The Caine Mutiny
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Key Facts
full title · The Caine Mutiny
author · Herman Wouk
type of work · Fiction
genre · World War II historical fiction
language · English
time and place written · 1949, New York and at sea, aboard the USS Saipan
date of first publication · 1951
publisher · Doubleday & Company
narrator · Willie Keith
point of view · Third person limited omniscient
tone · Humorous; journalistic
tense · Present
setting (time) · 1942–1945
setting (place) · New York, San Francisco, Pearl Harbor, and various islands of the South Pacific, but primarily aboard the D.M.S. Caine
protagonist · Willie Keith
major conflict · A competent crew opposes the command of an incompetent and possibly insane captain
rising action · The events of Queeg's captainship elicit increasing disgust from his crew
climax · The mutiny against Queeg
falling action · The court-martial of Queeg
themes · The maturation of Willie Keith; the conflict between regular and reserve Navies; a war of perspectives
motifs · Awakenings; meals; renewal
symbols · Queeg's metal balls; Keefer's novel; Willie's hat
foreshadowing · Queeg's increasing seclusion; the near-reporting of Queeg at the New Jersey
