed pictures on the wall of great men devoted to humanity, such as Washington and Lincoln. Aronnax wondered what Nemo might have in common with these men

At 9 p.m. Aronnax waited in the library for Land’s signal, as planned. However, he noticed a sudden slowing of the ship, and felt it sit at the ocean’s bottom. Then Nemo entered the library. Nemo asked Aronnax if he knew his Spanish history. When Aronnax responded that he was not that familiar with it, Nemo relayed a story that ended with a ship wreck in the Vigo Bay, the bay in which they were sitting. When Aronnax looked out into the water he saw divers collecting the wealth that was left by the wreck. Nemo told Aronnax that it was this shipwreck and the many others in the seas that made him a multi millionaire. Aronnax remarked that these riches could be better used if they were properly distributed. This statement incensed Nemo who said why Aronnax would think that he kept them for himself. Aronnax realized then that Nemo was still human, and that he was using his riches to help some poor and oppressed people. .

This part of the book is the most memorable to me because it had so much suspense.. and on top of everything they realized nemo isn’t as bad as they thought he was, he has a good side to him like giving riches to the poor. Throughout the book I kept thinking nemo was a bad guy because of how he treats people and how he killed someone.. but then as I got to the end of the book I realized hes actually a good person in the long run.

Check 2 - section 1, 2

Okay Ladies,

You've posted your work, but you need to see me in class to fix your blog's format!  You haven't followed the steps in setting it up - as a result your blog is hard to sort through.

Overall, more detail is needed.  For example: Ghazal, for a cpt, you cannot just list headings for character analysis - this needs to be in paragraph form.  Amarachi, I know you can explain/ expand some of your sections.

It's up to you ladies, it's your mark.  But I would edit and add more if I were you.  1 time only offer.

You all need to respond to each other by class time.

~Ms. G