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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. Who is Wallis?

2. Where is Aubrey's boat headed?

3. What is in the Java's favor?

4. What vessel will Aubrey be captaining once he arrives in England?

5. How was the news disseminated?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Aubrey depressed at the news of the war?

2. Who is Mrs. Wogan and how does she figure in the previous novel, which is mentioned in the initial chapters of this novel?

3. Why do you think it would be a serious faux pas to not attend the Captain's table to which one is invited in order to manage one's specimens as Maturin almost does?

4. Why do you think the HMS Leopard is being converted to a transport?

5. What do you think is a possible cause of La Flèche catching fire and exploding?

6. What tone for the novel is set and how is it set by the references to "Abraham"?

7. Do you think it would be difficult for the men to stay optimistic if after spotting a ship but they do not see you?

8. What surprises Aubrey once he is quartered at Asclepia?

9. Why do you think the sailors on board La Flèche do not take the war with the United States very seriously?

10. Do you think it is helpful for the author to present some background information from other books in the series, particularly the one just preceding this one?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Maturin acts as a covert agency for the Crown and in the previous book, gives Wogan false intelligence that results in several French intelligence agents being killed as double agents. Discuss the following:

1. What sort of covert operations does Maturin undertake? How similar do you think his covert operations are to that of an organization such as the CIA of today?

2. How much does Maturin's covert operations how he and Aubrey fare in Boston after being captured by the Americans?

3. Do you see any conflict of interests between being a doctor and also a covert operator? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Sailors are notoriously superstitious. Even Aubrey, though very bright in many ways, is somewhat superstitious, a trait common to many sailors. Discuss the following:

1. What is superstition? Can you name a few common superstitions? Do any of them seem to have any validity in logic?

2. Why do you think sailors have the reputation for being superstitious? Do you think it is true? What superstitions are mentioned in THE FORTUNE OF WAR?

3. What are some of the superstitions you are familiar with that sailors seem to believe? Do you believe any of them? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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, etc., 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?

(see the answer keys)

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