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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 find out when he takes Franklin to sea to look for a prize?

2. Who is Maturin's guide?

3. What is getting in the way of Aubrey's plans on the Franklin?

4. What is Gayongos entrusted with by the British Naval Intelligence?

5. How is Martin doing physically by Chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sam Panda have to say when he comes aboard the Surprise?

2. What does Gayongos say about Dutourd when he arrives for the meeting?

3. Where has Maturin been sent after the collapse of the rebellion?

4. What contact of Maturin's is most valuable and why?

5. Who are two of the main figures in the planned rebellion and how do they stand on the issue?

6. How does Maturin react physically and intellectually to the mountains?

7. What does Shelton volunteer for and what does he tell Aubrey?

8. What does Pullings see and hear as he puts out to sea in Surprise?

9. Where does Maturin go when he leaves Callao the first time and who does he meet? Why is he going there?

10. Who does Maturin write about his mission and what does he tell him?

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 The Wine-dark Sea 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 Wine-dark Sea, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note in that the Surprise was saved by an English battleship.

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of The Wine-dark Sea and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why The Wine-dark Sea is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. State what you think are three characteristics of a successful novel and whether or not The Wine-dark Sea in your opinion is a successful novel.

Essay Topic 3

O'Brian is masterful in his description of battles and life in general in for a soldier during the the early 1800s. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze O'Brian's descriptive passages about life as a sailor. How does he use descriptions of the five senses to make the reader feel s/he is there? Do you find his descriptions compelling? Seemingly accurate? How would the novel be different if O'Brian did not include such descriptive passages?

2. Analyze O'Brian's descriptive passages about the social structure of the times and discuss what you think it would be like to be a person of wealth and/or privilege such as Aubrey or Maturin or Dutourd. Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Vidal or Eduardo.

3. Describe and analyze O'Brian's descriptive passages about the topographical setting and the physical descriptions of the people. Does O'Brian do an adequate job of actually making the reader "see" the land/sea where the action is taking place? How about getting a visual image of the characters? How does the descriptions of the setting add to the novel? Do you like having an idea of how a character looks? How would the novel be different without such descriptions?

(see the answer keys)

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