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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. When did ships from Nantucket first start rounding Cape Horn?

2. How long does the crew of the Essex remain by the wrecked ship?

3. As described in Chapter 3, what does each whale boat contain?

4. Whose boat had the least amount of people in it as the crew divides for its trip in Chapter 6?

5. Which well known island is mentioned in Chapter 6 as a part of the Society Islands that the Nantucketers should have known about?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are the three whale boats divided and stocked for the trip at the end of Chapter 6?

2. What does the Dauphin find in the Preface?

3. What happens when the first whale of the trip is sighted?

4. How successful is the Essex off the coast of Peru?

5. How is the Essex described in Chapter 1?

6. How does the crew of the Essex decide to sail towards South America instead of the Society Islands?

7. What setbacks are the three boats having as they approach the Society Islands at the end of Chapter 7?

8. What well known island is part of the Society Islands and why should the crew have been aware of it?

9. How do two whales escape from Chase's boat in the beginning of Chapter 5?

10. What are some of the facts that Philbrick discloses about the sinking of the Essex in the Preface?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chronicle the island town of Nantucket from the nineteenth century to the time that the book was written. Provide an explanation of what the town was like when the Essex set sail and the effects that whaling had on the community. Then, describe how and why Nantucket has changed throughout the years and its present state.

Essay Topic 2

Philbrick chooses to begin the story with the Dauphin's rescue of Pollard's boat. Use the book as a reference to discuss the reasons why he selects this particular event as the starting point. Also, include a description of the rescue and an analysis of the other facts about the upcoming tragedy that Philbrick discloses in the Preface.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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