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. Who is deeply in debt to Lord Fenner?

2. What does Nairn think Sharpe should do?

3. What has been determined about the second battalion of which Sharpe is a part?

4. Whose estate do the recruits pass?

5. What did the owner of the bar teach Sharpe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What standard was at the royal gala and what did it have to do with Sharpe? What did the Prince have Sharpe do?

2. What does Sharpe wonder about as far as Simmerson's involvement with the second battalion? What is Sharpe's relation to Jane Gibbons?

3. What does Sergeant Carew at the second battalion depot tell Sharpe?

4. When Sharpe presented at the royal gala, how does Sharpe present himself and how does the Prince feel about Sharpe?

5. How does Sharpe rescue Harper?

6. Where do Harper and Sharpe go and why do they receive attention? How do Sharpe and Harper feel about the attention?

7. What happens that makes Sharpe believe he can straighten out the problem with the second battalion?

8. What does Sharpe decide is the best course of action following his encounter in the city? How do he and Harper live?

9. Who is in charge of the training camp Havercamp takes them to and what is he like as a commander?

10. Under what names do Sharpe and Harper enlist and who enlists with them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The military way of life is in and of itself similar to a distinct culture. Understanding how the military is organized, how it operates, and its basic rules of conduct will make any novel that centers on the military more understandable and enjoyable. Discuss one of the following:

1. Describe and analyze the military structure during the time of Sharpe's Regiment. What is rank? What is the difference between officers and enlisted men? How serious is it to disobey an order? What happens if one decides he does not like being in the military and walks away? How are men conscripted? Does the infantry have a similar means of augmenting their ranks as the maritime action called "impressments"?

2. Compare the infantry of Sharpe's Regiment to that in modern times for the United States, England or France. What are the similarities? The differences? Are the changes from those times improvements? Why or why not? (This question will require some research).

3. Discuss why you think the military has the following: Uniforms, a rank structure of Officers and Enlisted, Strict Discipline, Training for New Recruits, Court Martial, and Different types of companies (i.e., rifle, Cavalry, artillery, etc). Discuss why you think men (and nowadays women) choose to become professional soldiers.

Essay Topic 2

Crimping, while common, is illegal and obviously quite lucrative. Fenner and Simmerson have profited greatly from their scheme, as has Girdwood, but to a lesser degree. The three men are influential, powerful, and unlikely to give up this lucrative source of income easily.

1. Discuss the possible motives and benefits to being involved in a lucrative but illegal activity. Include in your discussion whether the benefits are worth the possible consequences and if the damage to one's character is worth the benefits. Use examples from the text and your own experience to support your answer.

2. The three men involved in the recruiting scheme are influential and powerful. Do you believe it is easier for that type of person to get away with criminal activity than the average person? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own experience to support your answer.

3. After research, compare Fenner to a modern day American politician who has been cited for a scandal while in office. Use examples from the text and your own experience to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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 Girdwood. Include their goals, sense of honor, abilities and social skills.

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

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,221 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample