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- # BOOK II. (_Octavo_), CHAPTER V. (_Thrasher_)
## Overview
This is chapter V of Book II, titled "Thrasher," from the novel [Moby-Dick; or, The Whale](arke:01KG8AJ9GN1K052QJEZVGKXJ0T). It was extracted from the file [moby_dick.txt](arke:01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6) and is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. This chapter falls between lines 5961 and 5980 of the source text.
## Context
This chapter is part of Herman Melville's seminal novel, "Moby-Dick; or, The Whale," a work known for its detailed exploration of whaling and its allegorical themes. The chapter follows "BOOK II. (Octavo), CHAPTER IV. (Killer)." and precedes "BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER 1. (_Huzza Porpoise_)."
## Contents
Chapter V introduces the "Thrasher" whale, describing it as a creature famous for its tail, which it uses as a weapon. The text notes that little is known about the Thrasher, even less than about the Killer whale, and characterizes both as "outlaws" of the sea. The chapter concludes the second book of the novel, transitioning into Book III, which focuses on smaller whale species categorized as "Duodecimoes," including the Huzza Porpoise, Algerine Porpoise, and Mealy-mouthed Porpoise. The author justifies their inclusion among whales by his definition: a spouting fish with a horizontal tail.
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- BOOK II. (_Octavo_), CHAPTER V. (_Thrasher_)
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- 5980
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- 2026-01-30T20:47:54.527Z
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- 5961
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- BOOK II. (_Octavo_), CHAPTER V. (_Thrasher_).—This gentleman is famous
for his tail, which he uses for a ferule in thrashing his foes. He
mounts the Folio whale’s back, and as he swims, he works his passage by
flogging him; as some schoolmasters get along in the world by a similar
process. Still less is known of the Thrasher than of the Killer. Both
are outlaws, even in the lawless seas.
Thus ends BOOK II. (_Octavo_), and begins BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_).
DUODECIMOES.—These include the smaller whales. I. The Huzza Porpoise.
II. The Algerine Porpoise. III. The Mealy-mouthed Porpoise.
To those who have not chanced specially to study the subject, it may
possibly seem strange, that fishes not commonly exceeding four or five
feet should be marshalled among WHALES—a word, which, in the popular
sense, always conveys an idea of hugeness. But the creatures set down
above as Duodecimoes are infallibly whales, by the terms of my
definition of what a whale is—_i.e._ a spouting fish, with a horizontal
tail.
- title
- BOOK II. (_Octavo_), CHAPTER V. (_Thrasher_)