Billy Budd, Sailor — Questions and answers

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What was the name of the merchant ship on which Billy Budd served before being pressed into naval service?

Choices

  1. The Bristol Trader
  2. The Handsome Sailor
  3. The Bellipotent
  4. The Rights-of-Man ✓

Answer: The Rights-of-Man

From page 1

What physical characteristic marred Billy Budd, the main character in Herman Melville's novel "Billy Budd, Sailor"?

Choices

  1. He had a distinctive scar on his cheek
  2. He was unusually short for a foretopman
  3. He had a noticeable limp when he walked
  4. He stammered badly when surprised or deeply moved ✓

Answer: He stammered badly when surprised or deeply moved

From page 2

What did John Claggart do when Billy Budd spilled his soup near him on the deck?

Choices

  1. He ordered Billy to clean the spill immediately
  2. He smiled and tapped Billy lightly on the shoulder with his rattan cane ✓
  3. He reprimanded Billy harshly for his carelessness
  4. He ignored Billy and walked past without acknowledging the spill

Answer: He smiled and tapped Billy lightly on the shoulder with his rattan cane

From page 3

What did the strange sailor from the afterguard give to Billy Budd during their encounter in the lee forechains?

Choices

  1. Two gold coins ✓
  2. A piece of paper with a message
  3. A small knife
  4. A bottle of rum

Answer: Two gold coins

From page 4

What accusation did John Claggart bring against Billy Budd to Captain Vere?

Choices

  1. That Billy Budd had been insubordinate to a superior officer
  2. That Billy Budd was secretly planning to desert the ship
  3. That Billy Budd had stolen supplies from the ship's stores
  4. That Billy Budd was at the heart of a dangerous conspiracy among the men ✓

Answer: That Billy Budd was at the heart of a dangerous conspiracy among the men

From page 5

What was Billy Budd's immediate physical reaction after John Claggart repeated his accusation in Captain Vere's cabin?

Choices

  1. He struck Claggart a single hard blow on the forehead ✓
  2. He denied the charge loudly and vehemently
  3. He tried to speak but could not, due to his stammer
  4. He fell to his knees, weeping uncontrollably

Answer: He struck Claggart a single hard blow on the forehead

From page 6

What was the outcome of the drumhead court convened for Billy Budd aboard the Bellipotent?

Choices

  1. The court decided to defer judgment until they returned to port
  2. The court condemned Billy to be hanged ✓
  3. The court acquitted Billy due to lack of evidence
  4. The court sentenced Billy to a period of imprisonment

Answer: The court condemned Billy to be hanged

From page 7

What did the ship's chaplain do before leaving Billy Budd on the night before his execution?

Choices

  1. He bent down and kissed Billy on the cheek ✓
  2. He offered Billy a final meal and drink
  3. He read aloud from the Bible for a long time
  4. He promised to speak to Captain Vere on Billy's behalf

Answer: He bent down and kissed Billy on the cheek

From page 8

What were Billy Budd's last words before his execution?

Choices

  1. He spoke a prayer for his shipmates
  2. He shouted a final protest of his innocence
  3. He asked Captain Vere for forgiveness
  4. His last words are not specified in the text ✓

Answer: His last words are not specified in the text

From page 9

What did a naval gazette later print about the affair involving Billy Budd and John Claggart?

Choices

  1. A brief, garbled account that made Claggart out to be the wronged man and Billy a criminal ✓
  2. A commendation for Captain Vere's handling of the mutiny
  3. An official apology for the miscarriage of justice against Billy
  4. A detailed and accurate report of the court-martial proceedings

Answer: A brief, garbled account that made Claggart out to be the wronged man and Billy a criminal

From page 10