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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. What rank are Bush and Brown?

3. How old is Brown?

4. How does Caillard respond?

5. What alarms Hornblower about the travel?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why might Marie be a better match in some ways for Hornblower than his wife or the Admiral's wife?

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

3. What happens in the first few hours after their escape? Why is the river being swift to their advantage?

4. How did Hornblower end up where he is at the beginning of the novel?

5. What happens that slows down the travel?

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 does Hornblower awaken to a few days after his capture? How does he respond? What does he see? What do you think he might have felt when he first saw the fight?

9. In what kind of physical shape is Bush?

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

Several of the "enemy" are kind to Hornblower and his men, starting with the Spanish warden who insists that Hornblower be allowed a steward and who gives Hornblower money for the trip. Additionally, various surgeons and innkeepers along the way offer kindness. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think people who are kind tend to be kind, whether it is an enemy or friend? Why or why not.

2. Is it traitorous to be kind even to the "enemy" as some of the Spaniards are along the way as Hornblower and his men are traveling?

3. How do you think the kindness and maintaining of honor when confronted with the "enemy" in a prisoner-type situation helps when the war is over and those at war attempt to heal the "bad blood" between the nations?

4. Is kindness possible to one's enemy when at war?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 6, over the next days the travel continues as Bush recovers; Hornblower marvels at Bush's incredible constitution. Discuss one of the following:

1. Why do you think some people survive a physical and/or emotional trauma while others with a similar experience do not?

2. Discuss and analyze the traits that would be most helpful in any severe survival situation. Discuss how each of the three men possess some or all of those traits.

3. Compare/contrast yourself to Bush as far as how you would handle the type of situation he is in up through the time of his being granted command of the Witch of Endor.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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