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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. How do the men survive?

2. What ship do they find?

3. Why do Maturin and Aubrey want to return to Malta as quickly as possible?

4. What happens to Mr. Hairabedian?

5. Where does the Admiral want Aubrey to go on his next assignment?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to the crew's supplies?

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

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

4. What seems to demonstrate that Aubrey's failure to gain the treasure will not be held against him?

5. Describe the encounter with the French man-of-war.

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

7. Describe the encounter with the treasure galley.

8. Why does Aubrey decide to commence training Mr. Maitland and Mr. Honey?

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

10. What are Maturin and Martin not affected by the weather as much?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During this era when the book takes place, if a vessel under the command of a naval officer captures another vessel from a country with whom they are warring or captures a pirate vessel and the crew of the victorious vessel shares in the goods, money and value of the vessel. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the British had such a policy in place then?

2. What are the possible abuses that can arise from such a policy?

3. Why do you think this policy is eventually abandoned?

4. Which vessel(s) are mentioned in Treason's Harbour that fall under this maritime law and what are the circumstances of their capture? Does it seem fair?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Patrick O'Brian has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Treason's Harbour qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in the book are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. Do you think the culture of the early 1800s is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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