Before special effects, animation, and CGI, people had to rely on their imagination to succeed. It was storytellers like Jules Verne who took readers on adventures to the most beautiful places.
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Study Questions (selected from The Best Notes)
- What do you think happened to the Nautilus after the incident with the whirlpool? If it did not survive, how might the end have been for Captain Nemo? If it did, where did Nemo go next?
- What do you think happened to Aronnax, Conseil and Land when the voyage was through? Did Land ever return to sea? Did Aronnax become rich and famous? Did Conseil continue to be a servant?
- Conseil appears complacent and obedient throughout the entire novel. What if he was working for Captain Nemo all along, and plotted with him to bring Aronnax on board…. Why might Nemo want Aronnax on the Nautilus? How might Conseil benefit from a stay on the vessel?
- Examine the character of Nemo from a psychological perspective. What motivates his anger? What are the possible outcomes of his self-destructive behavior?
- Examine the role of national identity in the novel. Aronnax, in particular, seems obsessed with the nationality of everyone he meets, why might this be? Is the Nautilus like a sovereign nation? Why or why not?
- Is Conseil a flat character? Is there anything more to his personality besides subservience? If not, what is his purpose in the novel?
- Who is the hero in this story? What makes him good?