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. What diet addition helps the crew of the H.M.S. Surprise combat scurvy?

2. What benefit does Mr. Hervey's uncle arrange for Aubrey in Bombay?

3. What does Stanhope's physical condition push Aubrey to do in spite of safety concerns?

4. Who is appointed as acting third lieutenant after Maturin returns without Nicolls?

5. Who dies from his wounds a few days after the H.M.S. Surprise is in a battle with the French?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Maturin's meeting with Canning awkward?

2. What are Aubrey's thoughts on the physical distance between him and Linois with the French Armada?

3. Why is Babbinton's promotion only considered an acting appointment?

4. Why does Aubrey call together the captains when the H.M.S. Surprise returns to the China fleet?

5. What is Maturin's goal at the duel?

6. Why does Maturin's desired outcome for Canning not come to pass?

7. What ruse is used to fool the French armada about the strength of the China fleet?

8. Why does Commodore temper his excitement after the sea victory?

9. Why is Stephen Maturin so visibly upset when he returns to the H.M.S. Surprise in chapter eight?

10. Why might Pullings be disappointed with the actions of Mr. Hervey's uncle while the H.M.S. Surprise is anchored at Bombay?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A novel may have more than one theme, but each theme includes a subject and a verb. To say the theme of a poem is war, for instance, is incomplete. More appropriate would be to say the theme is that war is futile. Discuss a major theme in the novel H.M.S. Surprise. Explain why you believe it is a major theme and use evidence from the book to support your point.

Essay Topic 2

Stephen Maturin does not have official status aboard the H.M.S. Surprise. Although he serves as the ship's physician, Maturin is not a naval officer. How then does he relate to the crew? How does he treat the men, and what do they think of him?

Essay Topic 3

If it is the role of an antagonist to set obstacles in the way of the protagonist, who is then be considered the protagonist, and who is the antagonist in the novel? Explain using passages from the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 904 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample