They provide background information on the tasks required of the crew on a whaling ship. they explain ahab's inner motivation for sequestering himself inside his cabin. they lead the reader into a description of the novel's main character, ahab. they give the reader a detailed description of the crew's ship, the pequod.

What theme is best revealed by this conflict? a.)with cooperation, crews can defeat the gods. b.)dangerous ocean travel claims many lives. c.)rest is required for all who work hard. d.)people must respect the wrath of the gods. read the excerpt from part 1 of the odyssey. now zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north a storm against the ships and driving veils of the squall moved down like night on land and sea. the bows went plunging at the gust; sails cracked and lashed outstrips in the big wind. we saw death in that fury, dropped the yards, unshipped the oars, and pulled for the nearest lee: then two long days and nights we lay offshore.