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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 Maturin feel about his manipulations of Wogan and Herapath?

2. Why does Maturin say yes to the request by naval intelligence?

3. Where does Aubrey head after the illness is over?

4. Who has criticized Aubrey's handling of the ship?

5. How does Herapath feel when he gets to the top of the ropes?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

3. What does Maturin find out about Aubrey's next assignment on the sea?

4. How does Maturin manipulate Herapath?

5. The rescue of Herapath begins the novel's restrained, intricate, and playful treatment of the sexually-charged atmosphere of a man-of-war with hundreds of men and three women--one of them obviously pregnant and all of them dangerous criminals. What do you think is meant by this statement?

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

7. What does Maturin decide he must do over the Villiers affair and what does he do?

8. Who visits Aubrey often and what does he find Aubrey involved in with his initial visit in this book?

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

10. A somewhat unique connection is forged between Aubrey and Herapath during the rescue-from-drowning scene. Why do you think this connection occurred?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of DESOLATION ISLAND.

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of DESOLATION ISLAND.

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

Much attention is given to the treatment of both wounds and illnesses by Maturin. Maturin seems far more advanced than the typical doctor of that era. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the medical remedies Maturin uses in Desolation Island to that which would be done in our modern world.

2. Many wars are partially, if not completely, determined by factors other than the actual fighting. One of those factors is disease. Research and discuss how epidemics/pandemics have influenced the outcome of three different wars throughout history.

3. Discuss some of the medical remedies Maturin performs/uses that were probably not used in that era.

(see the answer keys)

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