51 pages 1 hour read

Catalina de Erauso

Lieutenant Nun

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1997

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Essay Topics

1.

Place Lieutenant Nun within the broader context of women in military history. How does Catalina de Erauso’s story compare to other historical accounts of women who took on male roles in wartime? What does this suggest about the possibilities and limitations for women in military contexts in history?

2.

How did Erauso’s story contribute to her fame or infamy during her lifetime? Discuss how her narrative may have been received differently by various audiences (e.g., in Spain versus the Americas, by men versus women, etc.).

3.

Explore the role of violence in Lieutenant Nun. How did Erauso use violence, what does it reveal about her assumptions and values, and what does it show about life in the early modern Spanish colonies?