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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. To whom is the telescope inscribed through which Sharpe is looking?

2. What war in 1799 is the context of "Sharpe's Christmas"?

3. Who is CeCe Motz?

4. What would cause Sharpe serious problems?

5. Who is Ensign Nicholls?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. 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?

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

5. How long is each story in Sharpe's Christmas, and why are they that length?

6. What does Sharpe say to d'Alembord about India?

7. What is Gudin told about Maria and what is his response?

8. What are Sharpe and Harper attempting to do for Christmas at the beginning of the story? How is their task interrupted?

9. How does Gudin feel about leaving the fort at Ochagavia, and what is the group composed of who will be leaving the fort?

10. With what types of troubles is Gudin plagued?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Christmas. Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Sharpe's Christmas. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in Sharpe's Christmas? Which theme in Sharpe's Christmas speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Richard Sharpe is no exception. Sharpe's legendary powers of military strategy is juxtaposed with his reputation as a womanzier. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Sharpe demonstrates his prodigious powers of military strategy. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Sharpe's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Sharpe's admirable traits helped him obtain a high rank in the military despite his background as a child. Have his flaws impacted his career at all? Do any of those under his command seem to notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

Essay Topic 3

Sharpe's Christmas, like many, and perhaps a majority, of stories ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think 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 Christmas and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Sharpe's Christmas is 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?

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