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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 other two ships does Aubrey grab that night besides Diane and the gunboats?

2. Why does Aubrey anchor Surprise in a deserted bay?

3. What does cutting out mean as Aubrey uses the term?

4. What does Aubrey do when he returns to Surprise?

5. What kind of man does Maturin believe Jagiello to be?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Maturin fix Aubrey and what does Aubrey say about the laudanum?

2. What is the final outcome about the incident in question #31?

3. What does Aubrey find has transpired on the Surprise while he was ashore?

4. What does Maturin ask about Diana and what does Sir Joseph tell him?

5. How many ships does Aubrey capture and what happens to him as soon as they are captured?

6. What happens while the crew struggle to free Diane? How is Aubrey injured?

7. Why is Aubrey driven to succeed in taking Diane?

8. What arrives at Aubrey's home when he returns from Surprises first shakedown cruise and what do he and Maturin discuss when Maturin comes over after seeing Sir Joseph?

9. Describe the taking of the Diane and what happens to her immediately afterward.

10. What type of injury does Aubrey have?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Patrick O'Brian tries as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think THE LETTER OF MARQUE qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in THE LETTER OF MARQUE are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. Do you think the culture of that era is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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