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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 offer by the Count does Hornblower decline?

2. How long has it taken the men to travel about 400 miles?

3. What does Hornblower do in the reading room?

4. Why does Hornblower choose Brown instead of his actual steward to make the journey to Paris with him?

5. What is Marie's background?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Colonel Caillard come to Rosas prison? What is Caillard like as a man? How do you think Hornblower felt about the man?

2. What does the French innkeeper do for the English prisoners before they leave? What thoughts does Hornblower mull as they travel in the coach?

3. What does Hornblower think about when told Admiral Leighton might die? Do you think his thoughts make him less that honorable?

4. What happens to Bush as the travel to Paris continues? Do you think people in that era were tougher than those today?

5. How does Hornblower feel when preparing for bed with the other prisoners? How does he feel about his pending execution? Do you think he is a coward that he worries about his possible reaction at the time of the execution?

6. Who is the owner of the house where the escapees knock to ask for aid? How does he treat the prisoners initially?

7. How does Hornblower appeal to Caillard's humanity and what is Caillard's response?

8. Why might Marie be a better match in some ways for Hornblower than his wife or the Admiral's wife?

9. Where and when is Hornblower when the book opens?

10. In what kind of physical shape is Bush?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Along with treason, another detestable action is spying. Spies are not considered in the same vein as soldiers in uniform and are not protected by the customs and regulations that govern the treatment of soldiers who are in uniform when captured. Discuss one of the following:

1. Why do you think spies are not accorded any rights under many countries' laws and/or customs?

2. Even though all countries abhor spies, often even their own, they still spy, and men and women are still willing to be spies. Discuss why you think this is so.

3. Research and analyze the history of spying in either England, the United States or Russa.

Essay Topic 2

Though this novel is probably more action driven rather than character driven, obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast Hornblower to Bush.

2. Compare/contrast Brown to Bush.

3. Compare/contrast Hornblower to Brown.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 6, while Hornblower sits in the coach fretting, he sees a rowboat bobbing on the river, and he forms an instant plan. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze Hornblower's ability to think quickly and take action to do what needs to be done.

2. Why do you think the ability to think quickly would be a valuable asset to one in a command position? Explain fully.

3. Do both Bush and/or Brown also demonstrate the ability to think quickly? How about clearly thinking? Explain fully.

(see the answer keys)

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