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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 is the weather like as Aubrey looks out over the harbor after the questioning?

2. Who is aged, dissipated by alcohol, and fairly crass of speech?

3. What does Aubrey watch daily?

4. Where does Villiers go after Maturin collapses?

5. What ship does Herapath intend to use to help Aubrey?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Harry Johnson and what is his connection to Wogan?

2. Why does Maturin think Wogan does not know he disseminated bad intelligence and what do you think he should do about it?

3. What happens to Maturin in Chapter 7 that makes it obvious that he needs to come up with a viable escape plan very soon?

4. What is one thing that is perhaps likable about George Herapath?

5. How does Villiers seem to Maturin and what actions has she taken that were unwise?

6. What does Wogan attempt to persuade Maturin to agree to and how do you think he may feel about it?

7. How does Maturin explain his engagement to Villiers to Aubrey and what does this engagement say about Maturin's character?

8. Why does Maturin hedge about being an agent even though he has no intention of accepting the position?

9. How does George Herapath's attitude towards Wogan seem ironic or hypocritical?

10. What romantic complications add to the complexity of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the entire series of novels concerning Captain Jack Aubrey takes place during the Napoleonic Wars; therefore understanding the political and social situation during that time helps to a greater understanding and appreciation of this book and others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Research and write an expository essay about how the Napoleonic Wars begin and end.

2. Research and write an expository essay about the naval aspect of the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France.

3. Compare/Contrast the importance of the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars to the importance of the British navy during either WWI or WWII.

4. Write an expository essay on how the Napoleonic War affects the social culture of one of the following countries: Britian, France, or Spain.

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 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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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