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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 does Legatt describe the person he murdered to the captain?

2. What does the captain at first believe the man beside his ship in the water to be?

3. From where has the mysterious man directly come?

4. What position did the captain hold previously?

5. Who does the stranger say has been with the skipper of the Sephora longest amongst the crew?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is it more important than ever that the crew not know about Legatt being on board after the skipper leaves?

2. What story does Legatt share with the captain once on board the ship? How does the captain react?

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

4. What characterizes the chief mate of the unnamed ship's opinion on the story of the murder by Leggatt?

5. What principally worsened the conditions faced by the stranger and those on the Sephora?

6. What is indicated about the captain based upon his precautionary manner of proceeding in fetching clothes for the stranger?

7. Why does the captain say that it is trying to be on deck, but it is also trying to be down below? What does he mean?

8. What does the captain discover about the stranger upon first speaking with him in the stateroom?

9. What does the captain believe his first mate would think were he to see him speaking with the stranger?

10. How does the captain's floppy hat save the 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

A constant and recurring if not directly expressed conflict in the story is between the person's exterior conduct and his interior consciousness. This psychosomatic struggle constantly demonstrates itself in the struggles of the captain and Leggatt as they maneuver to maintain their secret. Compose an essay analyzing these struggles and explicate their significance in discerning character strengths and weaknesses. How do the characters compose themselves under psychological duress? What emotions do the two men have to struggle against? In what situations do the emotions get the better of them? How do they conquer their emotions and strain?

Essay Topic 3

Legatt and the captain go to extreme measures in order to keep Legatt's presence a secret. They do this at a risk to both of their lives. Why? What is it about both men that makes them feel this way? Give specific examples from the book.

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