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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 does El Castrador tell Sharpe when he arrives after the battle?

2. What does Donju suggest about the British and the men of the Real Compañía Irlandesa?

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

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

5. What does Sharpe leave on the ridge when he orders his men into the village?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sharpe find out from Donaju about Kiely?

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

3. What are called the keys to Spain by the French and who holds them?

4. What does Sharpe asks El Castrador about the village where Loup is and who goes there with Sharpe?

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

6. Why is Sharpe frustrated at the beginning of the book, what does Harper do about it and how does Sharpe respond to Harper?

7. What does Sharpe ask Runciman to do and why has he asked him instead of the British command?

8. What does Sharpe suggest Donaju do about the problem with the troops?

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

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

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 Sharpe's Battle qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in Sharpe's Battle 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 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

Richard Sharpe is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in Sharpe's Battle 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 choose that person. Illustrate your statements with examples from the text.

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

(see the answer keys)

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