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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 is passing by as Hornblower comes up on the deck of the Princess?

2. Into what has Hornblower made the crew of the Hotspur?

3. What kind of ship is it that they see?

4. Why does Hornblower ask permission to talk to Bush?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Captain Meadows begins to read his orders of command and what does Bush do?

2. What happens to the Hotspur?

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

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

5. What does the lookout spy and what becomes obvious to those aboard the Princess?

6. Describe Hornblower's leave-taking from the crew of the Hotspur.

7. Describe the interaction between Bush and Hornblower when Bush comes to tell Hornblower the water hoy has arrived.

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

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

10. What are Hornblower's quarters like aboard the Princess?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

C. S. Forester often uses 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.

4. Would you enjoy living in this era? Why or why not.

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 Crisis and "The Last Encounter," like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. Do you think "Hornblower's Temptation" ends on a "happy note"? Why or why not?

3. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS, "Hornblower's Temptation" and "The Last Encounter" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why these three titles are or are not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

(see the answer keys)

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