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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 do with the Flame's mutinous crew?

2. Why does Lord St. Vincent leave the church service?

3. What type of ship is a French West Indiaman?

4. What is unique about Lord St. Vincent's instructions to Hornblower?

5. What happens after Hornblower captures the French gunboat in the battle at Le Havre?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Hornblower do to make the ships even more alike?

2. How does C. S. Forester show that Hornblower has the "common touch" in his interactions with men?

3. What is the point of showing Hornblower's daily bathing ritual?

4. What does Hornblower's plan to deal with mutineers depend on?

5. Why is Hornblower worried about the reactions of the Porta Coeli's crew to the mutiny on the Flame?

6. In addition to his rank, Hornblower is also well-connected through other ways, how?

7. What happens to some of the other mutineers from the Flame?

8. As a midshipman, Hornblower is atypical, why?

9. At the beginning of the book, what is Hornblower's relationship with his wife like? How does C. S. Forester show this?

10. What is Hornblower supposed to do with the mutineers? Why is this important?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does C. S. Forester use historical figures and events in his books? How accurate are his depictions?

Essay Topic 2

How important is social standing in the 19th century? Does Hornblower do as well in his career if he is born a peer? Does he do better?

Essay Topic 3

What are conditions like for the common sailor in the 19th century? What are the pluses and minuses? Based on C. S. Forester's depiction, is being a sailor a good career choice? Why? Why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 765 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample