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 size guns does the other English frigate bear?

2. Why do they want to go in through the lazarette?

3. What surprises Hornblower?

4. What does the Mudir suggest?

5. Who does Hornblower summon to accompany him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who wants to go with Hornblower and the Prince and why doesn't Hornblower allow him?

2. What does Hornblower suddenly notice about two deserted fortresses?

3. Describe the capture of the Castilla.

4. Where does Atropos sail and from whom does Hornblower receive a dinner invitation?

5. Who comes aboard on a visit to the Atropos and what do Hornblower and the visitor discuss?

6. Where does Atropos head after Malta and what does Hornblower do during the voyage?

7. How does Hornblower continue his ruse concerning the Castilla?

8. What does Hornblower think is good news?

9. Describe the beginning preparations for the salvage operation.

10. Describe Eisenbeiss.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During this era when Hornblower and the Atropos takes place, if a vessel under the command of a naval officer captures another vessel from a country with whom they are warring or captures a pirate vessel, the crew of the victorious vessel shares in the goods, money and value of the vessel. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the British and other countries had such a policy in place then?

2. What are the possible abuses that can arise from such a policy?

3. Why do you think this policy is eventually abandoned?

4. Which vessel(s) are mentioned in Hornblower and the Atropos that fall under this maritime law and what are the circumstances of their capture? Does it seem fair?

Essay Topic 2

When Hornblower assumes command of the Atropos, he is assigned the Prince of Seitz-Bunau as a midshipman aboard the ship. Discuss the following:

1. What sort of difficulties do you think would ensue through having royalty on board the Atropos? Give examples from the book.

2. How does Hornblower handle the Prince? Do you agree with the way he handles the young man?

3. Hornblower is within his rights to have the Prince caned a few times when he almost causes the Atropos to have to engage the Castilla when they have no back up vessels. Do you think caning the Prince is the best way to handle the situation? How do you think the men feel about Hornblower after the incident?

4. Would you find it difficult to treat a Prince the same as the other men were you in command? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

McCullum and Eisenbeiss fight a duel in which McCullum is gravely injured. Discuss the following:

1. What is a duel? How is it conducted? Why is it conducted? When does the use of duels to settle matters of honor go out of use in England? The United States?

2. What other methods do you think could be used to settle a matter of honor or insult to one's reputation?

3. In England, dueling becomes illegal in the 19th century, yet men still engage in them and the winner often has to flee to escape punishment. Do you think dueling should have been made illegal? Why or why not?

4. Research dueling in Britain and discuss the typical reasons two men (and once a female couple) would engage in a duel. Do the reasons seem worth the potential costs?

5. If dueling were still legal, can you imagine engaging in one? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,355 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample