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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. Who does Aubrey warn in a small boat?

2. What happens as Aubrey is trying to get the Ariel away from The Thatcher?

3. What ill omen occurs during the planning of the mission?

4. What happens when the Minnie is chased as planned?

5. Who sends Aubrey in the right direction to find a vessel to capture?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the emergency to which Aubrey awakens?

2. Describe the actions that lead to the wreck of the Ariel.

3. At what does Maturin hint when Aubrey expresses his desire to be at sea?

4. Describe the guest Swedish officer, Jagiello, who is onboard the Ariel.

5. What transpires in the meeting between Sir Joseph Blaine and Maturin?

6. Briefly describe Ariel's Senior Lieutenant, Hyde.

7. How does the Ariel slow the Médusae down enough for the HMS Jason to catch the Médusae?

8. How does Lieutenant Grant slander Aubrey's name even further?

9. Who does the Ariel encounter and what does Aubrey decide to do?

10. Why is Aubrey searching for a suitable ship to capture?

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?

4. Which vessel(s) are mentioned in THE SURGEON'S MATE that fall under this maritime law and what are the circumstances of their capture? Does it seem fair?

Essay Topic 2

Maturin acts as a covert agency for the Crown and at the beginning of the novel has just escaped serious problems in the United States because of this. Later, when the Ariel wrecks and the crew is captured by the French, Maturin plans his suicide because of information he has due to his position.

1. What sort of covert operations does Maturin undertake? How similar do you think his covert operations are to that of an organization such as the CIA of today?

2. How much does Maturin's covert operations effect good outcomes for the British during this novel? Is the operation at Grimshold a covert operation? What is the outcome of that operation?

3. Do you see any conflict of interests between being a doctor and also a covert operator? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Aubrey is an officer and a gentleman and is therefore accorded more respect and trust even in enemy territory than the common sailor. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem likely that officers are usually more respectable than enlisted men back then? What about today? Why or why not.

2. Aubrey has an adulterous affair with Amanda Smith in Halifax. Do you think this is how an officer and gentleman comports himself? Why or why not.

3. In the present military in the United States, both officers and enlisted can be held for court martial for adultery or having sexual relations with someone of inferior rank. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with the policy?

4. In the time in which THE SURGEON'S MATE is set, an officer's word was assumed to always be good; whereas a non-officer was not considered trustworthy. What is the flaw in this standard? Do you think it affects them moral and/or morals of non-officers? How?

(see the answer keys)

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