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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 is a particular viewpoint of Dutourd that Maturin attacks during dinner?

2. How does Franklin compare to Surprise in size?

3. What type of old injury does Reade show?

4. What does Maturin do to record his observations about Martin?

5. What does Aubrey think weather and sea conditions might mean?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Aubrey demand of Dutourd about Franklin and how does the crew of the Surprise feel about it?

2. What does Maturin think Clarissa has to do with Martin's present state of mind?

3. What do Maturin and Aubrey do as they sail to Peru?

4. What is Maturin's personal reason for going to Peru?

5. What kind of region has Surprise sail into in Chapter 2 and what has happened in that region?

6. What is happening in Martin and Maturin's relationship and what has Martin told Maturin?

7. Why is West on the Surprise and what does he hope to obtain from Aubrey?

8. How does Reade accidentally slow down the Surprise?

9. What does Surprise do about Franklin after they have made the most urgent repairs?

10. Who is Clarissa Harvill, why was she on the Surprise, and what did Aubrey make her do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During this era when the book takes place, if a vessel under the command of a naval officer captures another vessel from a country with whom they are warring or captures a pirate vessel, etc...the crew of the victorious vessel shares in the goods, money and value of the vessel. This was the purpose for the Surprise having a letter of marque. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the British had such a policy in place then?

2. What are the possible abuses that can arise from such a policy?

3. Why do you think this policy is eventually abandoned?

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 The Wine-dark Sea.

2. Identify where the parts of the plot seem to fall in The Wine-dark Sea. Explain using examples.

3. Define the literary term "subplot." Write a sentence or two synopsis of a subplot in The Wine-dark Sea.

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 The Wine-dark Sea 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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