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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. Where do Sharpe and Harper travel with other officers and staff?

2. What does Sharpe do to the pistol?

3. What forms the rear guard of the Duke of Wellington's army?

4. Who are the Voltiguers?

5. What happens to the farmland around Quatre Bras?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the difference between Napoleon and the Duke in how they come before their men and how their men acknowledge them?

2. By the end of Chapter 10 what do each of the characters in the story face?

3. What new weapon is used, who invented it and why did the description of it stand out among other action scenes?

4. What is the difference between the disposition of the Allied Forces and the French in Chapter 13? For what does this afford the author an opportunity?

5. What does the author's placement of Sharpe in Chapter 14 do as a narrative device?

6. What explanations about British firing techniques are described in great detail in chapter 15?

7. How does D'Alembord's premonition show courage?

8. What is a major failure on the French part that leads to their ultimate defeat?

9. Describe the area where the retreating British army takes up a position in Chapter 10.

10. What is it about the British muskets that proves the beginning of the French's downfall?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

D'Alembord died of a leg wound. This was a fairly routine occurrence at that time. Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Compare/contrast the medical remedies used in Sharpe's Waterloo to those which would be used in our modern world.

2. Many wars are partially, if not completely, determined by factors other than the actual fighting. One of those factors is disease. Research and discuss how epidemics/pandemics have influenced the outcome of three different wars throughout history.

3. Discuss why men died so readily of wounds that would be easily treated today.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Waterloo. Consider the following: How do one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal" theme? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Sharpe's Waterloo. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in Sharpe's Waterloo? Which theme in Sharpe's Waterloo speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Richard Sharpe is, in some ways, a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, both in this book and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Sharpe who you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you have chosen that person. Illustrate your statements with examples from the text.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

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