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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 is Diana Villiers?

2. In what part of the ship were the prisoners held?

3. Who are Killick and Bonden?

4. Of what crime is Villiers accused?

5. What was Aubrey trying to avoid by going north and northwest?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Maturin receive from Herapath twice and what does he find out?

2. How do the prisoners fare during the storm and what crimes do they commit?

3. Wogan's viewing of Aubrey's nude body is humorous and a fictional inversion of usual events. Why do you think the scene is an inversion of usual events?

4. The chapter presents an interesting but routine narrative technique by introducing a letter home from Aubrey followed by a journal entry by Maturin. Both texts flow naturally and are presented in an appropriate voice; they both expose inner thoughts and deep feelings which would ordinarily not come out in common conversation. Explain why you think the author used this technique.

5. What does Pullings find after the storm?

6. What is Aubrey doing at the beginning of the novel?

7. What happens to the convalescents on the ship?

8. What does Aubrey find when he inspects the prisoners' quarters and what happens when he sees Wogan?

9. What does the ship enter farther north than usual and what happens when it is there?

10. What is Sophie doing about Aubrey's excesses?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Along with superstitions, the ships crew seem to find mystical meanings in various symbols. Discuss the following:

1. What are six symbols in DESOLATION ISLAND and their meanings. Are the meanings logical or based upon superstitions?

2. Discuss three metaphors in the novel and their impact on the understanding of the plot.

3. Discuss O'Brian's narrative style as it applies to his descriptions. Is his style effective? Interesting? Lively?

Essay Topic 2

Though the author O'Brian may or may not have such personal views on women, the way women are characterized in his naval series is often less than complimentary. Discuss one of the following:

1. Present and analyze the treatment of women in Desolation Island.

2. O'Brian is trying to be historically accurate, so is his treatment of women in his book(s) justified?

3. Is there any way O'Brian could have presented women in a more positive light and still stayed historically accurate? Explain.

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 Desolation Island?

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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