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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 does Maturin say his wife does brilliantly?

2. What does Mowett scold Maturin for on the ship?

3. Why does Aubrey spend a small fortune of his own money on something for the ship?

4. What causes the flock of birds to fly over the blockade?

5. What is the Worcester crew made up of?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the political climate like in the Ionian Region at this time?

2. What is the mission the Worcester has been sent on?

3. What does Aubrey do to try and save the sinking Worcester?

4. Why is is so hard for Aubrey to make an agreement with Sciahan at first?

5. Please explain the relationship between Maturin and his wife.

6. How does Aubrey feel when the Worcester is declared as unseawothy?

7. What news does Harte bring to Aubrey?

8. Why does Harte give Aubrey the mission he does when he first takes command of the blockade?

9. How are the French able to break through the blockade?

10. How does Martin convince people to not hurt the birds?

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

Despair was an emotion that affected a number of the characters in this book. Which characters were most affected by despair, and how did this change the course of the plot branches they were involved in?

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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