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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 Sharpe think odd after he kills the fox?

2. What happens when the wind rattles the door?

3. What does Gudin mention that prompts Sharpe to ask for more information?

4. Who fiercely hates Sharpe in the village?

5. About what does Lucille make fun of Lorcet?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sharpe offer Gudin and what is Gudin's reply?

2. Why is Sharpe in Normandy, and what does he think about when he holds his rifle?

3. Who pushes their way into the house while Sharpe is gone, and what do they do and say?

4. Where does Sharpe go on the morning of Christmas Eve?

5. What does Father Defoy announce in church? How does the widow Malan feel about the announcement?

6. What is Picard doing while Gudin and Sharpe talk?

7. What happens between Challon and Lucille in the kitchen, and what is Lorcet's response?

8. How does Sharpe send Gudin off?

9. What does Sharpe say to Lucille about the cogwheels, and what is her response?

10. What does Lucille hope about Sharpe, and how does she feel about leaving her home?

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 Christmas qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in Sharpe's Christmas 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

Most of the entire series of novels concerning Richard Sharpe takes place during the Napoleonic Wars; therefore, understanding the political and social situation during that time helps to a greater understanding and appreciation of this book and others in the series. Discuss one of the following:

1. Research and write an expository essay about how the Napoleonic Wars begin and end.

2. Research and write an expository essay about the battles that take place on land between Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars.

3. Compare/Contrast the importance of the British infantry during the Napoleonic Wars to the importance of the British infantry during either WWI or WWII.

4. Write an expository essay on how the Napoleonic War affects the social culture of one of the following countries: Britain, France, or Germany.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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