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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 does Dutourd act like on the Surprise?

2. Where did the owner of Franklin plan to go when he left Europe?

3. What does a shot from Franklin do to Surprise?

4. How have the crew members of the Franklin acquired skin lesions?

5. What is the worst situation on Franklin?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Franklin's advantage in a chase with Surprise and why does it seem Franklin cannot shake the Surprise?

2. What does Aubrey demand of Dutourd about Franklin and how does the crew of the Surprise feel about it?

3. What does Vidal talk to Maturin about?

4. What is Maturin's personal reason for going to Peru?

5. How have the crew fared during the event at the beginning of Chapter 2?

6. How does Reade accidentally slow down the Surprise?

7. Why is West on the Surprise and what does he hope to obtain from Aubrey?

8. How does Aubrey handle the taking of the Franklin and what is the most pressing need for the ship?

9. What is happening in Martin and Maturin's relationship and what has Martin told Maturin?

10. Who is Clarissa Harvill, why was she on the Surprise, and what did Aubrey make her do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A work of fiction is often organized around a structure called a plot. Discuss the following:

1. Define plot and its major parts (rising action, climax, falling action, resolution [or denouement]. Write a sentence or two synopsis of the major plot of the The Wine-dark Sea.

2. Identify where the parts of the plot seem to fall in The Wine-dark Sea. Explain using examples.

3. Define the literary term "subplot." Write a sentence or two synopsis of a subplot in The Wine-dark Sea.

4. Identify the major parts of the subplot you identified in task number 3.

5. Why do you think identifying the plot and elements of the plot is useful?

Essay Topic 2

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider The Wine-dark Sea a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

Essay Topic 3

Sailors are notoriously superstitious. Even Aubrey, though very bright in many ways, is somewhat superstitious, a trait common to many sailors. Discuss the following:

1. What is superstition? Can you name a few common superstitions? Do any of them seem to have any validity in logic?

2. Why do you think sailors have the reputation for being superstitious? Do you think it is true? What superstitions are mentioned in The Wine-dark Sea?

3. What are some of the superstitions you are familiar with that sailors seem to believe? Do you believe any of them? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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