View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is wrong with most of Franklin's crew who aren't injured?

2. What injures some crew members at the end of Chapter 1?`

3. Why has West left the Royal Navy?

4. Where did the owner of Franklin plan to go when he left Europe?

5. What does Maturin see Martin doing in sick bay?

Short Essay Questions

1. How have the crew fared during the event at the beginning of Chapter 2?

2. Why has Dutourd commissioned the Franklin and what does he plan to do?

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

4. How does Dutourd conduct himself on board Surprise and how does Aubrey feel about him?

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

6. What does Maturin write to Diana about Martin and how does Martin and Maturin's friendship fare?

7. How does Aubrey handle the taking of the Franklin and what is the most pressing need for the ship?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Much attention is given to the treatment of both wounds and illnesses by Maturin. Maturin seems far more advanced than the typical doctor of that era. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the medical remedies Maturin uses in The Wine-dark Sea to that which would be done in our modern world.

2. Many wars are partially, if not completely, determined by factors other than the actual fighting. One of those factors is disease. Research and discuss how epidemics/pandemics have influenced the outcome of three different wars throughout history.

3. Discuss some of the medical remedies Maturin performs/uses that were probably not used in that era. Did Aubrey's surviving of the head wound and stabbing to his thigh seem plausible? What about Martin treating himself when he thought he had syphilis?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of instances of foreshadowing in The Wine-dark Sea. Many of these instances, readers will recognize as probable foreshadowing; 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 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 Wine-dark Sea? Is there enough symbolism to add depth to the writing? Interest to the writing? Explain your statements with examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,095 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample