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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 Kiely say about the status of his soldiers?

2. What is the name of the Lieutenant who is with Sharpe?

3. Of what does Sharpe accuse Loup?

4. What does Sharpe suggest Donaju do about the rumors?

5. What are the two Frenchmen in the village doing when Sharpe arrives?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is in the letter from the Spanish king to General Wellington that upsets him?

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

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

4. What is happening with the Real Compañía Irlandesa that worries Sharpe?

5. Who is with the Portuguese and why is Sharpe happy about that?

6. What kind of problem do Sarsfield and Donaju bring to Sharpe and what is his response?

7. What is Sharpe ordered to do with the Real and why?

8. What does Loup tell Ducos about Sharpe and how does Ducos feel about Loup's disclosure?

9. How does Juanita arrive at San Isidoro and what is the response of some of the men?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Sharpe's Battle.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Battle. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Sharpe's Battle. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of literary elements that occur in many works of fiction. Irony is a means of increasing both the humor and the complexity of a story. Cornwell often includes irony in his Richard Sharpe series. Point of view is the way the story is narrated; all works of fiction have a point of view. Conflict is almost always present in a work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary terms irony, point of view and conflict.

2. Identify two instances of irony in Sharpe's Battle, offering examples from the text.

3. Identify the point of view of the novel and discuss why you think Cornwell chooses to use that particular point of view. Does the point of view seem to be the best one for Sharpe's Battle? Why or why not.

4. Identfiy two major conflicts in Sharpe's Battle. Are the conflicts completely resolved by the end of Sharpe's Battle? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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