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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 Aubrey respond to Dundas' request?
2. What of Maturin's is in danger?
3. To what does Stephen admit when he asks a favor of Jack?
4. What do Dundas and Aubrey once do at a water stop when they are young men?
5. What does Maturin tell Clarissa he will do?
Short Essay Questions
1. Who is Whewell and how can he help in the fleet's mission?
2. How does Mrs. Williams demonstrate her obnoxious personality?
3. What does Aubrey find when he gets home and what happens to him as he rides to Woolcombe?
4. What is the significance of the fact that a slave ship fires upon his raiders?
5. Why has Aubrey's dark mood returned?
6. What is Padeen teaching Brigid, and what is Stephen's reaction?
7. What happens at the officer's mess that almost starts a fight?
8. What happens in the dinner with Maturin?
9. How are the readers show a very different side of Aubrey through his children?
10. What happens as Stephen rides to Portsmouth?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
During this era when the book takes place, if a vessel under the command of a naval officer captures another vessel from a country with whom they are warring or captures a pirate vessel, etc...the crew of the victorious vessel shares in the goods, money and value of the vessel. Discuss the following:
1. Why do you think the British had such a policy in place then?
2. What are the possible abuses that can arise from such a policy?
3. Why do you think this policy is eventually abandoned?
4. Which vessel(s) are mentioned in The Commodore that fall(s) under this maritime law and what are the circumstances of their capture? Does it seem fair?
Essay Topic 2
In addition to understanding the war in which O'Brian's novels are set, it is quite helpful to have a basic understanding of nautical terminology and the types of ships and their armaments that were used during the early 1800s. Discuss the following:
1. Define ten of the most commonly-used shipboard terms and discuss how those terms are used in The Hundred Days.
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the ships used in the early 1800s?
3. How is the British navy organized during this period (early 1800s) and how different do you think it is organized today (including how one rises in rank).
4. Compare/contrast one of the naval battles/hostile actions between two vessels described in the novel with one from WWII.
Essay Topic 3
Discuss the following:
1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?
2. Analyze and discuss The Commodore based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if it is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.
3. Do you think the fact that The Commodore falls within the genre of historical fiction changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.
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This section contains 3,064 words (approx. 11 pages at 300 words per page) |
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