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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How much laudanum does Maturin use?

2. How do McAdam and Maturin spend their time?

3. How much damage did Clonfert's ship receive?

4. How do the British officials feel about Aubrey's military actions?

5. About what abstract human characteristic does Maturin ponder?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Clonfert holds Aubrey in high regard but also feels professional rivalry that occasionally borders on outright hostility. This continues throughout the novel, seriously clouds Clonfert's judgment, and drives Clonfert into a suicidal attack toward the end of the novel. Discuss the following:

1. Is professional rivalry between commanders on the same "side" helpful or harmful to the goal of winning a battle and/or war? Explain using examples from the book.

2. Competition in many forms is an acceptable state in most cultures. Do you think competition is a positive attribute of our culture? Explain with examples.

3. What happens when competition becomes obsession? Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Aubrey chooses to wreck one of the ships in his fleet in order to provide a favorable landing situation. This is considered an "acceptable loss." Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Aubrey believes the loss of the ship is acceptable? Explain with examples.

2. Many wars are fought under the assumption of "acceptable losses." Usually it is the common foot soldier who is doing most of the dying. In fact, the term "cannon fodder," is often used to describe infantry who are killed by the hundreds gaining small hills or bits of land, sometimes to lose the same piece of "real estate" several times with continuing loss of life. Is this truly acceptable?

3. Sometimes some will say that wars would be few and far between if those who decided to go to war had to be in the front lines. Do you think that would make a difference?

Essay Topic 3

Much attention is given to the treatment of both wounds and illnesses by Maturin and McAdam. Maturin, in particular seems to be far more advanced than the typical doctor of that era. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the medical remedies Maturin uses in Mauritius 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.

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This section contains 451 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample