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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 war is going on when THE LETTER OF MARQUE takes place?

2. How does Martin feel about Maturin's request?

3. Why are the two men from question # 42 not in England?

4. Who suspects Maturin has an addiction?

5. What kind of relationship do Maturin and Aubrey have?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Padeen get injured and why does he continue to take pain medication?

2. What ship closes with Surprise that is captained by a friend of Aubrey's and who is the passenger it has? What happens when the two ships meet?

3. What is Aubrey's situation at the beginning of THE LETTER OF MARQUE?

4. What ship does Surprise raise at the end of the storm and what is that ship doing?

5. Where has Spartan stashed its prizes and why?

6. What is Aubrey concerned about in reference to his crew?

7. What does Aubrey do about the ship they raise near the end of the storm? What does Maturin find out from a man on the ship?

8. Who does Maturin see as Aubrey waits on him for sailing?

9. Why is Maturin late for Surprise's sailing?

10. What does the escape of Wray and Ledward lead Maturin to believe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Along with superstitions, the ships crew seem to find mystical meanings in various symbols. Discuss the following:

1. What are six symbols in THE LETTER OF MARQUE and their meanings. Are the meanings logical or based upon superstitions?

2. Discuss three metaphors in THE LETTER OF MARQUE and their impact on the understanding of the plot.

3. Discuss O'Brian's narrative style as it applies to his descriptions. Is his style effective? Interesting? Lively?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

THE LETTER OF MARQUE is set in England during 1813, or a fictional extension of that year during the Napoleonic wars between England and France: 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 one of 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 battles that take place in the naval war between Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars.

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: Britain, France, or Germany.

(see the answer keys)

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