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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 position does Pierre Ducos have with the French military?

2. How are the men finding about supposed atrocities in Ireland?

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

4. When did Loup kill Oliveira?

5. How many of the Portuguese battalion survived the attack by Loup?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What is Juanita's job with the Real Compañía Irlandesa?

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

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

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

8. What do Sharpe and his men find in the village when they get there?

9. 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?

10. Describe the battle at the barracks when Loup's troops attack.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having a system of nobility in a country, especially how it applies to the military. For example, both Oliveira and Kiely were high born people in charge of a large number of soldiers and yet were incompetent. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. The class separations in the era of Sharpe's Battle are very distinct and the upper class is basically impenetrable to the lower class. Discuss the implications of Sharpe, the son of a prostitute being able to obtain the rank of lieutenant and the possible ramifications he might have to deal with when interacting with officers who come from a much higher class.

3. Often in this series of novels the upper class officers are presented as incompetent, at best, and dangerous uncaring at worse. What might that portrayal suggest about how the author might feel about wealthy people and the positions they hold in society, whether qualified or not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The military way of life is in and of itself similar to a distinct culture. Understanding how the military is organized, how it operates, and its basic rules of conduct will make any novel that centers on the military more understandable and enjoyable. Discuss one of the following:

1. Describe and analyze the military structure during the time of Sharpe's Battle. What is rank? What is the difference between officers and enlisted men? How serious is it to disobey an order? What happens if one decides he does not like being in the military and walks away? How are men conscripted? Does the infantry have a similar means of augmenting their ranks as the maritime action called "impressments"?

2. Compare the infantry of Sharpe's Battle to that in modern times in for the United States, England or France. What are the similarities? The differences? Are the changes from those times improvements? Why or why not? (This question will require some research).

3. Discuss why you think the military has the following: Uniforms, a rank structure of Officers and Enlisted, Strict Discipline, Training for New Recruits, Court Martial, and Different types of companies (i.e., rifle, Cavalry, artillery, etc). Discuss why you think men (and nowadays women) choose to become professional soldiers.

(see the answer keys)

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