Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Main Characters:
Professor Pierre Aronnax-Assistant Professor in Museum of Natural History in Paris; narrator of his adventures on the Nautilus; frenchman
Counseil- Monsieur Aronnax””s 30 year old servant, ” a true, devoted Flemish boy” who accompanied Arronax in all his travels
Ned Land- Canadian harpooner about 40 years old who joined Aronnax and Counseil on the “Abraham Lincoln” in search of the mysterious marine monster threatening the seas
Captain Nemo- captain, builder and engineer of the Nautilus submarine
Secondary Characters:
Commander Farragut- U.S. commander of the frigate “Abraham Lincoln”
Captain Nemo””s crew- speak an unknown language, able-bodied men that serve Captain Nemo on the Nautilus
Papuans- savages on the Island of Gilboa that attempt to attack and board the Nautilus
Dumont d””Urville- Arannax talks about this famous French explorer who was commander of the Astrolabe; Captain Nemo compares himself to this great sailor
Part I
Chapter 1- A Shifting Reef:
Merchants, sailors and captains from all over the world report seeing “an enormous thing, a long object, spindle shaped, occasionally phosphorescent, and infinitely larger and more rapid in its movements than a whale.” Debates rage over whether this mysterious monster was an extraordinary, cetaceous (of or relating to dolphin or whales) creature or a supernatural phenomenon. A couple of ships (Moravian & Scotia) were struck by this “monster” piercing the ships”” bottom. As other shipwrecks occurred, the public blamed them all on the “monster” and demanded that the seas be rid of the menace.
Chapter 2- Pro and Con
Many hypotheses were formed to explain what produced the triangular shaped hole in the Scotia””s bottom, but the two prevailing theories were that it was either a “monster of colossal strength or a submarine vessel of enormous motive power.” Since all the major countries denied any knowledge of construction for a new submarine, Professor Aronnax concluded that it must be a member of the narwhal family, or common sea unicorn. Due to his expertise in the field and publication of his book “Mysteries of the Great Submarine Grounds”, Aronnax was asked by J.B. Hobson, U.S. Secretary of Marine to join the expedition on the frigate “Abraham Lincoln” to hunt down this great narwhal.
Chapter 3- I Form My Resolution
Although fatigued from a recent journey, Professor Aronnax, accompanied by his servant Counseil, accepts the invitation to join the expedition. Commander Farragut, captain of the “Abraham Lincoln” is anxious to set off in search of the creature and they being their voyage full steam ahead.
Chapter 4- Ned Land
Captain Farragut mentioned a $2000 reward for whoever should first sight the monster. Consequently, the entire crew was alert and attentive with a shared goal of finding and harpooning the creature. On board the crew, was Ned Land, “the prince of harpooners” who took a liking to Monsieur Aronnax. Unlike Aronnax, Ned did not believe that it was possible for a whale, cetacean or sea unicorn to cause the extensive damage of the Scotia.
Chapter 5- At a Venture
“The voyage of the Abraham Lincoln was for a long time marked by no special incident.” The crew became restless and Commander Farragut asked for 3 more days to locate the sea creature before giving up and returning home. On the last day, Ned Land spots the “creature.”
Chapter 6- At Full Steam
The “Abraham Lincoln” begins its chase of the creature reaching top speeds but cannot gain on its prey. The “creature” stops and they are able to get a hundred feet from the burning light it produces. Ned throws his harpoon at the “motionless animal.” The strange lights go out and water breaks over the bridge knocking Arannax overboard into the sea.
Chapter 7- An Unknown Species of Whale
Arannax begins sinking into the sea when Counseil, who had jumped in after him, pulls him back up to the surface. The screw and the rudder of the “Abraham Lincoln” were broken by the “monster””s teeth” preventing the ship from turning around to rescue them. The two men begin swimming toward the ship. After swimming for hours, they hear a voice calling out and head toward it. No longer able to stay afloat, Arannax sinks and hits a hard body and he””s brought to the surface and faints from exhaustion. When he comes to, he sees another familiar face, Ned Land who was also thrown overboard but was fortunate to find footing on “a floating island.” They realize that they were lying on the back of some sort of submarine boat. At daybreak, they feel the submarine begin to sink and start kicking the iron plate; whereupon a man appeared, uttered a cry and quickly disappeared. Moments later, 8 men appear and whisk the 3 stranded men into the submarine.
Chapter 8- Mobilis in Mobili
The 3 men were left alone in a dark 20×10 foot cabin. Finally, the door opens and 2 strange men appear speaking in an unknown tongue. Arannax tries to tell them their story in French but the men don””t seem to understand. Then Counseil tries to talk to them in English followed by Ned in German, but the men just leave and shut the door behind them. Moments later, a steward appears and brings them dry clothes and food. Arranax notices that all the eating utensils and plates are engraved with the initial