SUNY Geneseo Department of Mathematics

Enigma

Thursday, October 13

INTD 105 09
Fall 2016
Prof. Doug Baldwin

Questions?
Enigma
- Plot, characters, etc?
  - Tom Jericho — cryptanalyst, broke German u-boat code, went insane, called back to break new code that threatened American convoys
  - Relationship with Claire who’s missing, may be spy, sleeping with lots of men. She had stolen cryptograms, Tom found them and eventually burned them
  - Investigation re spying
  - Tom looking for Claire on his own w/ help from his and her colleagues
- What sort of people are the cryptanalysts (personalities, backgrounds, aptitudes, etc.)? How do they compare to Legrand from “The Gold Bug”?
  - Smart to point of autistic savant, curious, obsessive (in all cases)
  - For Jericho, add mathematician, anxious, obsessiveness shown by infatuation w/ Claire)
- Historical background?
  - World War II
  - Convoys essential to Britain’s survival
  - Enigma cipher encrypted everything to/from German headquarters to forces
Essay 2
- Compare history as portrayed in Enigma to what really happened
- Handout
Next
- Tuesday (Oct. 18)
  - Library research session by Bonnie Swoger, Milne Library
  - Meet in Milne 104
- Thursday (Oct. 20)
  - Finish discussing Enigma and brainstorm essay topics
  - Finish reading Enigma by then