View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are Sharpe and the other man trying to do?

2. With whom is Richard Sharpe kneeling at the end of a field?

3. Why is Caillou furious?

4. What does the surgeon claim about Maria?

5. What do two of the volumes of Gudin's diaries concern?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Harper think about the British coming into conflict with the French? What does Sharpe think about it? Why?

2. How does Nicholls feel about Sharpe and Harper? What does he ask them? What is Sharpe's response?

3. With what types of troubles is Gudin plagued?

4. What does Cornwell briefly describe in the introduction?

5. What finally breaks up the French brigade's advance?

6. What does Caillou do to keep Gudin from meeting with the British truce?

7. What does Gudin do after Caillou breaks the truce?

8. Why is General Picard upset? What pleases him about his men? Why does he think he is different from Gudin?

9. What does Cornwell say about the people who helped him write Sharpe's Christmas? What else does he address in the introduction?

10. What has Sharpe been doing for the past ten years? Whom does he command? Why? When do Sharpe and his men march? What does Sharpe ignore?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 Christmas. 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 Christmas 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.

Essay Topic 2

Though this novel is probably more action driven rather than character driven, obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Sharpe and Caillou. Include their goals, sense of honor, abilities and social skills. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Gudin and Picard. Include their goals, sense of honor, abilities, and social skills. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Thoroughly analyze the character of Richard Sharpe discussing both his strong and weak points and how both affect the outcome of the plot. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

At the conclusion of a story, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the story and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider Sharpe's Christmas a "good" story? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding story? Analyze one of your favorite stories to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a story a failure? Analyze a story you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,219 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample