Billy Budd by Herman Melville

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Description:

In Billy Budd, a struggle between good and evil is presented through the lives of three men, each of whom portrays an aspect of human behavior—from lack of knowledge of the nature of man to the intellectual acceptance of values which lead to the priority of law and order at the cost of injustice. The story takes place during the Napoleonic wars, when two mutinies have ignited fears of more turmoil. An innocent man, Billy Budd, is accused for no apparent reason by a petty officer, Claggart. The captain of the Indomitable doubts Claggart’s accusations and summons Billy to confront the charges. Because of his stuttering and inability to speak an immediate word in response, Billy strikes Claggart dead. Thus, the captain of the ship is faced with a serious dilemma, for although he believes in Billy’s goodness and understands him, he is forced to uphold naval law. As a result of Captain Vere’s commitment to duty, Billy Budd is hanged.

Activities:

Students explore the world of the British navy in 1797, discuss the foreshadowing of conflicts, and examine mythological, biblical, and historical allusions. Lessons include questions for critical thinking and discussion, vocabulary enrichment, literary analysis, and writing assignments. 

Evaluation options include multiple choice, matching, true/false, quotation identification, and essay tests. Answer keys are provided.

Ethical Values:

Compassion
Courage
Faith
Loyalty
Responsibility