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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 good news does the Captain offer Aubrey?

2. Where is Aubrey's boat headed?

3. What does Maturin realize?

4. Who is Yorke?

5. What course of action makes sense?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Aubrey argues so strenuously to retain his lieutenants and midshipmen?

2. What does Maturin learn that explains the Navy's treatment of Aubrey?

3. Why do you think the HMS Leopard is being converted to a transport?

4. Do you think it is helpful for the author to present some background information from other books in the series, particularly the one just preceding this one?

5. What are a couple other playful tongue-in-cheek type discussions that firmly entrench the fun tone of the novel?

6. Why do you think the USS Constitution leads the Java on a long chase to sea?

7. What answers Aubrey's unspoken question as to why the Captain of the Java does not first engage in long-range gunfire before closing to board?

8. What happens at the cricket match when Maturin joins the game and what tone does it set?

9. Why do the boats become separated and what are the advantages and disadvantages of that happening?

10. What are a couple signs that things are not going well for the men in the boat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Captain Jack Aubrey is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in this book and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Aubrey who you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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 this book qualifies as 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.

(see the answer keys)

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