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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. How close is the Russian charge before Campbell finally allows his troops to fire?

2. Why does Flashman think to himself "let it be a long war," when he gets to the estate where he is staying?

3. What has Flashman clearly been trying to avoid?

4. What diseases are both the British and the Russian armies suffering from?

5. How does Flashman describe the Russian civil servants?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Elspeth's reaction when she finds out that Flashy has signed up with the Board of Ordnance instead of his old regiment the Hussars.

2. Explain why Raglan's orders to Lucan are contradictory.

3. Describe how the Battle of Alma is exaggerated in English art.

4. What was the only probable explanation that the Russians could come up with as for why the Light Brigade Charged?

5. How does Flashy describe the Board of Ordnance, and how does he decide to get through it?

6. Describe Captain Count Nicholas Pavlovitch Ignatieff.

7. What reason does Flashman give for being jealous after seeing Elspeth's interaction with Lord Cardigan?

8. Does Flashman believe his wife when she claims she didn't know that Lord Cardigan would be in her room? Explain why or why not.

9. Describe the Russian countryside, as seen through Flashman's eyes.

10. Describe the scene in Varna when Flashman and Willy arrived.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Do you think that George MacDonald Fraser uses stereotypes in Flashman at the Charge? Why or why not? Please support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

History is often written in the eye of the beholder. The battles shown here in Flashman at the Charge are real historical events, even though Flashman himself was not a real person. Pick one of the major battles in the novel, research its real-life equivalent, and compare and contrast Flashman's account to the account written by true historians.

Essay Topic 3

In the beginning of the novel, the gender roles are quite clear--women are the weaker sex, and are silly and ignorant; men are strong and brave. Once Flashman encounters a description of the "Silk One", it seems to challenge the gender roles set down early in the novel. Please compare and contrast the gender roles in the beginning of the novel to the end of the novel. Do you think Flashman has changed his view on women? What view do you George MacDonald Fraser takes of women and their role in society?

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This section contains 849 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample