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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. Who shoves Elijah into the water?

2. Una sends $_____ in gold to her family in Kentucky.

3. Una's neighbor refers to David as _____.

4. Maria only wears dresses made from which material?

5. Who delivers the baby?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the relationship between Una and Ahab change in this section? What does Ahab do to have Una for himself?

2. Who is Robben Avalon? What is his relationship with Una?

3. There is a dinner party at the judge's house. Why does the judge throw a party? What other event does the group attend?

4. What happens to Ahab during his time away from Una?

5. Discuss the scene in which Ahab returns home.

6. What tragedy befalls Nantucket? How does it change things? What are some of the steps people take to rebuild?

7. Explain how the story reverts to the time before Justice's birth.

8. What does Una receive from the captains? What news arrives from Ahab?

9. What great tragedies befall Una in chapter ninety-one? Who is on hand to help Una?

10. Who is Susan? Why is she important to Una?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Naslund does not tell the story in chronological order, which may or may not confuse the issue regarding Una's relationship with Ahab and the birth of Justice. Discuss the purpose of this technique. Was Naslund intent on filling in the back story or was there another purpose to using this method? Was the technique effective? Explain. Rewrite one of the passages keeping the story in chronological order to make the story line clear.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characters, plots, settings, and outcomes of the stories in "Ahab's Wife, or, the Star-gazer: A Novel" by Sena Jeter Naslund and Herman Melville's Moby Dick." Use various the scenarios in the books for comparison. How do the storylines differ? What is the conclusion of each story? Which lead character did you like better? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Write a short memoir that might have been written by Ahab. What types of things would Ahab be most proud of in his career and personal lives? Would the memoir include details of his relationship with Una or would it focus more on his life at sea? How might Ahab describe how he felt before, during and after each encounter with Moby Dick? What might Ahab's last thoughts be before the Pequod went down?

(see the answer keys)

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