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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 McCullum determine has to be done to recover the last container of gold?

2. What does Eisenbeiss want to do for McCullum?

3. How is the dinner?

4. What is improbable that Castilla does?

5. Under whose care is McCullum placed?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Atropos head after Malta and what does Hornblower do during the voyage?

2. What does Hornblower see at Cartagena that surprises him, and what does he do?

3. What is Hornblower's strategy as he is being pursued by the Castilla?

4. Describe the beginning preparations for the salvage operation.

5. Why does Hornblower believe the second attempt at explosives is unsuccessful and what does McCullum explain?

6. Where does Atropos sail and from whom does Hornblower receive a dinner invitation?

7. Describe McCullum and his divers.

8. What does Hornblower find when he returns to the Atropos?

9. Why does the Atropos have to heave to momentarily and what does Hornblower do?

10. What besides the fortresses has appeared to cause problems for the Atropos?

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

At sea, the commander of a vessel is "God," and failure to obey the Captain's orders can subject one to court martial and even execution. Discuss the following:

1. Should sailors be held accountable for anything they do under orders? Discuss fully, using examples both from Hornblower and the Atropos and your own knowledge.

2. Why do you think mutiny on a ship is punishable by death?

3. Is there ever justification for a crew to mutiny?

4. Hornblower threatens Eisenbeiss with flogging and/or hanging both at the time he comes on board Atropos for the first time and later when he shoots McCullum, though Eisenbeiss is neither a British citizen nor part of the navy. Why do you think Eisenbeiss obeys Hornblower? Is it fair that he must fall under the orders of Hornblower?

Essay Topic 3

Hornblower and the Atropos is one book in a series of novels involving Horatio Hornblower. Discuss the following.

1. What is one advantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters?

2. What is a disadvantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult (or about the same) to write a standalone book versus one in a series? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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