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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. Why is the ship Surprise available for purchase?
2. Where are the people on Merlin who are not the crew being taken?
3. Why are the two men from question # 42 not in England?
4. Who is captaining Tartarus?
5. What happens when Maturin gets to the ship?
Short Essay Questions
1. What is Aubrey's situation at the beginning of THE LETTER OF MARQUE?
2. What alleviates Aubrey's concerns in question #17?
3. What type of work does Maturin do and for what is he also known?
4. How does Padeen get injured and why does he continue to take pain medication?
5. Where has Spartan stashed its prizes and why?
6. What kind of crew does Aubrey obtain and why?
7. Who does Maturin see as Aubrey waits on him for sailing?
8. Why is Maturin late for Surprise's sailing?
9. What ship first approaches Surprise on Aubrey's first shakedown cruise and why? How does Aubrey feel about the authorization Maturin has?
10. What does Maturin do and where does he do it right after he buys her?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Aubrey learns from Maturin that what he had perceived as a kick in the small of the back is actually a pistol ball--or bullet--lodged near his spine. In an excruciatingly painful but successful operation Maturin removes the ball. Much attention is given to the treatment of both wounds and illnesses by Maturin. Maturin seems far more advanced than the typical doctor of that era. Discuss one of the following:
1. Compare/contrast the medical remedies Maturin uses in THE LETTER OF MARQUE to that which would be done in our modern world.
2. Many wars are partially, if not completely, determined by factors other than the actual fighting. One of those factors is disease. Research and discuss how epidemics/pandemics have influenced the outcome of three different wars throughout history.
3. Discuss some of the medical remedies Maturin performs/uses that were probably not used in that era.
Essay Topic 2
The Letter of Marque, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:
1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?
2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of THE LETTER OF MARQUE and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why THE LETTER OF MARQUE is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.
3. State what you think are three characteristics of a successful novel and whether or not THE LETTER OF MARQUE in your opinion is a successful novel.
Essay Topic 3
O'Brian's female characters are almost always peripheral to the story line of any of his novels. Discuss one of the following in view of O'Brian's female characters in THE LETTER OF MARQUE.
1. What type of reader demographics do you think THE LETTER OF MARQUE might appeal to given the limited scope of O'Brian's female characters. Use examples from THE LETTER OF MARQUE or other O'Brian books you have read to support your answer.
2. Do you think O'Brian's books would be better with more in depth female characters? Why or why not? Use examples from THE LETTER OF MARQUE or other O'Brian books you have read to support your answer.
3. Do you think the O'Brian's paucity of female characters reflects history in our reality? Discuss why it might be possible that females played more significant roles in history but were ignored by the primarily male historians through the ages.
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This section contains 991 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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