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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 is Niobe?

2. From what does the Surprise escape?

3. What ship do they find?

4. What does the First Secretary promise Aubrey?

5. What does Maturin think could happen if it becomes known what has happened to Mr. Fielding?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are Mr. Honey and Mr. Maitland and how does Aubrey help them?

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

3. How does Maturin gain political favors from Wray and what are those favors?

4. To whom does Aubrey make his report about the treasure ship and what is the person's reaction?

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

6. What does Major Pollock tell Aubrey and what is Aubrey's response?

7. Describe the encounter with the treasure galley.

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

9. What happens to the crew's supplies?

10. How does the crew fare on their hike and who is the exception?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

At sea, the commander of a vessel is "God," and failure to obey the Captain's orders can subject one to court martial and even execution. Discuss the following:

1. Should sailors be held accountable for anything they do under orders? Discuss fully, using examples both from Treason's Harbour and your own knowledge.

2. Why do you think mutiny on a ship is punishable by death?

3. Is there ever justification for a crew to mutiny?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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