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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 confounds Sharpe as he and his men take the bridge?

2. What does Sharpe see is lost?

3. Where does Sharpe sneak?

4. Why does Teresa go to Salamanca?

5. What does Sharpe order his men to do when he runs back to the village?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who do Pailleterie and Tubbs discuss and what do they say?

2. What strategy does Herault choose to fight Sharpe and his men?

3. Why is Sharpe uncertain about how to keep the bridge?

4. What does Sharpe admit to Teresa about his jumpiness?

5. Why does Pailleterie allow Tubbs to keep his sword?

6. What does Pailleterie do while waiting for the French reinforcements?

7. How is Sharpe feeling as dawn approaches, and how do the men respond?

8. In what way are both Sharpe and Pailleterie furious at the other group?

9. Why does Sharpe realize he does not need to negotiate a truce with the French forces?

10. What is the aftermath of the battle at the bridge of San Miguel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Sharpe's Skirmish" is one book in a series of novels involving the character Richard Sharpe. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

2. What is a disadvantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Richard Sharpe is no exception.

1. Trace and analyze situations when Sharpe demonstrates his admirable traits. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Sharpe's character flaws, and explain how the flaws create more complex and believable characters. How do you think either man's character flaws make some situations more difficult for him?

3. After analyzing Sharpe's strengths and weaknesses, decide if Sharpe is an appropriate "hero" of the story. Is there anyone else who might be a more admirable "hero"?

4. Answer the above questions for one other person you think could be considered a hero in "Sharpe's Skirmish".

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Sharpe's Skirmish" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if it is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that "Sharpe's Skirmish" falls within the genre of historical fiction changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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