View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of the Tunnel through which the boat goes?

2. What do other ships in the area do?

3. What is Hornblower ordered when he finds Collingwood's fleet?

4. How fast does the boat move?

5. What angers some of the onlookers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Hornblower and Maria do after leaving the wherry?

2. What is recovered from the sea and what does Hornblower figure out from the object?

3. How does Hornblower end this chapter as the consummate family man?

4. Why is the Atropos anchored and what does Hornblower do with the time?

5. What do the Hornblowers board after the canal board and where does that take them?

6. What does Hornblower do when he hears a shot in the foggy distance?

7. Why is Hornblower introduced to the Prince of Seitz-Bunau.

8. What happens when the Prince and his retinue come on board the Atropos?

9. How does Hornblower know something is amiss on the Amelia Jane and what does he do?

10. What is Hornblower's next mission after joining the fleet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hornblower and the Atropos, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note (until he arrives back home). Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Hornblower and the Atropos and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Hornblower and the Atropos is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

C. S. Forester often uses historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Hornblower and the Atropos qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If many of the events in the book are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. Do you think the culture of that era is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.

4. Would you enjoy living in this era? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation whereby Hornblower believes he is fooling the Mudir. Find two other incidences of irony in Hornblower and the Atropos and discuss them.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in Hornblower and the Atropos.

3. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature. What is the purpose of foreshadowing? Cite 3 examples of foreshadowing and how it is used to indicate events to come in Hornblower and the Atropos.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,160 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample