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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 does Aubrey do about his new orders?

2. What does Maturin do as Aubrey is being reinstated?

3. What does Standish decide to do with the situation Sir Joseph has established?

4. What kind of orders does Sir Joseph have for the Surprise?

5. Where does Surprise leave England?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Maturin see on the ship and what does he think about it?

2. Who owns the Surprise and what kind of work does the owner do?

3. How is the ship's last addition to the crew handling the voyage and how does Aubrey feel about it?

4. What kind of honor does Fox inquire about to Aubrey and what is Aubrey's answer?

5. What happens to the Surprise with Aubrey's new orders and what do Pullings and Aubrey arrange?

6. What does Surprise do after they finish with the ship they saw?

7. What does Maturin think about Batavia and what is his hope?

8. What does Maturin think about doing about the ship they saw and what does he decide?

9. What kind of journey did Sir Joseph have from Corunna and why has he come to Lisbon?

10. How does the captain of the Diane feel about being replaced and on what day does Aubrey take command?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider Thirteen Gun Salute a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

Essay Topic 2

The near catastrophe at Inaccessible Island foreshadows the eventual wreck of Diane on the False Natunas. In the first encounter the island is obvious and obviously perilous while the latter island is invisible and invisibly dangerous. Discuss the following:

1. Symbolically, how do the two situations above relate to life in general?

2. How might the financial problems both Aubrey and Maturin are having be related to the above sentence? For example, what types of financial pitfalls are obvious and might be avoided and what types might be invisible and devastating?

3. In modern America, what types of situations within America's relationship to other nations in the world might qualify as obvious and obviously perilous and what might be invisible and invisibly dangerous?

Essay Topic 3

Captain Jack Aubrey is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in Thirteen Gun Salute and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't succeed? Which is more interesting?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Aubrey who you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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