View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the officer Aubrey is having trouble with?

2. To what group is Aubrey appointed?

3. To where has Villiers fled?

4. What does Aubrey tell Maturin about the card players he's been with?

5. What did Villiers leave Maturin?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Pullings find after the storm?

2. Who does Aubrey encounter as they leave Brazil and what does he find out?

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

4. 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?

5. What kind of storm does Aubrey hit when he first sails and what does he do about it?

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

7. Who is Lieutenant Grant and what is Aubrey's problem with him?

8. What does Maturin find at Villiers' apartments?

9. Grant subtly but constantly criticizes Aubrey's handling of the ship--an irritating trait in any man but particularly when directed at such an obvious nautical genius as Aubrey. Why do you think Grant continues to criticize a captain who is obviously a superior seaman?

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

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

Maturin acts as a covert agent for the Crown and succeeds in planting false intelligence with the American spy, Mrs. Wogan:

1. What sort of covert operations does Maturin undertake? How similar do you think his covert operations are to that of an organization such as the CIA of today?

2. How is Maturin's role as a covert agent play a part in Mrs. Wogan's release?

3. Do you see any conflict of interests between being a doctor and also a covert operator? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 948 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample