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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 is Aubrey asked to do repeatedly?
2. What is Harry Johnson's financial situation?
3. Who gave Villiers the diamond necklace?
4. What news does Smith spread far and wide?
5. What is the town celebrating?
Short Essay Questions
1. Where does the Diligence arrive and what is the atmosphere of the town?
2. Describe Diana Villiers.
3. What depresses Aubrey amidst all the celebrations?
4. What did the British intelligence want Maturin to do and why do they no longer need him for the assignment?
5. What is Aubrey's homecoming like?
6. Why are Maturin, Aubrey and Villiers anxiously awaiting Captain Broke's recovery?
7. How do Aubrey, Maturin and Villiers each act once aboard the Diligence?
8. What is Villiers' reception like at the ball?
9. How does Smith behave during this waiting period and what is Aubrey's response?
10. How does Maturin pass the time at the ball?
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 THE SURGEON'S MATE. How is it that women such as Amanda Smith and Diana Villiers receive contempt for sexual relations outside of marriage while the men (such as Aubrey who also commits adultery) do not?
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 as other than whore or wife and still stayed historically accurate? Explain.
Essay Topic 2
Most people and regular soldiers detest spies and the idea of spying. Spies are not considered in the same vein as soldiers in uniform and are not protected by the customs and regulations that govern the treatment of soldiers who are in uniform when captured. Maturin is a spy for the British government. Discuss one of the following:
1. Why do you think spies are not accorded any rights under many countries' laws and/or customs?
2. Even though all countries abhor spies, often even their own, they still spy, and men and women are still willing to be spies. Discuss why you think this is so.
3. Research and analyze the history of spying in either England, the United States or Russa.
4. Does Maturin seem the image of a typical spy as you visualize one? Why or why not.
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 THE SURGEON'S MATE 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.
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This section contains 1,000 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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