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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. What composer do Aubrey and Maturin discuss?

2. Why do the officers on the Worcester dislike Maturin?

3. What is Aubrey's main personal problem?

4. What do Aubrey and Dundas talk about when they hold a ship visit?

5. What is the Worcester crew made up of?

Short Essay Questions

1. What format is Chapter 4 set up in?

2. How is Somers a danger to the whole ship?

3. What do Maturin and Martin have in common, and what do they do together?

4. How is Maturin wounded?

5. Why is Maturin rarely at home?

6. Why is a blockade duty so wearing on a ship and its crew?

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

8. Why do the crewmen of the Worcester not want to transport Parsons?

9. How does Davis feel about Aubrey, and why?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Harte was a minor character in this book who made a huge impact on the plot. How did he accomplish this, and how would the plot have been altered had he not been included in the story line?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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