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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. When did Loup kill Oliveira?

2. What does Sharpe find out about Kiely when he speaks with him?

3. What do the British need the most in their scapegoat for San Isidoro?

4. What does Sharpe tell Harper they need to worry about instead of the rumors?

5. How does de Elia feel towards Loup?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sharpe find out what happened to the Portuguese ammunition wagons?

2. Where are the Real Compañía Irlandesa sent and how do the soldiers feel about their situation?

3. What happens to the Real Compañía Irlandesa officers in Loup's attack?

4. How does Juanita first see Loup, what is her impression and how do Loup and her feel when they meet?

5. Who is the liaison officer between the Real Compañía Irlandesa and the British, what is he like, where has he served before and how does he feel about his appointment?

6. What does Sharpe do with the two French prisoners and how does he handle Loup's anger?

7. What information about the Royal Guard is Hogan and Wellington not aware?

8. How does the Portuguese battalion arrive, with whom does Sharpe meet, what kind of man is he and why is the battalion there?

9. What happens to the Portuguese battalion in Loup's attack?

10. What does Kiely tell Sharpe about the French and about his men?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the French are gone when Sharpe and his men arrive at a small settlement, except for two men who are raping a young Spanish girl in one of the cottages. Sharpe and Harper enter the rest of the cottages and find a number of Spanish civilians have been slaughtered, some tortured and raped and many of them children. Sharpe gathers his men and prepares to execute the two Frenchmen who are left. Sharpe has the two prisoners put up against a wall and shot.

1. Discuss the differences between how a soldier who rapes and murders during war might behave in his own home. For example, do you think if a man who became a rapist and a murderer in war would have been a murderer and rapist had he never gone to war? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think what Sharpe did with the two French prisoners was right or wrong? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. It is obvious from Sharpe's encounter with Loup that Loup encouraged or at least allowed his men to rape, torture and murder. Why do you think Sharpe did not kill Loup when he killed the two prisoners? Loup was under a flag of truce, but Sharpe had already broken the rules of war by executing the prisoners. Discuss the difference Sharpe may have seen between executing two prisoners and honoring a flag of truce. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of "villains" in Sharpe's Battle. Ducos, Juanita de Elia, Father Sarsfield and Loup.

1. Explain, with examples from the text, what you see are the main motivations behind Pierre Ducos's behavior. If he lived in America today with what crimes do you think he would be charged?

2. Sarsfield is a "villain" who does not seem to be motivated by self-interest. Discuss why or why not you believe this statement to be true. Use examples from Sharpe's Battle to support and illustrate your opinion.

3. Do you think crimes or immoral behavior motivated by good intentions is more pardonable than that motivated by self-interests? Why or why not? Use examples from Sharpe's Battle to support and illustrate your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

Sharpe's Battle, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Sharpe's Battleand whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Sharpe's Battleis or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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