Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, Part 2, Chapter 14 summary

What happens

1. The Nautilus reaches open water, and Nemo steps first onto an island shore that he believes no human has visited.
2. Aronnax and Conseil examine volcanic ground and abundant birds, but fog prevents Nemo from taking his noon observation.
3. Snow delays another attempt, and the Nautilus follows the coast farther south.
4. On March 20, Aronnax and Conseil study seals and walruses, while another failed observation makes the equinox their last chance.
5. On March 21, Nemo and Aronnax climb a peak and confirm their polar position by observing the sun at noon.
6. Nemo claims the region for himself, raises a black flag, and addresses the setting sun.

In this chapter

What to notice

Nemo answers the question of whose authority supports his claim. His achievement becomes an assertion of personal ownership rather than a claim for a nation.

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