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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. With what is Clonfert well acquainted?

2. What kind of reputation does Lord Clonfert have?

3. In what year does this book take place?

4. What does Aubrey use his station of commodore to do?

5. What do Aubrey's forces and British land forces do on La Reunion?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Maturin meet up with accidentally and what does that person tell him?

2. What happened to Corbett's ship?

3. What does Aubrey do about the tensions between Corbett and Clonfert?

4. How do the British officials at Cape Town feel about Aubrey's first naval action and what do they do there with the ships?

5. Describe the setting in the opening of the novel.

6. Who joins Clonfert and what does he do? What happens to two English frigates with them?

7. What does Aubrey have the crews doing on the voyage?

8. What ultimately happens to Clonfert's and Pym's joint venture?

9. What happens to Farquhar?

10. What does Aubrey do when he discovers he needs help? How does he feel about the response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Maturin acts as a covert agency for the Crown and spreads anti-French propaganda on both La Reunion and Maurtius. Discuss the following:

1. What sort of covert operations does Maturin undertake? How similar do you think his covert operations are to that of an organization such as the CIA of today?

2. How much does Maturin's covert operations affect the outcome of the capture of La Reunion and Maurtius?

3. Do you see any conflict of interests between being a doctor and also a covert operator? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

While Maturin is aboard Clonfert's vessel, he and McAdam, the Clonfert's surgeon, endlessly discuss whether it is worse to be addicted to alcohol (as McAdam) or opium (as Maturin). Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Maturin or McAdam's addiction is worse or about the same? Discuss using examples both from the text and your personal experience.

2. Do you think most people have one or more addictions? Why or why not?

3. Do you think some addictions are harder to discontinue than others? Why or why not?

4. Should one strive to be completely without addictions of any sort? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Clonfert commits suicide upon hearing the supposedly happy news that Aubrey's campaign has successfully completed. Discuss the following:

1. Does Clonfert's act seem to be a narrative contrivance? Why or why not?

2. Does it make sense that Clonfert commits suicide? Explain using examples.

3. How hard do you think it is for men such as Aubrey to return to a staid existence with his family after what he goes through in the novel?

4. Do you think it is difficult in general for men (and now women also) to return home after being at war?

(see the answer keys)

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