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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. What do Aubrey's three children race to tell him?

2. Who is Heneage Dundas?

3. How does Aubrey respond to Maturin's request?

4. What does Maturin decide to do about Coleman and Oates?

5. What relation is Diana to Mrs. Williams?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Whewell and how can he help in the fleet's mission?

2. What does Blaine say about the "man with a limp"?

3. Why are two of the fleet's ships close to mutiny?

4. What does Ringle spot and what does Aubrey decide to do?

5. What does Maturin learn from Sir Blaine?

6. What do Stephen and Smith talk about concerning the way Stephen is feeling?

7. What does Maturin say about Sarah and Emily?

8. What happens at the officer's mess that almost starts a fight?

9. How are the readers show a very different side of Aubrey through his children?

10. What happens in the dinner with Maturin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Commodore is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Many events that happen in The Commodore are foreshadowed by previous events and/or signs. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "foreshadow."

2. Why would an author use foreshadowing? Do you think it adds or detracts from your experience as a reader? Explain.

3. Trace and analyze five instances of foreshadowing in The Commodore. Match up what is mentioned earlier and what it foreshadows. Did you guess that each instance of foreshadowing was a "heads up" of something to come? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Patrick O'Brian.

2. What in O'Brian's background may have helped him in writing The Maze? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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