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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 is unusual about Billy's death?

2. Which animals appear at Billy's funeral?

3. What concerns the officers in chapter 20?

4. In the article about the Bellipotent, how is Billy Budd presented?

5. What penalty does the court consider for Billy in chapter 22?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are the events on the Bellipotent distorted in the naval chronicle?

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

3. How is Billy like a sacrificial lamb?

4. How do the sailors of the Bellipotent honor Billy's memory?

5. Why isn't the chaplain worried about Billy's impending judgment?

6. Describe the drumhead court that convenes in chapter 21.

7. Why does Captain Vere feel it necessary to deliver the court's verdict to Billy personally?

8. How are the events that occur on the Bellipotent distorted on land?

9. What is ironic about Billy's impending trial?

10. How does Melville compare religion to righteous living?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is sarcasm used in the novel? Compare the use of sarcasm with deception. How does Billy's innocence contrast with Claggart's sarcasm? How does it affect his perception of the sarcasm? What did Claggart really mean when he said, "Handsomely done, my lad! And handsome is as handsome did it, too!"

Essay Topic 2

What role does the fear of mutiny play in the novel? How does the fear of mutiny affect discipline on board 18th century British ships? Describe two forms of discipline utilized on board ships in the 18th century and indicate the strengths and weaknesses of each form of discipline.

Essay Topic 3

What is Billy's Achilles' heel and how does it affect his character? Does Billy's Achilles' heel negate his standing as the "Handsome Sailor" of the Bellipotent? Why or why not? If Billy's is the "Handsome Sailor" of the Bellipotent, how does his Achilles' heel affect the other characters?

(see the answer keys)

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