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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 is a drumhead court?

2. Why does the captain ask Claggart to confront Billy?

3. Who witnesses Billy's funeral?

4. What is standard procedure in the event of a suspected murder at sea?

5. Who is a part of the drumhead court in chapter 21?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Billy's funeral.

2. Why does Captain Vere feel it necessary to deliver the court's verdict to Billy personally?

3. Why doesn't Billy confront the afterguardsman or Claggart about any of the incidents that occurs?

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

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

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

7. Why does Captain Vere insist that the drumhead court render judgment according to the Mutiny Act?

8. How does Captain Vere explain Billy's execution to the crew?

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

10. How does Claggart's expression begin to betray his feelings in chapter 17?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does emotional repression affect the development of emotion among the sailors on the Bellipotent? How does Claggart's repression of feelings magnify his anger? What is the consequence of his repression? How does Billy's repression of his feelings magnify his sense of confusion? What is the consequence of his repression?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

What is a "cat's paw" and which characters represent this analogy? Why does Claggart choose to use a "cat's paw" instead of dealing with Billy himself? How does the use of the "cat's paw" backfire on Claggart?

(see the answer keys)

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