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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 do the circulars say that are dispatched to various authorities?

2. Where does Ramsbottom say he is going to sail?

3. What do they have to do when the boat grounds?

4. Who is Johnson sending to the governor?

5. What does Hornblower learn from his wife, Barbara, about Ramsbottom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens immediately upon Hornblower's return that is disconcerting to him?

2. How does Hornblower manage to avoid a confrontation with Spanish and Dutch officials and where does Hornblower go from Puerto Cabello?

3. What does Hornblower do to keep the various authorities in the area from being upset at Hornblower and the English?

4. What do the pirates decide to do about the delivery of the letter and how does Hornblower react?

5. Describe Ned Johnson.

6. What does Hornblower learn on his tour of the Bride of Abydos and what is his reaction?

7. About what do the men converse while dining on the Bride of Aybados?

8. What are the implications of the capture of the Helmond?

9. Describe Hornblower's capture and journey to the cliffs.

10. What does Hornblower do once he reaches Puerto Cabello?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation with Hudnutt and Hornblower with Hornblower being musically deaf and asked to judge an issue that has to do with music. What is the irony of Hornblower's name in this situation? Discuss the irony of Hornblower lying to Cambronne about Napoleon's death and then it being true. How does irony add to the enjoyment of reading?

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of the steam engine, the Napoleonic-era uniforms, the bearskin cap, the name of Ramsbottom's boat after renaming it (Desperate) and the seal of office that Ned Johnson requests on the pirates' pardon.

3. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature. What is the purpose of foreshadowing? Cite 3 examples of foreshadowing and how it is used to indicate events to come in ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER IN THE WEST INDIES.

Essay Topic 2

ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER IN THE WEST INDIES is one book in a series of novels involving Horatio Hornblower. Discuss the following.

1. What is one advantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters?

2. What is a disadvantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult (or about the same) to write a standalone book versus one in a series? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Forester is masterful in his description of battles, storms and life in general in the West Indies in the early 1820s. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze Forester's descriptive passages about life at sea, particularly in times of stormy weather. How does he use descriptions of the five senses to make the reader feel s/he is there? Do you find his descriptions compelling? Seemingly accurate? How would the novel be different if he did not include such descriptive passages?

2. Analyze Forester's descriptive passages about the social structure of the times and discuss what you think it would be like to be a person of wealth and/or privilege such as Hornblower, Ramsbottom, Governor Hooper, Mr. Hough. Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Hudnutt, Ned Johnson or one in service to someone of wealth and/or privilege.

3. Describe and analyze Forester's descriptive passages about the topographical setting and the physical descriptions of the peopl. Does Forester do an adequate job of actually making the reader "see" the land/sea where the action is taking place? How about getting a visual image of the characters? How does the descriptions of the setting add to the novel? Do you like having an idea of how a character looks? How would the novel be different without such descriptions?

(see the answer keys)

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