Omoo by Herman Melville (1847)
The novel follows the story of a young sailor who escapes from a South Seas island where he was held captive by a Polynesian chief. He joins a whaling ship and becomes embroiled in a series of adventures, including mutiny and encounters with various island cultures. The narrative explores themes of identity, morality, and the complexities of human relationships in a multicultural world.
By Herman Melville · First published 1847 · Genre: Adventure, Travel, Fiction · 60 chapters · 118,810 words
First lines
It was the middle of a bright tropical afternoon that we made good our escape from the bay. The vessel we sought lay with her main-topsail aback about a league from the land, and was the only object that broke the broad expanse of the ocean.
What this Textopian page supports
Omoo is listed on Textopian as a novel by Herman Melville, dated 1847 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Herman Melville
- Date: 1847 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Travel, Fiction, Historical, Nautical
- Length: 118,810 words
- Structure: 82 chapters, 1,710 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Omoo by Herman Melville
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Omoo?
- How does this novel by Herman Melville fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Memory Of The System by Louis Becke
- Northern Lands by Oliver Optic
- Typee by Herman Melville
- The Call Of The South by Louis Becke
- The Golden Road by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Penelopes Experiences In Scotland by Kate Douglas Wiggin
Genres
- Adventure — The narrative follows a journey through the South Seas, focusing on exploration and encounters with different cultures.
- Travel — The book is structured around the protagonist's travels and experiences in exotic locations, emphasizing the travel aspect.
- Fiction — The story is a fictional account, though inspired by real-life experiences, and is presented as a novel.
- Historical — Set in the 19th century, it provides insights into the historical context of the South Seas and colonial interactions.
Tags
Adventure · Autobiographical · Coming-of-age · Fiction · Historical fiction · Literary fiction · Maritime · Memoir · Narrative nonfiction · Novel · Romance · Sea story
Contents
- My Reception Aboard
- Some Account of the Ship
- Further Account of the Julia
- A Scene in the Forecastle
- What Happened at Hytyhoo
- We Touch at La Dominica
- What Happened at Hannamanoo
- The Tattooers of La Dominica
- We Steer to the Westward-State of Affairs
- A Sea-Parlour Described, with some of its Tenants
- Doctor Long Ghost a Wag-One of his Capers
- Death and Burial of Two of the Crew
- Our Destination Changed
- Rope Yarn
- Chips and Bungs
- We Encounter a Gale
- The Coral Islands
- Tahiti
- A Surprise-More about Bembo
- The Round Robin-Visitors from Shore
- Proceedings of the Consul
- The Consul's Departure
- The Second Night off Papeetee
- Outbreak of the Crew
- Jermin Encounters an Old Shipmate
- We Enter the Harbour-Jim the Pilot
- A Glance at Papeetee-We are Sent Aboard the Frigate
- Reception from the Frenchman
- The Reine Blanche
- They Take Us Ashore-What Happened There
- The Calabooza Beretanee
- Proceedings of the French at Tahiti
- We Receive Calls at the Hotel De Calabooza
- Life at the Calabooza
- Visit from an Old Acquaintance
- We are Carried before the Consul and Captain
- The French Priests Pay their Respects
- Little Julia Sails Without Us
- Jermin Serves Us a Good Turn-Friendships in Polynesia
- We Take Unto ourselves Friends
- We Levy Contributions on the Shipping
- Motoo-Otoo a Tahitian Casuist
- One is Judged by the Company he Keeps
- Cathedral of Papoar-The Church of the Cocoa-Nuts
- Missionary's Sermon; with some Reflections
- Something about the Kannakippers
- How they Dress in Tahiti
- Tahiti as it Is
- Same Subject Continued
- Something Happens to Long Ghost
- Wilson Gives Us the Cut-Departure for Imeeo
- The Valley of Martair
- Farming in Polynesia
- Some Account of the Wild Cattle in Polynesia
- A Hunting Ramble with Zeke
- Mosquitoes
- The Second Hunt in the Mountains
- The Hunting-Feast; and a Visit to Afrehitoo
- The Murphies
- What they Thought of Us in Martair