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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 the conversation mostly about during dinner ashore before the Surprise leaves?

2. After Surprise completes its turn around the land in question #38 where does it sail?

3. What kind of experience does the crew on the Surprise have?

4. Why did Padeen commit crimes?

5. What does Aubrey do about his new orders?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the crew of the Surprise like?

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

3. Who shows up right before departure to join the crew and in what position?

4. Who owns the Surprise and what kind of work does the owner do?

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

6. How is the ship's last addition to the crew handling the voyage and how does Aubrey feel about it?

7. What happens to the Surprise with Aubrey's new orders and what do Pullings and Aubrey arrange?

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

9. What is Maturin's covert job?

10. Who is the Surprise's first lieutenant and what is his qualification?

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

The near catastrophe at Inaccessible Island foreshadows the eventual wreck of Diane on the False Natunas. In the first encounter the island is obvious and obviously perilous while the latter island is invisible and invisibly dangerous. Discuss the following:

1. Symbolically, how do the two situations above relate to life in general?

2. How might the financial problems both Aubrey and Maturin are having be related to the above sentence? For example, what types of financial pitfalls are obvious and might be avoided and what types might be invisible and devastating?

3. In modern America, what types of situations within America's relationship to other nations in the world might qualify as obvious and obviously perilous and what might be invisible and invisibly dangerous?

Essay Topic 3

Though it is not as evident in this book as others, most of the entire series of novels concerning Captain Jack Aubrey takes place during the Napoleonic Wars; therefore understanding the political and social situation during that time helps to a greater understanding and appreciation of Thirteen Gun Salute and others in the series. Discuss one of the following:

1. Research and write an expository essay about how the Napoleonic Wars begin and end.

2. Research and write an expository essay about the naval aspect of the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France.

3. Compare/Contrast the importance of the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars to the importance of the British navy during either WWI or WWII.

(see the answer keys)

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