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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. With what does Harper respond to Ducos' fire?

2. What type of behavior is Ducos beginning to exhibit?

3. Who do Sharpe and his group first encounter at Ducos's estate?

4. Why does Lucille write to Roland?

5. What is Ducos doing with Napoleon's old uniforms?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Frederickson go to find Ducos and how does that work out?

2. Describe the fight at Ducos' defensive room.

3. What does Frederickson do when he leaves the Lassan estate, what does Sharpe do after he leaves? What happens between Sharpe and Lucille?

4. What does Calvet suggest to Sharpe and his group and why? What do they do after agreeing on a plan?

5. What does Calvet decide to do about Ducos based on local authorities' response to his request?

6. What happens to Ducos in the Epilogue?

7. What does d'Alembord do in London as far as Jane is concerned in Chapter 10? How does Jane appear to him?

8. How does Sharpe capture Ducos and what is the cost of that capture?

9. Why does Harper travel to London, and what happens when he calls on Jane?

10. What ruins Sharpe and Frederickson's friendship and what does Sharpe do at the end of the book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Frederickson's gentle rebuff leads him to travel away from Lucille and engage in successful detective work in Paris. The rebuff also sets up the gradual development of the love triangle resulting, at the novel's end, in the break between Frederickson and Sharpe.

1. Why do you think Frederickson and Sharpe ended their friendship because of Lucille? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. What does it say about the character of Frederickson and Sharpe that they don't stay friends because of Lucille? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

3. Do you think two people who like the same other person can remain friends if one of them is successful in his/her pursuit? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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 this book qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much 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.

Essay Topic 3

Jane again calls on Rossendale and it becomes apparent that they are romantically involved and somewhat intimate. Indeed, much of London admires Rossendale for his bravery in the matter as it is widely assumed that Sharpe will return and kill the man before discarding Jane.

1. Why do you think Rossendale would risk his life to be involved with Jane? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. Rossendale is a titled individual, meaning he is a Lord in British society. Discuss whether you believe Rossendale would be involved with Jane if he was a commoner and why you have the opinion you have. Use examples from the book to support your answer.

3. Jane has money and no title; Rossendale has a title and no money. Discuss the ways in which both of them are using the other. Use examples from the book to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 942 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample