"MOBY DICK" IS SINGULARLY APPROPRIATE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ITS PHILOSOPHICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL EMPHASIS. HOWEVER, TO GUIDE THE STUDENTS INTO THE THEMATIC INTRICACIES OF THE WORK, THE TEACHER MUST USE A CAREFULLY PLANNED, INDUCTIVE APPROACH THAT DEMANDS CLOSE TEXTUAL STUDY IN CLASS. ALTHOUGH EACH TEACHER SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE SECTIONS OF THE NOVEL THAT HE FINDS MOST EXCITING, THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES HAVE PROVED REWARDING IN DISCUSSIONS WITH STUDENTS--(1) THE FIRST CHAPTER, WHICH INTRODUCES ISHMAEL AND MELVILLE'S SATIRIC HUMOR, (2) ISHMAEL'S MEETING, FRIENDSHIP, AND CONVERSATION WITH QUEEQUEG, (3) THE FIRST GLIMPSE OF AHAB, (4) STARBUCK'S BATTLE WITH HIMSELF, (5) THE DESCRIPTIONS OF "SUNSET,""DUSK,""FIRST NIGHTWATCH," AND "MIDNIGHT, FORECASTLE," AND (6) THE CHAPTER, "WHITENESS OF THE WHALE." SUCH DETAILED ANALYSES OF SELECTED PASSAGES WILL ILLUSTRATE THE NOVEL'S RELEVANCE TO THE AMBIGUITIES OF MODERN LIFE AND PREPARE THE STUDENT FOR DEPTH STUDY OF THE WORK IN COLLEGE. (THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN "ENGLISH JOURNAL," VOL. 56 (NOVEMBER 1967), 1115-19.) (LH)