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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 does Martin, Maturin's assistant, fare with the illness?

2. On what vessel had there been a mutiny?

3. What happens with the prisoners as the ship sits still?

4. Into what does the Leopard crash?

5. What nationality is Louisa Wogan?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Maturin manipulate Herapath?

3. Who is Louisa Wogan and what happened to her?

4. What does Maturin find at Villiers' apartments?

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

6. What happens when the epidemic hits and who does Herapath replace?

7. 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?

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

9. With whom is Maturin enamored and how is that going for him?

10. Where do Maturin and Aubrey go so Aubrey can play cards and how did it go there for Aubrey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An American spy, Mrs. Wogan will accompany Maturin and Aubrey on the Leopard. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think a female American is a spy for the British?

2. Compare the difference between how Maturin and Aubrey treat Mrs. Wogan.

3. Do you think it was solely for professional reasons that Maturin in the auspices of the ship's surgeon, examines Mrs. Wogan?

4. In that era, most sailors believe woman should not be on a ship and they brought bad luck. Do you think any of that attitude is still present in the seagoing services (US Navy, US Coast Guard and Merchant Marines). This may require some research.

Essay Topic 2

In addition to understanding the war in which O'Brian's novels are set, it is quite helpful to have a basic understanding of nautical terminology and the types of ships and their armaments that were used during the early 1800s. Discuss the following:

1. Define ten of the most commonly-used shipboard terms and discuss how those terms are used in Desolation Island.

2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the ships used in the early 1800s?

3. How is the British navy organized during this period (early 1800s) and how different do you think it is organized today (including how one rises in rank).

4. Compare/contrast one of the naval battles described in the novel with one from WWII.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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