How did people come to know the story of the Essex?
A Pollard’s first mate kept a diary that was sent to Melville.
B A reporter interviewed him for the local Nantucket newspaper.
C Pollard’s nephew wrote it down and shared it with Melville.
D One of the captains Pollard told his story to wrote it down.
How did people come to know the story of the Essex?
Share
The correct answer is A: Pollard’s first mate kept a diary that was sent to Melville.
Explanation: The story of the Essex, a whaling ship that was sunk by a sperm whale in 1820, became widely known because the first mate, Owen Chase, kept a detailed diary of the events. This diary was later used by Herman Melville as a source for his novel “Moby-Dick.” The firsthand account provided a vivid narrative of the tragic voyage and contributed significantly to the public’s knowledge of the story.
The correct answer is A: Pollard’s first mate kept a diary that was sent to Melville.
Explanation: The story of the Essex, a whaling ship that was sunk by a whale, became widely known because Pollard’s first mate, Owen Chase, documented the harrowing experience in a journal. This diary eventually reached Herman Melville, who used it as inspiration for his novel “Moby-Dick,” further popularizing the tale.