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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many days has it been since Pollard and Hendricks have lost sight of Chase's boat in the beginning of Chapter 11?

2. When does Cole die?

3. Which one of the following is not a whale ship that the Hero encounters on its way to Chile?

4. Which Chilean island is three hundred miles away from Chase's boat in Chapter 12?

5. What museum acquires the skeleton of the whale found in the Epilogue?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Chase put in each boat before leaving Henderson Island and why?

2. What is the crew concerned about as it sees land in the beginning of Chapter 9?

3. Why do the men resort to cannibalism in Chapter 11, and what is the irony of their situation?

4. What difficulties is Chase's boat having in Chapter 11?

5. What happens at the end of Chapter 11 when lots are drawn in Pollard's boat?

6. What is the difference in the way Pollard and Chase are received when they return to Nantucket?

7. What request does Joy have before dying in Chapter 10?

8. What idea does Pollard have for sailing out of the calm winds in Chapter 8?

9. How does Chase's boat deal with a shark attack?

10. How does Chase prevent the crew from stealing food in Chapter 8?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain in detail how Pollard's and Chase's boats are rescued in different areas and the varying routes that the crew members take back to Nantucket. Also, include a description of how the three men are rescued on Henderson Island, the difficulties with the rescue, and the unknown status of the third whale boat from the Essex.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the lives of Pollard and Chase, their experiences before and after sailing on the Essex, their leadership styles, and how they are remembered.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the way that Philbrick conveys the desperation of the men as they get farther away from the sunken ship. Provide multiple examples of how he uses literature in order to emphasize the severity of their situation and their inclination to surrender. Also, analyze the way that Philbrick simultaneously engages the reader along the way with signs of hope and optimism.

(see the answer keys)

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