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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 trail to the monastery called by the locals?

2. At what function does the British delegation act in grossly flattering ways?

3. What two bodies does Maturin bring to Van Buren?

4. What does the delegation find out about the French at the beginning of Chapter 6?

5. What do Aubrey and Maturin learn about banks in England?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has caused the political riots occurring in Pulo Prabang when Maturin returns on leave?

2. How does van Buren assist Maturin?

3. What kind and number of midshipmen does the Diane have and how does Aubrey handle them?

4. Where does Maturin go on a leave and how did he get there?

5. What kind of scandal do Aubrey and Maturin learn about that is occurring in England and how does Aubrey feel about it?

6. What class do the midshipmen find boring and what do they do about it?

7. What does Aubrey do with the midshipmen when he allows prostitutes aboard Diane and what do those midshipmen do?

8. How is Abjul executed?

9. How does the crew work on the Diane and what does Aubrey do with them?

10. Why does Aubrey dislike Fox and how does the crew feel about Fox? What does that force on Fox?

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

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 Thirteen Gun Salute qualifies as an 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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