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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. What do the French and British forces do from afar?

2. What does Farthingdale wonder about the French?

3. What do the French think about Sharpe's forces?

4. What does Sharpe realize as he waits for the attack of the French after the convent is destroyed?

5. In Chapter 22 what kind of French force advances on the castle?

Short Essay Questions

1. How many forces does Sharpe estimate are arrayed between the French and the British soldiers?

2. What do Sharpe and Harper do when the British attack is faltering?

3. Where do the French concentrate their artillery fire and why? What is the British response?

4. What unit shows up after the castle is taken and what does Sharpe do with them?

5. What do the British leaders do on Christmas?

6. What happens after the French retreat?

7. What is Hakeswill's ultimate fate?

8. What do the French do the day after they take the convent? How does Sharpe view his situation?

9. What are the first actions Sharpe takes after the war council?

10. How do the French respond after the first two attacks?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Sharpe and Dubreton present their gold to Pot-au-Fea and Hakeswill the men take the gold but refuse to release the woman. There is some inconsistency in this situation as Sharpe and Hakeswill's last confrontation in another book would definitely preclude Hakeswill inviting Sharpe to join them. Also, the fact that Pot-au-Fea and Hakeswill allow the four men to leave is inconsistent with their characterization. These two items are necessary for the plot but they are more of a narrative contrivance than believable.

1. With research, define narrative contrivance and how it is used in several places in Sharpe's Enemy. Do you think the plot could have been satisfied without it? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Do you think narrative contrivances detract from Sharpe's Enemy by placing too much reliance on readers' gullibility? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. When you read of the two contrivances above, did it stop you and make you pause in your reading to consider Hakeswill allowing Sharpe, his sworn enemy to leave? What do you think, in real life would have happened to Sharpe? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Though this novel is probably more action driven rather than character driven, obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Sharpe and Ducos. Include their goals, sense of honor, abilities and social skills.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Harper and Hakeswill.

3. Thoroughly analyze the character of Richard Sharpe discussing both his strong and weak points and how both affect the outcome of the plot.

Essay Topic 3

Cornwell has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Sharpe's Enemy qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in Sharpe's Enemy 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.

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