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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. Who is a private citizen with connections to American intelligence?

2. What do Aubrey and George Herapath find to discuss?

3. What does Wogan attempt to convince Maturin to do?

4. What do Aubrey and Herapath plan?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Michael Herapath earn a living and why is this odd?

3. Why would Maturin and Johnson have a discussion about birds and how does this discussion enhance the playful tone of the novel?

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

5. Why is Mr. Herapath so happy to hear that Villiers is leaving the United States?

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

7. What happens that even in the midst of the drama of escape is humorous?

8. What is humorous about Aubrey's daily observations of the bay?

9. What do you think is interesting about the fact that Johnson spends large sums of money and time gathering intelligence for the United States and is it likely that someone would do that in this age?

10. What does Maturin do that seems contrary to his work as a doctor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Aubrey arrives in Boston and leaves the USS Constitution, Evans presents a purse of money to Aubrey, which is a collection taken up among the men. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the "enemy" gives Aubrey money, when likely they had not much themselves?

2. What do you think prompts generosity to strangers?

3. Do you think more people are generous to homeless persons collecting money on street corners or to more structured charities? Defend your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Though the author O'Brian may or may not have such personal views on women, the way women are characterized in his naval series is often less than complimentary. Discuss one of the following:

1. Present and analyze the treatment of women in THE FORTUNE OF WAR.

2. O'Brian is trying to be historically accurate, so is his treatment of women in his book(s) justified?

3. Is there any way O'Brian could have presented women in a more positive light and still stayed historically accurate? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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