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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. When they are about 178 miles from Paris, what happens?

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

3. Who is commanding the English fleet that is attacking in the harbor?

4. Who is Lady Barbara Leighton?

5. Of what is Hornblower convicted?

Short Essay Questions

1. What seems to be one of Hornblowers primary emotional states? What does he think when he reviews his actions which led to his imprisonment?

2. In what kind of physical shape is Bush?

3. How do the Spanish treat Hornblower and what can he see from where he is? What do you think it says about his character that they would do this?

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

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

6. What do you think of the fact that of all the houses the men could have gone they happen to find one with occupants sympathetic to them?

7. How does the Spanish warden help Hornblower? Why do you think he would do that? Do you think that makes him a traitor to his country?

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

9. How did Hornblower end up where he is at the beginning of the novel?

10. What does Hornblower awaken to a few days after his capture? How does he respond? What does he see? What do you think he might have felt when he first saw the fight?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapters 5 and 6 while Hornblower and his men are on the road, much of the narrative is devoted to Hornblower's internal analysis of being a prisoner of war under death sentence. Discuss one of the following:

1. Hornblower is tried and convicted as a pirate because he is not flying the English ensign when he engages the French. Should he be punished by death?

2. When is the sentence of death applicable in a military situation--i.e., should some wartime actions be punishable by death? Discuss fully.

3. Trace and analyze Hornblower's thoughts about death throughout the story, including the death of others--for example, Hornblower hates the idea of dying but is hoping Admiral Leighton will die of his wounds.

Essay Topic 2

Hornblower is ordered to engage the French, though he is quite outnumbered and ultimately his ship is captured and 2/3 of his crew are killed or wounded. This is considered an "acceptable loss." Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the Admiral who orders Hornblower to "sacrifice" the Sutherland believes the loss of the ship and many lives is acceptable?

2. Many wars are fought under the assumption of "acceptable losses." Usually it is the common foot soldier who is doing most of the dying. In fact, the term "cannon fodder," is often used to describe infantry who are killed by the hundreds gaining small hills or bits of land, sometimes to lose the same piece of "real estate" several times with continuing loss of life. Is this truly acceptable?

3. Sometimes some will say that wars would be few and far between if those who decided to go to war had to be in the front lines. Do you think that would make a difference?

Essay Topic 3

Forester has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think this book qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in the book are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. Do you think the culture of that era is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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