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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. About what does Sharpe lecture Donaju?

2. What are Sharpe and his riflemen doing when they are moving south?

3. What message is sent to Massena from the French dragoons?

4. What would happen if Wellington lost his entire force?

5. What excuse do Sharpe and Harper use to go to the village?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who and what does Sharpe find at a house in San Cristobal?

2. What do Hogan and Wellington talk about as far as Almeida is concerned?

3. What do Sharpe and Donaju talk about while Sharpe is cutting his own hair?

4. What is Kiely's reaction to Juanita being caught by Sharpe?

5. What does Hogan tell Wellington about the French and Almeida?

6. What is Wellington doing when he realizes he has made a mistake, and what is that mistake?

7. What do the French do at the church in Nave de Haver?

8. How does the second large battle for Fuentes de Onoro start and which British troops are involved?

9. How does Harper's superstitious action turn out?

10. Who do Sharpe and Harper join in the first battle for the village and what happens to that person?

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

Choose two of the following and compare and contrast the two people. Include in the discussion their type of leadership, their personality, their morals and whether you would like to serve under them.

1. Massena and Wellesley .

2. Harper and Sharpe.

3. Loup and Sharpe.

(see the answer keys)

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