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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. Where does Maturin drag the corpse(s)?

2. How does Maturin know about his newfound status?

3. What does Wogan attempt to convince Maturin to do?

4. Of what do Johnson's plantation workers comprise?

5. Who is Philip Broke?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is humorous about Aubrey's daily observations of the bay?

2. What is one thing that is perhaps likable about George Herapath?

3. Why does Maturin hedge about being an agent even though he has no intention of accepting the position?

4. Why is Mr. Herapath so happy to hear that Villiers is leaving the United States?

5. What is Mr. Herapath's task in the scheme to effect an escape for Villiers, Aubrey and Maturin and how does he fail at it? What does this say about Mr. Herapath?

6. What happens that even in the midst of the drama of escape is humorous?

7. What does Maturin do that seems contrary to his work as a doctor?

8. Who ambushes Maturin and what is humorous about his actions?

9. What romantic complications add to the complexity of the novel?

10. What do you think is interesting about the fact that Johnson spends large sums of money and time gathering intelligence for the United States and is it likely that someone would do that in this age?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Though this novel is probably more action driven rather than character driven, obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Aubrey and Lambert.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Maturin and McLean.

3. Thoroughly analyze the character of Jack Aubrey, discussing both his strong and weak points and how both affect the outcome of the plot.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of THE FORTUNE IN WAR.

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of THE FORTUNE IN WAR.

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 this book qualifies as 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 is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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