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The Poulps

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne · Episode 6 of 7

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea was first published in serial form between 1869 and 1870 by Jules Verne (1828–1905), the French pioneer of science fiction. This episode recounts three harrowing events in the tenth month of Aronnax's captivity: a deadly attack by giant octopi that kills a French crewman, a hurricane off Long Island during which Nemo refuses the prisoners' plea for release, and Nemo's pilgrimage to the wreck of a French warship before deliberately ramming and sinking an unidentified man-of-war in an act of cold vengeance. Aronnax, who began his captivity dazzled by submarine marvels, witnesses massacre and recognises in Nemo not a benefactor but an avenger consumed by hatred. The text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. Verne's novel is worth reading because it dramatizes the moral cost of exile, the corruption of genius by vengeance, and the moment when wonder must yield to horror in the face of atrocity.

Band

Silver · First-year university levelTypical starting range: adult

Length

long · about 1654 words in 5 sections · 1 picture

Source

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, Jules Verne

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (10 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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