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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. Behind what had the stranger been hiding upon the captain's arrival in the stateroom?

2. Where does the captain go at the very end of Part I?

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

4. What does the narrator say is at his right hand at the beginning of the story?

5. From where has the mysterious man directly come?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the farewell conversation/interaction between the captain and Legatt.

2. What does Legatt say about his last moments in the water before finding the captain's ship?

3. How does the captain attempt to distract the skipper once the skipper starts to become suspicious?

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

5. When does the captain put their escape plan into place? What does he do? What reaction does this produce from the crew?

6. How does the mysterious man characterize the victim of his murderous anger?

7. Why does the captain's order for all hands to turn in without setting an anchor watch astonish the rest of the crew?

8. When and why does the captain turn the ship to open sea?

9. What does the captain tell the skipper at the end of the skipper's story? How does the skipper react? Why?

10. How does the captain narratively describe the scattered islands on the gulf?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a character given limited attention in the text of a fictional work nonetheless plays a vital role to the plot and meaning of a story, such as Captain Archbold in The Secret Sharer. Compose an essay examining the significance of the Sephora's skipper, as he is presented through the unnamed captain's narration. What are the primary motivations of Archbold, generally speaking? How does he perceive right and wrong? How does he comport himself as a leader? What role does he play in the overall significance of the text?

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