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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 do the crew feel during the blockade duty?

2. Why does Aubrey not want to sail on the Worcester?

3. Why is Maturin called away from the trip?

4. What is Babbington's title in the Navy?

5. Why does someone get mad about how the crew treats the birds that land on the ship?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Maturin's job?

2. What do Aubrey and Maturin discuss about music?

3. Why is a blockade duty so wearing on a ship and its crew?

4. What happens when a strong wind blows birds over the ship?

5. What is strange about the practice runs done at sea with the cannons?

6. What does Aubrey do for the ship that impresses his crew?

7. What format is Chapter 4 set up in?

8. Why is Aubrey so worried about Thornton's health?

9. Why is Maturin rarely at home?

10. What do Maturin and Martin have in common, and what do they do together?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Patrick O'Brian presents the idea that there are two sides to every man. Choose three of the characters from the book and write about their dual natures and how this duality affected the characters around them.

Essay Topic 2

Symbolism is a very prevalent literary device used by Patrick O'Brian. What are some of these symbols, and how does their presence affect the course of the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Why was the inclusion of the theme of loneliness so ironic for this book, and what came of the loneliness felt by the main characters in the book?

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