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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 old is Hornblower at the opening of this short story?

2. Who is O'Shaughnessy?

3. Who lectures Hornblower?

4. Why does Baddlestone turn the papers over to Hornblower?

5. What do the men on the Princess do to the French men who board?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is most useful about the document that Hornblower brings to the admiralty?

2. What is the final outcome (according to an author's note) of Hornblower delivering false orders to Villeneuve?

3. Describe Meadows.

4. Describe the outcome of the court martial and the events up to when McCool is hanged.

5. What indications are there that the weighted packet Hornblower takes off the French brig might be important?

6. Describe Hornblower's actions up until he meets with Marsden.

7. Describe the situation about McCool's chest and what Hornblower ultimately decides to do.

8. What does Hornblower hand over to Marsden and Barrow, and what do they make of it?

9. How does Marsden describe the encounter between Calder and Villeneuve?

10. What do the formerly sleeping watch sailors do as Hornblower is contemplating what to do with the ship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During this era when the book takes place, if a vessel under the command of a naval officer captures another vessel from a country with whom they are warring or captures a pirate vessel, etc...the crew of the victorious vessel shares in the goods, money and value of the vessel. For example, when Meadows is describing Baddleston to Hornblower in chapter one, Meadows says he'd give up 5 years worth of prize money to have Baddleston under his command for 10 minutes. The prize money to which Meadows is referring is that discussed above. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the British had such a "prize" policy in place then?

2. What are the possible abuses that can arise from such a policy?

3. Why do you think this policy is eventually abandoned?

4. Do you think it fair that the English felt that any vessel of any country that showed support to France was fair game, along with the French vessels? (As did France behave the same way towards Britain's allies.)

Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Horatio Hornblower is no exception. Hornblower's legendary powers of reasoning is juxtaposed with his nervousness and internalized self-doubt. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Hornblower demonstrates his powers of reasoning and ability to act in a crisis. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis. Are Hornblower's strengths apparent in each of the three stories?

2. Trace and analyze Hornblower's character flaws, especially his nervousness and self-doubt, offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion. Are these flaws apparent in each of the three stories?

3. Compare the young Hornblower from Horn to the older Hornblower in HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS to the elderly Hornblower in "The Last Encounter." How are they alike? What traits are apparent in each selection? How has Hornblower matured?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if it is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS falls within the genre of historical fiction changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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