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 does Maturin describe in his letter to his wife from Peru?

2. What does Pullings do after readying Surprise?

3. How much information does the Englishman have on the ship Aubrey wants to capture?

4. Who hails Pullings?

5. What relation is Sam Panda to Aubrey?

Short Essay Questions

1. With whom does Maturin meet and why?

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

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

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

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

6. What does Aubrey hope to find as they sail to Peru and how does he find it?

7. What happens to Aubrey as they take the French ship?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Though The Wine-dark Sea is probably more action driven rather than character driven, obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Aubrey and Maturin. How are they similar? How are they different? Would you consider one of them a stronger character than the other? How does each of them add to the story?

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Maturin and Sir Joseph. How are they similar? How are they different? Would you consider one of them a stronger character than the other? How does each of them add to the story?

3. Thoroughly analyze the character of Jack Aubrey, discussing both his strong and weak points and how both affect the outcome of the plot.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,055 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample