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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 does Aubrey have the squadron do continually?

2. How does Aubrey find life at home?

3. Who has been captured?

4. What is Napoleon trying to conquer?

5. What does Bertie give Aubrey permission to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does the squadron go when it leaves Cape Town and what does Maturin do there?

2. What ultimately happens to Clonfert's and Pym's joint venture?

3. 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?

4. What news arrives in Cape Town, and what is Maturin given and why?

5. What does Aubrey do when he discovers he needs help? How does he feel about the response?

6. What does Aubrey do about the tensions between Corbett and Clonfert?

7. What does the armada do and how does that go? How do the people of Mauritius feel about the British?

8. What is Bertie's attitude towards Aubrey and what does he do?

9. What does Clonfert do when Pym is doing something else?

10. What does Maturin say is the reason he has come to see Aubrey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Much attention is given to the treatment of both wounds and illnesses by Maturin and McAdam. Maturin, in particular seems to be far more advanced than the typical doctor of that era. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the medical remedies Maturin uses in Mauritius to that which would be done in our modern world.

2. Many wars are partially, if not completely, determined by factors other than the actual fighting. One of those factors is disease. Research and discuss how epidemics/pandemics have influenced the outcome of three different wars throughout history.

3. Discuss some of the medical remedies Maturin performs/uses that were probably not used in that era.

Essay Topic 3

In addition to understanding the war in which O'Brian's novels are set, it is quite helpful to have a basic understanding of nautical terminology and the types of ships and their armaments that were used during the early 1800s. Discuss the following:

1. Define ten of the most commonly-used shipboard terms and discuss how those terms are used in Mauritius.

2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the ships used in the early 1800s?

3. How is the British navy organized during this period (early 1800s) and how different do you think it is organized today (including how one rises in rank).

4. Compare/contrast one of the naval battles described in the novel with one from WWII.

(see the answer keys)

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