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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 does Mr. Fielding decline passage aboard the Surprise?

2. With whom does the Surprise sail parallel?

3. What does Aubrey want for Honey and Maitland?

4. How is visibility in the squalls?

5. What surprises Maturin about Mr. Fielding?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the attitude of the crew and why as they are returning on the Niobe?

2. What are conditions like for the men on board the Niobe?

3. What happens in Mrs. Fielding's home while Maturin sits in the dark awaiting her return?

4. What does Mr. Fielding falsely believe about Aubrey and how does that influence Mr. Fielding's choices?

5. What surprise awaits Maturin when the Surprise gains a Turkish port?

6. How does Maturin learn that the galley is not carrying treasure?

7. How does Maturin help to protect Mrs. Fielding and pull off and intelligence coup?

8. What does Maturin think about concerning Mrs. Fielding?

9. What happens to the crew's supplies?

10. Describe the capture of a French privateer by the Surprise.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aubrey is an officer and a gentleman and is therefore accorded more respect and trust even in enemy territory than the common sailor. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem likely that officers are usually more respectable than enlisted men back then? What about today? Why or why not.

2. Aubrey wants to have an adulterous affair with Mrs. Fielding. Do you think this is how an officer and gentleman comports himself? Why or why not?

3. In the present military in the United States, both officers and enlisted can be held for court martial for adultery or having sexual relations with someone of inferior rank. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with the policy?

4. In the time in which Treason's Harbour is set, an officer's word was assumed to always be good; whereas a non-officer was not considered trustworthy. What is the flaw in this standard? Do you think it affects their morals and the morals of non-officers? How?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Treason's Harbour based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if it is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that Treason's Harbour falls within the genre of historical fiction changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Often in O'Brian's series involving Jack Aubrey, his ship and/or life is saved by extraordinary means. Discuss the following:

1. Research and define the literary term "narrative contrivance."

2. Identify and analyze a time in the book when O'Brian makes free use of the technique of narrative contrivance to save Aubrey and his ship in Treason's Harbour.

3. Does the use of narrative contrivance diminish the impact of the plot and the believability of the storyline?

4. Is there any other way O'Brian could have a mixture of suspense and action while at the same time making certain the main characters are not killed?

(see the answer keys)

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