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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 happens to the original communiqué Broke writes about the Shannon's encounter?
2. Who does Maturin learn has drowned?
3. How does Aubrey feel about being back at sea?
4. What does Maturin advise Aubrey?
5. What does Villiers' diamond necklace feature?
Short Essay Questions
1. Where does the Diligence arrive and what is the atmosphere of the town?
2. What is the first thing Aubrey does upon arriving back in England?
3. How are the HMS Shannon's crew and passengers greeted in Halifax?
4. What happens in the encounter between Aubrey and several businessmen who call upon him?
5. What is Villiers' reception like at the ball?
6. What is one of Villier's prized possessions and how does she come by it?
7. Why is Aubrey particularly unhappy ashore?
8. What is Aubrey's homecoming like?
9. Describe Diana Villiers.
10. Who pursues the Diligence and what is the outcome?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Maturin acts as a covert agency for the Crown and at the beginning of the novel has just escaped serious problems in the United States because of this. Later, when the Ariel wrecks and the crew is captured by the French, Maturin plans his suicide because of information he has due to his position.
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 effect good outcomes for the British during this novel? Is the operation at Grimshold a covert operation? What is the outcome of that operation?
3. Do you see any conflict of interests between being a doctor and also a covert operator? Why or why not.
Essay Topic 2
Though the author O'Brian may or may not have such personal views on women, the way women are characterized in his naval series is often less than complimentary. Discuss one of the following:
1. Present and analyze the treatment of women in THE SURGEON'S MATE. How is it that women such as Amanda Smith and Diana Villiers receive contempt for sexual relations outside of marriage while the men (such as Aubrey who also commits adultery) do not?
2. O'Brian is trying to be historically accurate, so is his treatment of women in his book(s) justified?
3. Is there any way O'Brian could have presented women in a more positive light as other than whore or wife and still stayed historically accurate? Explain.
Essay Topic 3
There are a number of instances of foreshadowing in THE SURGEON'S MATE. Many, readers will suspect hint at something to come; others, the readers may not be aware until the event which is foreshadowed occurs. Discuss the following:
1. Define the literary term foreshadow. Why do you think authors foreshadow a future event? What might be a reader's reaction to a sudden tragic or wonderful event if there were no hints whatsoever that it might occur?
2. Find four events that are foreshadowed in previous chapters and pair up the foreshadowing text with the event. Analyze each event to include the following: What is foreshadowed? Is the method O'Brian uses to foreshadow effective? Did you guess when a particular text was foreshadowing a future event? Did you guess what the event is?
3. Along with foreshadowing, symbolism usually plays a role in most works of fiction? How extensive is the use of symbolism in The Surgeon's Mate? Is there enough symbolism to add depth to the writing? Interest to the writing? Explain your statements with examples.
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This section contains 1,252 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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