Question

Read the sentence, examine the table, and answer the question.
Each silent worshipper seemed purposely sitting apart from the other, as if each silent grief were insular and incommunicable.

–Moby Dick,
Herman Melville

Based on the sentence and the definitions, what is the meaning of insular?

joined in sadness
isolated from others
determined and quiet
separated and religious

Answer 1

isolated from others

Context clues: "sitting apart" and "incommunicable" imply each grief was inward, cut off from others.