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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 Captain Vere tell his crew in chapter 23?

2. Where are the real events that occur on the Bellipotent recorded?

3. What does the chaplain feel is better than religion for facing judgment?

4. Which ship does the Bellipotent engage in chapter 28?

5. What sentence does the court render in chapter 23?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Billy cry out "God bless Captain Vere!" moments before his execution?

2. What is ironic about Billy's impending trial?

3. How does Melville explain the trusting nature of most sailors?

4. How does Billy react to Claggart's accusation?

5. How is Billy like a sacrificial lamb?

6. How does Captain Vere view Billy before the foretopman is confronted with the accusation of mutiny?

7. How are the events that occur on the Bellipotent distorted on land?

8. How do the sailors of the Bellipotent honor Billy's memory?

9. What irony is evident in the nature of Captain Vere's death?

10. Why does Billy refuse to believe that Claggart is orchestrating the events that are plaguing him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does literature affect Captain Vere's character? How does the genre of Captain Vere's literary preference affect his relationship with his officers and crew? How do the ideals presented in Captain Vere's favored literature affect his command style and decision making process?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Captain Vere, Captain Bligh and Admiral Nelson. How does each man's command style affect his crew? How does each man's personality affect his relationship with his crew, and how does that relationship affect the morale of the crew?

Essay Topic 3

Provide a brief description of the following literary elements the novel: Introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and denouement (resolution). How does emotion affect the progression of each element?

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