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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 much laudanum does Maturin carry aboard?

2. Why is the Surprise going to her destination port when she leaves in Chapter 2?

3. From what British government action are the sailors of the Surprise exempt?

4. Maturin thinks about his earlier life living in a country in Chapter 2. What is that country?

5. What does Standish ask when Surprise makes her first port?

Short Essay Questions

1. What ship is Aubrey in command of at the beginning of the book?

2. What new orders are Aubrey given in Lisbon?

3. What will complicate Aubrey's new mission?

4. What does Maturin think about in relation to Padeen?

5. How does the captain of the Diane feel about being replaced and on what day does Aubrey take command?

6. Who is Maturin's assistant, why is he on the Surprise and how are he and Maturin similar?

7. What does Maturin think about as they sail along the coast of Ireland?

8. What do Aubrey and Maturin do after meeting with Fox?

9. What does Maturin think about Batavia and what is his hope?

10. What does Maturin think about doing about the ship they saw and what does he decide?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Thirteen Gun Salute, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note in that the treaty was obtained and the men on the ship were all saved before Diane was smashed apart. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most) people want what they perceive as a happy ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Thirteen Gun Salute and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Thirteen Gun Salute is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. State what you think are three characteristics of a successful novel and whether or not Thirteen Gun Salute in your opinion is a successful novel.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of instances of foreshadowing in Thirteen Gun Salute. Many of these instances, readers will recognize as probable foreshadowing; others, the readers may not be aware until the event which is foreshadowed occurs. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term foreshadow. Why do you think authors foreshadow a future event? What might be a reader's reaction to a sudden tragic or wonderful event if there were no hints whatsoever that it might occur?

2. Find four events that are foreshadowed in and pair up the foreshadowing text with the event. Analyze each event to include the following: What is foreshadowed? Is the method O'Brian uses to foreshadow effective? Did you guess when a particular text was foreshadowing a future event? Did you guess what the event is?

3. Along with foreshadowing, symbolism usually plays a role in most works of fiction? How extensive is the use of symbolism in Thirteen Gun Salute? Is there enough symbolism to add depth to the writing? Interest to the writing? Explain your statements with examples.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Thirteen Gun Salute.

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Thirteen Gun Salute.

(see the answer keys)

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