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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 Maturin tell Aubrey about the riot?

2. What does the delegation find out about the French at the beginning of Chapter 6?

3. What kind of response does Diane have to sailing?

4. How does the crew of the Diane feel about Maturin staying ashore in a bawdy-house?

5. Why does Aubrey hold classes in seamanship and navigation for the midshipmen aboard?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has caused the political riots occurring in Pulo Prabang when Maturin returns on leave?

2. What class do the midshipmen find boring and what do they do about it?

3. What surprises the English about the Sultan and their offer and what does Maturin think about the Sultan's behavior?

4. How does the crew work on the Diane and what does Aubrey do with them?

5. What kind of arrangements does Maturin make in Batavia and why?

6. What kind of news about the French delegation does Raffles tell Aubrey?

7. What does Fox do to impress the Sultan? How does Aubrey prepare?

8. How does Maturin and van Buren's relationship evolve?

9. Why does Aubrey dislike Fox and how does the crew feel about Fox? What does that force on Fox?

10. Who is Van Buren and why does Maturin seek him out in Pulo Prabang?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Though Thirteen Gun Salute is probably more action driven rather than character driven, obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Aubrey and Maturin. How are they similar? How are they different? Would you consider one of them a stronger character than the other? How does each of them add to the story?

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Maturin and Sir Joseph. How are they similar? How are they different? Would you consider one of them a stronger character than the other? How does each of them add to the story?

3. Thoroughly analyze the character of Jack Aubrey, discussing both his strong and weak points and how both affect the outcome of the plot.

Essay Topic 2

A work of fiction is often organized around a structure called a plot. Discuss the following:

1. Define plot and its major parts (rising action, climax, falling action, resolution [or denouement]). Write a sentence or two synopsis of the major plot of the Thirteen Gun Salute.

2. Identify where the parts of the plot seem to fall in Thirteen Gun Salute. Explain using examples.

3. Define the literary term "subplot." Write a sentence or two synopsis of a subplot in Thirteen Gun Salute.

4. Identify the major parts of the subplot you identified in task number 3.

5. Why do you think identifying the plot and elements of the plot is useful?

Essay Topic 3

Patrick O'Brian has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Thirteen Gun Salute qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in the book are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. Do you think the culture of that era is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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