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The Maelstrom

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

This episode concludes Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, first published in 1869–1870. Verne's novel is a founding work of science fiction, imagining undersea exploration a generation before submarines became practical instruments of war and discovery. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. The episode resolves Aronnax's moral crisis: having witnessed Nemo's massacre of a warship's crew, he flees into the Maelstrom rather than remain complicit. Verne leaves Nemo's fate—and the question of his redemption—unresolved, closing with Aronnax's hope that the wonders of the sea may yet extinguish the captain's spirit of vengeance. The novel's enduring significance lies in its exploration of the sublime terror of the deep, the moral limits of technological power, and the cost of choosing exile over humanity.

Band

Silver · First-year university levelTypical starting range: adult

Length

long · about 1929 words in 4 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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