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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. What does Aubrey feel a few hours later?

2. What is the approximate crew capacity of the Ariel?

3. What do Maturin and Jagiello do one foggy morning?

4. What does Maturin suggest?

5. Why does Aubrey get struck with a piece of hard meat?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are a couple ill omens that Aubrey experiences that gives him the jitters?

2. How does Lieutenant Grant slander Aubrey's name even further?

3. Briefly describe Ariel's Senior Lieutenant, Hyde.

4. Describe the actions that lead to the wreck of the Ariel.

5. What does Aubrey give a technical discussion of and how does he replace the broken chronometer?

6. Who does the Ariel encounter and what does Aubrey decide to do?

7. Why is Aubrey searching for a suitable ship to capture?

8. What transpires in the meeting between Sir Joseph Blaine and Maturin?

9. Briefly describe the Ariel, the ship of which Aubrey assumes command.

10. Why is Hyde cutting Jagiello's meat and what happens at dinner one evening when Hyde does so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In addition to understanding the war in which O'Brian's novels are set, it is quite helpful to have a basic understanding of nautical terminology and the types of ships and their armaments that were used during the early 1800s. Discuss the following:

1. Define ten of the most commonly-used shipboard terms and discuss how those terms are used in Mauritius.

2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the ships used in the early 1800s?

3. How is the British navy organized during this period (early 1800s) and how different do you think it is organized today (including how one rises in rank).

4. Compare/contrast one of the naval battles/hostile actions between two vessels described in the novel with one from WWII.

Essay Topic 2

Aubrey, though very bright in many ways, is somewhat superstitious, a trait common to many sailors. Discuss the following:

1. What is superstition? Can you name a few common superstitions? Do any of them seem to have any validity in logic?

2. Why do you think sailors have the reputation for being superstitious? Do you think it is true? What occurs in The Surgeon's Mate that is explained by or attributed to superstition? Are there other explanations for the occurrences?

3. What are some of the superstitions you are familiar with that sailors seem to believe? Do you believe any of them? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Maturin acts as a covert agency for the Crown and at the beginning of the novel has just escaped serious problems in the United States because of this. Later, when the Ariel wrecks and the crew is captured by the French, Maturin plans his suicide because of information he has due to his position.

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 effect good outcomes for the British during this novel? Is the operation at Grimshold a covert operation? What is the outcome of that operation?

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

(see the answer keys)

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