View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How is Maturin embarrassed when he first boards the Worcester?

2. Where is Graham from?

3. Why does Aubrey like Latham's ship so much?

4. What does Mowett scold Maturin for on the ship?

5. What have the birds eaten that might be dangerous to the crew?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mustapha do when he hears Aubrey has aligned himself with Sciahan?

2. What daring move does Aubrey make to defeat Mustapha at the end of the book?

3. What does Aubrey do for the ship that impresses his crew?

4. What about Martin does Maturin not like, and what does he do about this?

5. Why does Harte give Aubrey the mission he does when he first takes command of the blockade?

6. Why is Aubrey so worried about Thornton's health?

7. Why does Thornton turn his command over to Harte?

8. What does Aubrey do to try and save the sinking Worcester?

9. How does Aubrey feel when the Worcester is declared as unseawothy?

10. Why is is so hard for Aubrey to make an agreement with Sciahan at first?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Despair was an emotion that affected a number of the characters in this book. Which characters were most affected by despair, and how did this change the course of the plot branches they were involved in?

Essay Topic 2

Symbolism is a very prevalent literary device used by Patrick O'Brian. What are some of these symbols, and how does their presence affect the course of the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Patrick O'Brian presents the idea that there are two sides to every man. Choose three of the characters from the book and write about their dual natures and how this duality affected the characters around them.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,162 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample