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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 suggest to Baddlestone about the papers from the French brig?

2. What is Hornblower contemplating as he leaves the admiralty?

3. What do the English do with the two long boats?

4. With what is the document sealed that Hornblower delivered to the Admiralty?

5. Who will Hornblower be shortly meeting after he says yes to the mission?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the Englishmen get over to the French brig?

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

3. Describe Meadows.

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

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

6. What man is aboard the Epérance in whom the English seem interested?

7. What special duty is Hornblower assigned?

8. How does Reverend Doctor Claudius fit into Hornblower's scheme?

9. What does Hornblower do mostly because he is so tired and what is the response of Marsden?

10. What procedures are followed by Hornblower and others once McCool is aboard the Renown?

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

In "Hornblower's Temptation," Hornblower is a very young officer and is given a great deal of responsibility to manage a fairly sly prisoner. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think in the "real" world, a young officer would be given charge of a prisoner such as McCool? Why or why not?

2. What do you think it says about Hornblower's reputation that he is assigned this duty?

3. What sort of character traits do you think a man (at that time) would possess who would attain the rank of admiral, a rank only a tiny fraction of officers ever earn? Does Hornblower possess all or many of the characteristics you name? Hornblower eventually earns the rank of admiral in later books of the series. Can you see a hint of that in his behavior in Hornblower During the Crisis and "Hornblower's Tempation"?

Essay Topic 3

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.)

(see the answer keys)

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