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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 does Hornblower find when he returns to his hotel room?

2. How is Hornblower when he meets St. Vincent?

3. What is Hornblower ordered when he finds Collingwood's fleet?

4. What do the three Sinhalese divers do?

5. What sort of affect does Hornblower maintain?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the Atropos anchored and what does Hornblower do with the time?

2. Describe Hornblower's encounter with the King.

3. Describe the boat's journey from the tunnel to Oxford.

4. Why does the boat stop and what is the captain's concern?

5. How does Hornblower gain a French privateer as his prize and what is the end result of the operation?

6. What is the status of the Atropos when Hornblower questions Lieutenant Jones?

7. Describe Maria Hornblower.

8. Why does Hornblower change the original plans for the docking and offloading of the coffin?

9. How does Hornblower respond to Eisenbeiss's blusters?

10. After attempting to engage Hornblower in conversation, with whom does the tiller man talk and what is her response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often in Forester's series involving Horatio Hornblower, his ship and/or life is saved by extraordinary means. Discuss the following:

1. Research and define the literary term "narrative contrivance."

2. Identify and analyze a time in the book when Forester makes free use of the technique of narrative contrivance to save Hornblower and his ship in Hornblower and the Atropos.

3. Does the use of narrative contrivance diminish the impact of the plot? The believability of the storyline?

4. Is there any other way Forester could have a mixture of suspense and action while at the same time making certain the main characters are not killed?

Essay Topic 2

Admiral Hornblower is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in this book and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Hornblower whom you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Honor is a very important concept in Hornblower and the Atropos and in the life of those in the upper class during that era. After Hornblower retrieves over 200,000 pounds of gold and silver, he immediately sails to turn over the treasure to his superiors despite the fact that he could have absconded with the money and lived in ease the rest of his life. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of honor in Hornblower and the Atropos. What do you think Admiral Hornblower would tell you is the definition of honor if you ask him? Do you think honor can be restored if it is lost?

2. Respond to the following statement using specific examples from the book and your own experience: Honor is one of the most important character traits for anyone in any social strata. First fully define the concept of honor, then discuss whether you believe the preceding statement is true with specific examples from Hornblower and the Atropos and other books or films that you have read or experienced.

3. During the era in which Hornblower lives, a man could give his word on the basis of being a gentleman and it is assumed to be true. There is no such concept for a lady or anyone of lower social/economic groups during this era. Fully discuss the implications in a society where only gentlemen are considered trustworthy enough to give their word unquestioned.

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