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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. What does Kerans realize about Hardman's knowledge?

2. Who flags down some of the men in Chapter 7?

3. Why does Bodkin raise the temperature in Hardman's room?

4. What does Kerans experience at the beginning of Chapter 5?

5. What disturbs Kerans when they wait in the courtyard?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Kerans deduce about the men using alligators as "watchdogs"?

2. Why do Kerans and Beatrice decide to reveal themselves to the freebooters?

3. How does the novel address themes of environmental destruction and climate change?

4. Who is the main character in The Drowned World and how would you describe them?

5. How would you describe the time period that the book takes place in?

6. Why is Dr. Alan Bodkin more interested in the flooded cities than Kerans?

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

8. What is the significance of their dreams as a meeting ground?

9. How does Kerans escape the caiman and reach Beatrice's doorstep?

10. Which character is shot and injured by Hardman and how did it happen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the symbolism of animals in The Drowned World. How do the animals, both extinct and mutated, contribute to the overall meaning of the story?

Essay Topic 3

How does Ballard use the character of Beatrice Dahl to explore the theme of femininity in The Drowned World? What role does femininity play in the book?

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