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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. Who is Reverend Doctor Claudius?

2. What happens when Hornblower is ushered into the waiting room for the admiralty?

3. Who is O'Shaughnessy?

4. What skill does Hornblower mention that he possesses?

5. What does Sawyer call for immediately after talking with the lieutenant of the prize crew?

Short Essay Questions

1. What special duty is Hornblower assigned?

2. Describe the fight to gain control of the French brig.

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

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

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

6. What does Hornblower do while the men are destroying the ship?

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

8. What are the setting and circumstances at the opening of this short story?

9. What does Baddlestone suggest and what does Hornblower ultimately have the men do to the French brig?

10. What are several factors that cause Marsden to be impressed with Hornblower?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of Hornblower During the Crisis. Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Hornblower During the Crisis. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS. Which theme in HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS to you the most in your life? Why?

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

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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