FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Melville's 'Encantadas' Trivia Quiz

The ten sketches Melville wrote for 'Harper's' magazine and later published as part of his 'Piazza Tales'.

A multiple-choice quiz by tjoebigham. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
tjoebigham

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
78,204

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
201

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. What islands are the 'Encantadas'? Hint

Marquesas

Bahamas

Hawaiian

Galapagos

NEXT>

2. What creatures does Melville devote a sketch to? Hint

tortoises

snakes

finches

whales

NEXT>

3. From what high point can you get a panoramic view of the islands? Hint

Mount Cook

Devil's Tower

Rock Rodondo

Skull Rock

NEXT>

4. Wha type of ship almost was wrecked on the island? Hint

whaler

clipper

schooner

frigate

NEXT>

5. What type of seamen camped on Barrington Island? Hint

pirates

merchant marines

whalers

sealers

NEXT>

6. On Charles Isle, what animals were ruled by a Cuban Creole sailor? Hint

birds

tortoises

dogs

seals

NEXT>

7. What was the name of the Chola (half-breed Indian) widow who was marooned on Norfolk Isle? Hint

Maria

Michaela

Carmen

Hunilla

NEXT>

8. Yes or No: Was the marooned widow rescued?

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

9. Who was the hermit who lived on Hood's Isle? Hint

Kermit

Autolycus

Bolton

Oberlus

NEXT>

10. What pseudonym did Melville write the sketches under? Hint

William Irish

Geoffrey Crayon

Salvatore R. Tarnmoor

J.J. Jadway

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What islands are the 'Encantadas'?

Answer: Galapagos

The Galapagos, best known for Charles Darwin's research that led him to his thoery of evolution.

2. What creatures does Melville devote a sketch to?

Answer: tortoises

'Galapagos' comes from the Spanish for tortoise.

3. From what high point can you get a panoramic view of the islands?

Answer: Rock Rodondo

Or 'Round Rock' in Spanish.

4. Wha type of ship almost was wrecked on the island?

Answer: frigate

It was the U.S Navy frigate 'Essex', no relation to the whaleship of the same name that was wrecked by a sperm whale and inspired the climax of 'Moby Dick'.

5. What type of seamen camped on Barrington Island?

Answer: pirates

Melville tells a romantic scenario of the buccaneers who bivouaced there.

6. On Charles Isle, what animals were ruled by a Cuban Creole sailor?

Answer: dogs

Having been rewarded the isle for his sevice in combat, he became ruler of the wild dogs there. (The Canary Islands are not named for the birds, but for its wild dogs)

7. What was the name of the Chola (half-breed Indian) widow who was marooned on Norfolk Isle?

Answer: Hunilla

She went ashore with her husband and brother to hunt tortoises for the French whaler she shipped aboard, but they were marooned by the whaler, and Hunilla watched her husband and brother die.

8. Yes or No: Was the marooned widow rescued?

Answer: yes

Eventually, a whaleship discovered her and returned her to Peru.

9. Who was the hermit who lived on Hood's Isle?

Answer: Oberlus

The most mysterious character in the sketches, he is obstenibly a political escapee who is eventually recaptured.

10. What pseudonym did Melville write the sketches under?

Answer: Salvatore R. Tarnmoor

It was partially inspired by painter Salvatore Rosa, best known for brooding landscapes of dark and stormy vistas.

Source: Author tjoebigham

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.