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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. How does Aubrey feel about the captain of the Sirius?

2. What does Bertie give Captain Aubrey?

3. In what year does this book take place?

4. On what type of mathematical problem is Aubrey working?

5. What is Napoleon trying to conquer?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Pym done and how does Clonfert act when he hears? What does Clonfert decide to do?

2. Where does Clonfert capture a fort and what happens then?

3. What happens when the squadron goes to Rodriguez and then where do they go and what happens there?

4. What does Maturin do on La Reunion?

5. What does Aubrey do after receiving his orders?

6. What do McAdam and Maturin discuss and how do they disagree on the subject?

7. From whom does Aubrey receive a note and what does it ask and why does he laugh about it?

8. Who does Aubrey meet with in Cape Town?

9. Who comes to visit Aubrey at the beginning of the novel? What does the person do and how long has it been since they've seen each other?

10. What do Keating and Aubrey do on La Reunion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Though the author O'Brian may or may not have such personal views on women, the way women are characterized in his naval series is often less than complimentary. Discuss one of the following:

1. Present and analyze the treatment of women in Maurtius Command.

2. O'Brian is trying to be historically accurate, so is his treatment of women in his book(s) justified?

3. Is there any way O'Brian could have presented women in a more positive light and still stayed historically accurate? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Clonfert holds Aubrey in high regard but also feels professional rivalry that occasionally borders on outright hostility. This continues throughout the novel, seriously clouds Clonfert's judgment, and drives Clonfert into a suicidal attack toward the end of the novel. Discuss the following:

1. Is professional rivalry between commanders on the same "side" helpful or harmful to the goal of winning a battle and/or war? Explain using examples from the book.

2. Competition in many forms is an acceptable state in most cultures. Do you think competition is a positive attribute of our culture? Explain with examples.

3. What happens when competition becomes obsession? Give examples.

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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