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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. How many men were wounded?

2. About what does Hornblower continue to worry?

3. What do the men put in their boat?

4. For how long has Hornblower been without sleep?

5. Who builds a boat?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What do Bush and Brown do to prepare for a spring escape and how does Hornblower feel about it?

3. What does Hornblower and Bush do with Marie and the Count to help pass the time? How does Bush do with it?

4. What is Hornblower's status at the end of Chapter 17 and how does he view his possible future?

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

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

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

8. What is a humorous aspect of the river trip having to do with being on fresh water?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In addition to understanding the war in which Forester's novels are set, it is quite helpful to have a basic understanding of nautical terminology and the types of ships and their armaments that were used during the early 1800s. Discuss the following:

1. Define ten of the most commonly-used shipboard terms and discuss how those terms are used in FLYING COLOURS.

2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the ships used in the early 1800s?

3. How is the British navy organized during this period (early 1800s) and how different do you think it is organized today (including how one rises in rank).

4. Compare/contrast one of the naval battles described in the novel with one from WWII.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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