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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Mrs. Horner claim about her husband?

2. What do Maturin and Martin find fascinating about Juan Fernandez Island?

3. What does Aubrey learn about Danaë?

4. What does Maturin realize Higgins has done?

5. What does Aubrey plan to grab to save Maturin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Far Side of the World belongs to the historical novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the historical novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a historical novel and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 2

Patrick O'Brian has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think The Far Side of the World qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in the book are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. Do you think the culture of that era is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of The Far Side of the World and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of The Far Side of the World and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable? If so, which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 2,497 words (approx. 9 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample