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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What happens to Maturin when the coca leaves are all gone?
2. Who is Lieutenant Jean-Pierrre Dumesnil?
3. Who escorts Triton and the American prizes?
4. What is the Triton?
5. What does Aubrey hope the Captain on the Cornélie will believe?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
The Nutmeg of Consolation, 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 or good 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 Nutmeg of Consolation and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention.
3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 2
Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and both Maturin and Aubrey are no exceptions.
1. Trace and analyze situations when Maturin and Aubrey each demonstrates his admirable traits. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.
2. Trace and analyze both Maturin and Aubrey's character flaws, and explain how the flaws create more complex and believable characters. How do you think either man's character flaws make some situations more difficult for him?
3. After analyzing each man's strengths and weaknesses, decide if each man is an appropriate "hero" of the story. Is there anyone else who might be a more admirable "hero"?
Essay Topic 3
Aubrey is an officer and a gentleman and is therefore accorded more respect and trust even in enemy territory than the common sailor. For example, he give his word as an officer that there are no "absconders" on his ship. Discuss the following:
1. Does it seem likely that officers are usually more respectable than enlisted men back then? What about today? Why or why not.
2. Aubrey is very upset with Matruin for bringing Colman on board because Aubrey gave his word there were no stowaways on The Nutmeg of Consolation. Since Aubrey gave his word in all good faith, do you think he has lost honor because he inadvertently lies? Why or why not.
3.. In the time in which The Nutmeg of Consolation is set, an officer's word was assumed to always be good; whereas a non-officer was not considered trustworthy. What is the flaw in this standard? Do you think it affects the morale and/or morals of non-officers? How?
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This section contains 533 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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