Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Does keeping so much of Captain Nemo a mystery add to or take away from the novel? How does it affect the reader’s impression of this character?

Research some of the real-life inventions Verne puts into his fictional world. How does this blending of fact and imagination define the genre of science fiction Verne created?

Are there disadvantages to Captain Nemo’s technological prowess? Explain your answer using examples.

Using examples, discuss how the underwater environment is portrayed in the book. What is the world beneath the sea like? How does it compare to the world on land?

Compare Captain Nemo to the real-life explorers Verne references in the novel. How does his view of what he explores differ from theirs? How is it the same?

Why has Captain Nemo rejected humanity? What actions does he take to support his feelings? What actions does he take to complicate them?

Does Captain Nemo’s character change during Professor Aronnax’s time on the Nautilus? Or is Professor Aronnax simply more aware of qualities he ignored in the beginning? Use evidence to support your answer.

Compare the novel’s leaders. What are the power dynamics between Captain Nemo and his crew, Professor Aronnax and Conseil, and Captain Farragut and his ship? What does the novel say about leadership?