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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. Where is Lesueur when Maturin is sitting in the dark?

3. How does Wray become indebted to Maturin?

4. What boat is commanded by Harry Cotton?

5. What does Aubrey encourage Honey and Maitland to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does the crew encounter while setting up camp?

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

3. With what is the Admiral most concerned about the events surrounding the treasure ship's trickery?

4. How does Mrs. Fielding change the atmosphere on board the Surprise?

5. What happens to the crew's supplies?

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

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

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

9. What concerns Aubrey about his failed mission with the treasure ship?

10. Describe the encounter with the treasure galley.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of instances of foreshadowing in Treason's Harbour. For many of those instances, readers will suspect hint at something to come; 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 previous chapters 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 Treason's Harbour? Is there enough symbolism to add depth to the writing? Interest to the writing? Explain your statements with examples.

Essay Topic 2

Captain Jack Aubrey is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in Treason's Harbour and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable. Is it a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and does not succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Aubrey who you might call a hero or heroine and explain why you choose that person.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Treason's Harbour, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many people want what they perceive as a happy or good 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 Treason's Harbour and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Treason's Harbour is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, and stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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