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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. When do the men escape?

2. How many French ships do the English manage to destroy?

3. Who interviews Hornblower?

4. How does Caillard respond?

5. What is the year?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Hornblower think of when he first meets Marie and what might these thoughts foreshadow?

2. Why does Colonel Caillard come to Rosas prison? What is Caillard like as a man? How do you think Hornblower felt about the man?

3. In what kind of physical shape is Bush?

4. What seems to be one of Hornblowers primary emotional states? What does he think when he reviews his actions which led to his imprisonment?

5. How does Hornblower's opinion of Marie's appearance change as he stays in the house? What might this say about appearances in general?

6. In what shape is Bush at the beginning of Chapter 5? What does the doctor tell Caillard? What does Hornblower say?

7. What are mostly in Hornblower's thoughts as he waits his future?

8. What happens to Bush as the travel to Paris continues? Do you think people in that era were tougher than those today?

9. How does Hornblower appeal to Caillard's humanity and what is Caillard's response?

10. What happens that stops the escapees' trip down the river?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hornblower , Bush and Brown lie, steal and cheat their way onto the Witch of Endor in order to effect an escape. Discuss the following:

1. There is a cliché that says "All is fair in love and war." Discuss whether you think that is true in a war situation.

2. There is a cliché that says "All is fair in love and war." Discuss whether you think that is true in a love situation. (Hint: Think about Hornblower hoping that Admiral Leighton has died.)

3. Discuss the irony of their stealing a ship when they've been condemned for piracy.

Essay Topic 2

Along with treason, another detestable action is spying. Spies are not considered in the same vein as soldiers in uniform and are not protected by the customs and regulations that govern the treatment of soldiers who are in uniform when captured. Discuss one of the following:

1. Why do you think spies are not accorded any rights under many countries' laws and/or customs?

2. Even though all countries abhor spies, often even their own, they still spy, and men and women are still willing to be spies. Discuss why you think this is so.

3. Research and analyze the history of spying in either England, the United States or Russa.

Essay Topic 3

Hornblower is ordered to engage the French, though he is quite outnumbered and ultimately his ship is captured and 2/3 of his crew are killed or wounded. This is considered an "acceptable loss." Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the Admiral who orders Hornblower to "sacrifice" the Sutherland believes the loss of the ship and many lives is acceptable?

2. Many wars are fought under the assumption of "acceptable losses." Usually it is the common foot soldier who is doing most of the dying. In fact, the term "cannon fodder," is often used to describe infantry who are killed by the hundreds gaining small hills or bits of land, sometimes to lose the same piece of "real estate" several times with continuing loss of life. Is this truly acceptable?

3. Sometimes some will say that wars would be few and far between if those who decided to go to war had to be in the front lines. Do you think that would make a difference?

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