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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. Why does Hornblower ask permission to talk to Bush?

2. How does Hotspur get off being aground?

3. What rank is Hornblower at the opening of the novel?

4. What does Hornblower do after his testimony at the court martial?

5. What is Calder's assignment?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the outcome of Meadows' court martial?

2. What is the purpose of the water-hoy coming alongside the Hotspur?

3. Describe Hornblower's part in Meadows' court martial.

4. What bothers Hornblower about what Baddlestone tells Hornblower?

5. What does Hornblower wonder about the court martial and who answers his question?

6. About what does Hornblower muse?

7. What does Captain Meadows say about Baddlestone when Hornblower asks?

8. Describe the new commander of the Hotspur, Captain Meadows.

9. How does Hornblower learn that Baddlestone overcharged him tremendously for passage aboard the Princess?

10. Why doesn't the Princess set sail immediately for England and how do the naval officers respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Loyalty is demonstrated in a number of ways, as is the lack of loyalty. Discuss the following:

1. How do you define loyalty? Is the ability and desire to be loyal an admirable trait in humans? Why or why not? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being loyal to a person? Cause? Country? Idea? What of those who are loyal to something no matter what they learn about that person, thing, ideal, country, etc... -in other words, blind loyalty.

2. Discuss and analyze Hornblower's tendency to be loyal. Is it always warranted? Wise? Earned? What situation in HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS shows Hornblower's loyalty at its most ideal? Do you feel that Hornblower is a loyal British subject? What about in "Hornblower's Temptation"? Friend? Husband? Comrade? Discuss each situation.

3. Do you think McCool is truly loyal to Ireland? Why do you think he would go from the military service of one country (England) to that of military service with a country at war with the first country (France). Does McCool not feel any loyalty to his oath of service? Does he think loyalty to his oath is invalid since he is from Ireland?

4. Why do you think even as young as he is, Hornblower is able to elicit loyalty from the men on board the Princess to go fight a difficult and dangerous battle with the sailors of the French brig?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Meadows and Baddleston. How are they alike? How are they different? Do you think Hornblower is more sympathetic towards one or the other? Why? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Lieutenant Bush to that of Hornblower. How do their personalities/abilities compare? Who seems more likely to climb the ranks within the navy. Why? With whom would you rather work? Be specific and give examples.

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples. (Consider Meadows, Baddlestone, Marsden, Bower, and Claudius in the novel. Consider McCool in Hornblower's Temptation. Consider Brown, Barbara and Napoleon III in The Last Encounter.)

Essay Topic 3

HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS 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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