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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. How long after the sinking of the Essex is Chase's account of the ordeal available as a book?

2. What time of the day do the men observe the latitude of their trip in Chapter 10?

3. What type of exhibit is given to the Essex at the museum referenced in the Epilogue?

4. When is Pollard's boat sighted again in Chapter 8?

5. At what Peruvian Port does Pollard meet Charles Wilkes?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Chase's boat deal with a shark attack?

2. How is Pollard's boat rescued?

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

4. What happens to Hendricks' boat?

5. What is the crew concerned about as it sees land in the beginning of Chapter 9?

6. Why does the crew decide to leave Henderson Island? Who chooses to stay?

7. What happens at the end of Chapter 11 when lots are drawn in Pollard's boat?

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

9. Who attends the dinner on the night Pollard is rescued, and what does Pollard discuss with Aaron Paddack later that night?

10. What is Chase's initial opinion about staying on the island in Chapter 9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the first two encounters with a whale that the crew of the Essex has, including a detailed description of the Nantucket sleigh ride. Also, provide an explanation of why this is a significant point in the story and what it indicates for the different members of the crew.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the way that Philbrick conveys the desperation of the men as they get farther away from the sunken ship. Provide multiple examples of how he uses literature in order to emphasize the severity of their situation and their inclination to surrender. Also, analyze the way that Philbrick simultaneously engages the reader along the way with signs of hope and optimism.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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