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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. Why is the American from question #94 not guilty of treason?

2. Why do most of the local men desire autonomy from Spain?

3. What does Maturin's group detour to see?

4. What does Aubrey catch sight of while looking for a prize?

5. What does Aubrey do with Alastor?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who is Edward Shelton and why is he aboard the American whaler?

3. What does Aubrey attempt to do to correct what he found out about Dutourd?

4. What is done at the meeting for the rebellion?

5. With whom does Maturin meet and why?

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

7. What side trip do Maturin and Eduardo take and what happens after they leave there?

8. What happens when Surprise reaches port at Callao? What does Maturin do?

9. Why does Aubrey go out to sea in Franklin, what does he encounter and what does he discover?

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

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

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

There are a number of literary elements that occur in many works of fiction. Irony is a means of increasing both the humor and the complexity of a story. O'Brien often includes irony in his Aubrey/Maturin series. Point of view is the way the story is narrated; all works of fiction have a point of view. Conflict is almost always present in a work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary terms irony, point of view and conflict.

2. Identify two instances of irony in The Wine-dark Sea, offering examples from the text.

3. Identify the point of view of the novel and discuss why you think O'Brien chooses to use that particular point of view. Does the point of view seem to be the best one for The Wine-dark Sea? Why or why not.

4. Identfiy two major conflicts in The Wine-dark Sea. Are the conflicts completely resolved by the end of The Wine-dark Sea? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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