View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why would Hornblower be shot immediately if caught?

2. For how long has Hornblower been without sleep?

3. Why do the men have to stay inside?

4. What does the kitchen make?

5. What does Bush have great difficulty doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. How might their escape from the French be viewed and what additional bonus did they bring with their escape?

2. How do you think the plan to steal the Witch of Endor could be viewed and why was it an excellent one? Who helped Hornblower and the others with taking her?

3. How are the French responding to the missing men and what finally happens that gives them some hope?

4. How has the relationship between the three men changed since being on board ship?

5. What would you say is the purpose of Chapters 11 and 12?

6. What does Brown do that demonstrates his change in attitude towards Hornblower and how does Hornblower feel about it?

7. What was a major development with Hornblower's wife and how might that have changed his affair with Marie?

8. What is ideal about traveling on a river for escaped prisoners and how might that change?

9. What does the Count suggest will be good disguises for the men and how does he help them with the disguise?

10. What are Chapters 16 and 17 used for in this story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hornblower is an officer and a gentleman and is therefore accorded more respect and trust even in enemy territory than the common sailor. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem likely that officers are usually more respectable than enlisted men back then? What about today? Why or why not.

2. Hornblower has an adulterous affair with the daughter-in-law of his host and often thinks of Lady Barbara Leighton and how much he would also like to be involved with her. Do you think this is how an officer and gentleman comports himself? Why or why not.

3. In the present military in the United States, both officers and enlisted can be held for court martial for adultery or having sexual relations with someone of inferior rank. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with the policy?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

During this era when the book takes place, if a vessel under the command of a naval officer captures another vessel from a country with whom they are warring or captures a pirate vessel, etc...the crew of the victorious vessel shares in the goods, money and value of the vessel, as happens to with the men who capture the Witch of Endor. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the British had such a policy in place then?

2. What are the possible abuses that can arise from such a policy?

3. Why do you think this policy is eventually abandoned?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,050 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample