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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. Where does the captain take Legatt after he tells the captain his story?

2. What is to the left of the door in the captain's stateroom?

3. Where is the chief mate's ink well located?

4. What does the steward do with the door to the captain's room after first visiting him in the morning?

5. To what innocent does the stranger relate his victim as in the thoughts of the skipper's wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the captain told toward the end of part one that signifies potential trouble for the ship and crew?

2. What does the captain ask the skipper after he is finished telling the story of Legatt and the murder? How does the skipper react?

3. What is significant about Leggatt's relation of how he avoided discovery by the steward?

4. What does the captain give Legatt as they part ways? What significance does one item have?

5. Why does Leggatt request to be marooned?

6. What is the captain consumed with once on deck the morning after Legatt comes on board? What does the author use this to demonstrate?

7. How does the captain arouse the suspicion of his steward?

8. What is the significance of the statement of the stranger that, "It's not so easy for a swimmer like me to commit suicide by drowning"?

9. What is particularly dangerous about the captain's plan to help Leggatt escape?

10. What does the captain demonstrate about his own character through his "polite insistence" in showing the Sephora's captain the entirety of his ship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the most important personality traits of the captain is his cunning. In a carefully composed essay, examine the various ways in which the captain demonstrates his cunning, whether or not it is morally justified, and to what end he does so. What is cunning? How is it different from cleverness? How does the captain demonstrate his possession of it? Is his use of his cunning morally justified? Why or why not? What end does the captain aim at achieving by the use of his cunning?

Essay Topic 2

There is overwhelming evidence throughout the story that the captain feels a special kinship to Legatt. By the end of the story, it is clear that Legatt also feels appreciation and camaraderie toward the captain. What evidence does the author give the reader of this? Give specific examples.

Essay Topic 3

As a first person narrative, little information is given definitively on the deeper consciousnesses of those besides the narrator; thus, the reader must exegetically abstract the personality of others through their related actions and words, without access to their thoughts. Thus, construct a thoughtful essay analyzing the significance of the character of Leggatt by consideration of his actions and words throughout the story. What is his general disposition to his predicament? What particular actions demonstrate this disposition? How does he conduct himself as a fugitive? What personality traits does he display through his actions and words? What is his evident opinion of the incompetent? What is his overall significance to the story?

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