View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Hornblower's special duty?

2. What is Hornblower to keep McCool from doing?

3. What does Hornblower tell the men on the longboat to do?

4. What seems almost surreal to Hornblower?

5. What do the English sailors do?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why is Hornblower privy to the information passed with the signal flags?

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

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

6. What do Hornblower and his men do when the prize crew arrives?

7. Describe Meadows.

8. What are Hornblower's thoughts about Ireland's plight?

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

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

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.)

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,404 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample