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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 might Aubrey's situation be corrected?

2. How do Aubrey and the crew feel about what Maturin gave him?

3. In what capacity does Maturin generally sail?

4. Why does the ship from question #38 close with Surprise?

5. In what position will Tom Pullings work on Surprise?

Short Essay Questions

1. To what is Maturin addicted and who discusses it with him?

2. What does Aubrey decide to do about Spartan and what does he do in order to carry out his plan?

3. How does Maturin feel about money? What does he obtain to help him and Aubrey with Surprise?

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

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

6. What is Aubrey going to do for money with Maturin? What is Maturin and Aubrey's relationship?

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. 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?

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

10. What is one of the primary talks at the formal dinner aboard ship the night before sailing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Part of the Sethians' religious worship involves clearly marking their homes with the name Seth, and thus the Sethians have marked Surprise--their beloved home--with the name Seth. Upon being ordered to remove the painted name, they had refused, as had the remainder of the superstitious crew.

Sailors are notoriously superstitious. Even Aubrey, though very bright in many ways, is somewhat superstitious, a trait common to many sailors. Discuss the following:

1. What is superstition? Can you name a few common superstitions? Do any of them seem to have any validity in logic?

2. Why do you think sailors have the reputation for being superstitious? Do you think it is true? What superstitions are mentioned in The Letter of Marque?

3. What are some of the superstitions you are familiar with that sailors seem to believe? Do you believe any of them? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Often in O'Brian's series involving Jack Aubrey, his ship and/or life is saved by extraordinary means. Discuss the following:

1. Identify and analyze a time in The Letter of Marque when O'Brian makes free use of the technique of narrative contrivance to save Aubrey and his ship.

2. Does the use of narrative contrivance diminish the impact of the plot? The believability of the storyline?

3. Is there any other way O'Brian could have a mixture of suspense and action while at the same time making certain the main characters are not killed?

Essay Topic 3

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Jack Aubrey is no exception. Aubrey's insight and a nearly infallible instinct tends to carry him through the various perils he encounters.

1. Trace and analyze situations when Aubrey demonstrates his instinct for handling problems at sea. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Aubrey's character flaws, especially his ineptness on land, with business ventures and a wandering eye as far as women are concerned.

3. Discuss how you think Aubrey's admirable traits helped him obtain a high rank in the Navy? How does Aubrey hide his character flaws so they have not impeded his career? Do any of those under his command seem to notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

(see the answer keys)

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