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. What do Kerans, Bodkin, and Beatrice sense about their relationship in Chapter 6?

2. Where does Kerans believe Lieutenant Hardman has gone?

3. In Chapter 7, where has Kerans been secluded during this time?

4. In Chapter 7, how long has it been since Riggs and his men departed?

5. How does Kerans know that Riggs intends to leave early?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of Kerans' indifference towards the drowned cities they visit?

2. Why does Kerans hesitate to leave the comfort of his hotel suite on this particular day?

3. Why do the freebooters inspect the buildings in the lagoon?

4. Who is Lieutenant Hardman?

5. What scientific idea does Bodkin propose?

6. How is the earth portrayed differently in this book?

7. In what way are the flora and fauna evolving?

8. What object does Kerans take from the armory and why?

9. How does the novel address the concept of evolution?

10. What is the significance of the arrival of the hydroplane and the destruction caused by the ships in the lagoon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the psychological effects of the extreme environmental changes on the characters. How does the heat and the flooded world affect their mental health?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the symbolism of water in the novel and its multifaceted representation, ranging from destruction and chaos to rebirth and renewal.

Essay Topic 3

How does Ballard use the character of Strangman to explore the theme of human violence in The Drowned World? What is the relationship between violence and survival in the book?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 857 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample