View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does the group walk to the ship?

2. What is Villiers to Maturin?

3. With whom did Villiers abscond a few months earlier?

4. About what does the Navy department interview Aubrey?

5. How is Maturin threatened?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Mr. Herapath's task in the scheme to effect an escape for Villiers, Aubrey and Maturin and how does he fail at it? What does this say about Mr. Herapath?

2. Of what is George Herapath proud and what may be a little despicable about his attitude?

3. How does Villiers seem to Maturin and what actions has she taken that were unwise?

4. Why does Maturin hedge about being an agent even though he has no intention of accepting the position?

5. What happens that even in the midst of the drama of escape is humorous?

6. What happens to Maturin in Chapter 7 that makes it obvious that he needs to come up with a viable escape plan very soon?

7. What romantic complications add to the complexity of the novel?

8. About what does Maturin caution Villiers and why do you think he does so?

9. How does George Herapath's attitude towards Wogan seem ironic or hypocritical?

10. What is humorous about Aubrey's daily observations of the bay?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Maturin acts as a covert agency for the Crown and in the previous book, gives Wogan false intelligence that results in several French intelligence agents being killed as double agents. Discuss the following:

1. What sort of covert operations does Maturin undertake? How similar do you think his covert operations are to that of an organization such as the CIA of today?

2. How much does Maturin's covert operations how he and Aubrey fare in Boston after being captured by the Americans?

3. Do you see any conflict of interests between being a doctor and also a covert operator? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

This story is a bit different from many others in O'Brian's series about Aubrey in that the war that is focused upon is that between the United States and Britain. Discuss the following:

1. If you are a citizen of the United States, how does it feel to be reading a book where the hero/protagonist is opposed to your country?

2. Did you find yourself supportive of Aubrey despite the fact that he is actually "the enemy" if you are a citizen of the U.S.?

3. How different do you think your response to this novel would be if the point of view were from the Captain of the USS Constitution or Chesapeake?

Essay Topic 3

When Aubrey arrives in Boston and leaves the USS Constitution, Evans presents a purse of money to Aubrey, which is a collection taken up among the men. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the "enemy" gives Aubrey money, when likely they had not much themselves?

2. What do you think prompts generosity to strangers?

3. Do you think more people are generous to homeless persons collecting money on street corners or to more structured charities? Defend your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,053 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample