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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 do the circulars say that are dispatched to various authorities?

2. How does Johnson come across to Hornblower?

3. What does Hornblower's ship come about as he is cruising the coast?

4. What does Hornblower learn at Curaçao?

5. Who calls on Hornblower back on the Clorinda?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the area where Hornblower and Spendlove are being held.

2. Who appears at breakfast and how does he get there?

3. What does Hornblower believe about Lucy Hough and Spendlove, yet what indications are there that Hornblower is incorrect in his observations?

4. What happens immediately upon Hornblower's return that is disconcerting to him?

5. Who has kidnapped Hornblower and Spendlove and what are the demands?

6. Why does Hornblower write the letter and what demonstrates how little authority Johnson has over the group?

7. How do Hornblower and the governor disagree and what does Hornblower do about it for the moment?

8. What does Hornblower do once he reaches Puerto Cabello?

9. Who does Hornblower meet ashore at Puerto Cabello and what ensues while Hornblower is ashore?

10. About what do the men converse while dining on the Bride of Aybados?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Forester is masterful in his description of battles, storms and life in general in the West Indies in the early 1820s. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze Forester's descriptive passages about life at sea, particularly in times of stormy weather. How does he use descriptions of the five senses to make the reader feel s/he is there? Do you find his descriptions compelling? Seemingly accurate? How would the novel be different if he did not include such descriptive passages?

2. Analyze Forester's descriptive passages about the social structure of the times and discuss what you think it would be like to be a person of wealth and/or privilege such as Hornblower, Ramsbottom, Governor Hooper, Mr. Hough. Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Hudnutt, Ned Johnson or one in service to someone of wealth and/or privilege.

3. Describe and analyze Forester's descriptive passages about the topographical setting and the physical descriptions of the peopl. Does Forester do an adequate job of actually making the reader "see" the land/sea where the action is taking place? How about getting a visual image of the characters? How does the descriptions of the setting add to the novel? Do you like having an idea of how a character looks? How would the novel be different without such descriptions?

Essay Topic 2

Admiral Hornblower is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in this book and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Hornblower who you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Hornblower is a man who, for the most part, "plays by the book." Several of the men Hornblower encounters during the course of Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies do not play by the book. Discuss the following:

1. Cambronne seeks to liberate Napoleon, which would obviously plunge Europe into another round of war. Is Cambronne an admirable character? Do you think Hornblower admires him? Finds him despicable? A combination of both? What do you think of Cambronne's plans?

2. Ramsbottom also does not play by the rules. How do you think Hornblower views Ramsbottom's actions? Do you think Hornblower wishes he had more passion for something as Ramsbottom does? Is passion for a cause more common in younger men/women than those of Hornblower's age? Why or why not.

3. Hornblower "plays by the book" exactly in the case of Hudnutt and is willing to allow a rather simple-minded young man be hanged over a minor offense because discipline must be maintained. Do you think Hornblower should play by the book in this case? Do you think he knows that his wife is taking care of the matter and thus stays out of it? Whose actions are more admirable in this instance: Barbara's or Hornblower's?

(see the answer keys)

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