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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. At what Peruvian Port does Pollard meet Charles Wilkes?

2. What direction do the winds blow from in the trades for seventy percent of the year?

3. What has Pollard's Nantucket house become in modern times?

4. What does Chase put in each boat at the beginning of Chapter 10?

5. Contrary to what the men think, what island are they actually on in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Chase prevent the crew from stealing food in Chapter 8?

2. How is Pollard's boat rescued?

3. How do the boats get separated in Chapter 10?

4. How are Wright, Weeks, and Chappel rescued from Henderson Island?

5. What idea does Pollard have for sailing out of the calm winds in Chapter 8?

6. How does Lawrence repair the leak in Chase's boat?

7. Why do the men resort to cannibalism in Chapter 11, and what is the irony of their situation?

8. What is the difference in the way Pollard and Chase are received when they return to Nantucket?

9. What does the exhibit for the Essex at the Whaling Museum feature?

10. How does Pollard's boat become separated from Hendricks' boat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Henderson Island is a key point in the crew's effort to make it to South America.

1) Explain what leads the crew to Henderson Island and why they are confused about the island's identity.

2) Describe the crew's time on the island and the important things that they discover there.

3) Analyze the decision made by three crew members to remain of the island in comparison to the decision made by the majority of the crew to leave.

Essay Topic 2

Captain Pollard's decision making abilities is the subject of Philbrick's criticism in the book.

1) Describe in detail three decisions that Pollard makes during the Essex's whaling trip as well as after it sinks and how those decisions are influenced.

2) Explain the role that Pollard's decisions have in the outcome of the trip and the survival of the crew.

3) Analyze Philbrick's position on Pollard's ability to make decisions and overrule his crew.

4) Compare the way Pollard handles a complaint from the crew with the other situations he must deal with.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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