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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Who does Sophie send to bring Maturin to the party?
2. Of what does the bulk of Maturin's assets consist?
3. Why does Captain Thomas refuse to speak to Maturin soon after the dinner starts?
4. What does Stephen ask Aubrey?
5. Why are Dundas and Aubrey once flogged?
Short Essay Questions
1. For whom does Sophie hold a dinner and what happens about Maturin concerning the dinner?
2. Who is Whewell and how can he help in the fleet's mission?
3. About what does Gifford talk to Maturin and what is Maturin's reaction?
4. Where does Stephen take Clarissa, Brigid and Padeen and what deal does Stephen make with Padeen?
5. Who is Mr. Gray and what is his situation?
6. What does Sir Blaine tell Maturin about Aubrey's next assignment?
7. What does Stephen ask of Aubrey and what is his response?
8. What happens as Stephen rides to Portsmouth?
9. What happens just as Aubrey is contemplating leaving Thames behind?
10. Who visits Stephen in Bantry and what does he tell Stephen?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
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 The Commodore 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 that era (early 1800s) is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.
Essay Topic 2
Discuss one of the following:
1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss two ironic situations that occur in The Commodore.
2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from The Commodore. What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?
3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in The Commodore and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not. Some possible techniques: Allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.
Essay Topic 3
Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:
1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Patrick O'Brian.
2. What in O'Brian's background may have helped him in writing The Maze? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?
3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.
This section contains 2,890 words (approx. 10 pages at 300 words per page) |
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