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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. Melville compares Billy's death to the death of which other person?

2. In which article are the events on the Bellipotent published?

3. Where is Billy confined in chapter 24?

4. What excuse does Billy give for hitting Claggart?

5. In chapter 20, what does the surgeon want to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Billy refuse to believe that Claggart is orchestrating the events that are plaguing him?

2. Why does Captain Vere insist that the drumhead court render judgment according to the Mutiny Act?

3. What is unusual about Billy's death?

4. What accusation does Claggart bring against Billy?

5. What explanation does Billy give for being called to the captain's cabin in chapter 19?

6. How does Claggart's expression begin to betray his feelings in chapter 17?

7. What irony is evident in the nature of Captain Vere's death?

8. Why does Billy cry out "God bless Captain Vere!" moments before his execution?

9. How does Captain Vere view Billy before the foretopman is confronted with the accusation of mutiny?

10. What religious event compares to Billy's funeral?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

According to Melville, why are sailors more trusting than men who live on land? How does age and training relate to the trust Melville claims sailors exhibit? Why does Billy have a greater sense of trust than Claggart since both are sailors?

Essay Topic 2

What is a "cat's paw" and which characters represent this analogy? Why does Claggart choose to use a "cat's paw" instead of dealing with Billy himself? How does the use of the "cat's paw" backfire on Claggart?

Essay Topic 3

What role does the social community on board the Bellipotent play in the novel? How are the characters affected by the extended amount of time they spend living and working together in a relatively small area? How are conflicts resolved among crew members? How do unresolved conflicts affect the characters in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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