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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. Where is Surprise chasing Franklin?

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

3. What type of conversations did Martin have with the woman on board the ship?

4. Why does Maturin fear being recognized by the owner of the Franklin?

5. What has risen from the sea in the region where Surprise is sailing?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Martin behaving and what does Maturin see Martin doing?

2. What does Vidal talk to Maturin about?

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

4. What does Dutourd say about surrender and what does Aubrey discover in Franklin's papers?

5. What were the mortar rounds the Surprise crew thought were being sent at them?

6. What is Maturin's relationship to Aubrey and what is his mission?

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

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

9. What does Franklin do to attempt to lose Surprise?

10. What is happening to the ocean and the winds by the end of Chapter 1 and what does Aubrey think of it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sailors are notoriously superstitious. Even Aubrey, though very bright in many ways, is somewhat superstitious, a trait common to many sailors. Discuss the following:

1. What is superstition? Can you name a few common superstitions? Do any of them seem to have any validity in logic?

2. Why do you think sailors have the reputation for being superstitious? Do you think it is true? What superstitions are mentioned in The Wine-dark Sea?

3. What are some of the superstitions you are familiar with that sailors seem to believe? Do you believe any of them? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Maturin acts as a covert agent for the Crown and attempts a covert operation in Peru.

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 is Maturin's role as a covert agent play a part in Peru's history?

3. Do you see any conflict of interests between being a doctor and also a covert operator? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Jack Aubrey is no exception. Aubrey's insight and a nearly infallible instinct tends to carry him through the various perils he encounters, yet he is also plagued with doubts and is not above an occasional act of adultery.

1. Trace and analyze situations when Aubrey demonstrates his instinct for handling problems at sea. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Aubrey's character flaws, especially his ineptness on land, with business ventures and wandering eye as far as women are concerned.

3. Discuss how you think Aubrey's admirable traits helped his career in the Navy? How does Aubrey hide his character flaws so they have not impeded his career. Do any of those under his command seem to notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

(see the answer keys)

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