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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 would the capture of Badajoz do for the British?

2. With whom has Sharpe begun a new romance in England?

3. What does Sharpe realize about Rymer in Chapter 8?

4. Who does Leroy tell Sharpe will be arriving soon?

5. Why is Sharpe's back heavily scarred?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Sharpe and Hogan discuss when they see each other in Chapter 1?

2. What siege does Sharpe participate in at the beginning of Chapter 1 and how does he pass his time when not fighting?

3. Describe Hakeswill's first encounter with Teresa in the stables.

4. Who is Captain Leroy and what kind of relationship does Sharpe have with him?

5. Why are Sharpe and Harper relieved about their company's role in the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo? What will their role be?

6. Describe Hakeswill's character and why he is in the army.

7. What is Lawford and Sharpe's relationship and how do they interact?

8. How long has it been since Sharpe has seen Teresa, on what terms did they part and what does she do about the French in her country?

9. What kind of obstacle does the River Guadiana pose for the British and how do they surmount it?

10. What do Harper and Sharpe run into as they begin to enter the city and what do they do about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Chapter 22 portrayal of Hakeswill foreshadows the concluding action of the novel and is also a chilling reminder of the dehumanizing power of armed conflict. Hakeswill is amoral and criminally insane, but quite competent as a soldier and capable as a sergeant.

1. Do you think Hakeswill became criminally insane due to combat? Why or why not? Use examples from RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ.

2. Hakeswill was hung for a crime before he joined the military but he survived the hanging. With research, explain why he was allowed to go free after surviving being hung.

3. If Hakeswill lived in modern America do you think he would be able to be found guilty by reason of insanity? Why or why not? Do you think he should be found innocent by reason of insanity? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The first assaulting group, known as the forlorn hope, leads the assault through the breach. Generally, the forlorn hope is slaughtered to a man. Because of this, the forlorn hope is manned only by volunteers and any survivor is automatically granted an increase in rank.

1. Discuss Sharpe volunteering for the forlorn hope at both Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz. Why do you think he keeps doing that? Use examples from Richard Sharpe and the Siege of Badajoz to support your answer.

2. What does it say about someone's character that he is willing to risk almost certain death for a promotion? Use examples from RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ to support your answer.

3. Do you think using only volunteers for forlorn hope is good? Does that seem to be more humanitarian than most of the other ideas in this era?

Essay Topic 3

In any book centered around the military, leadership of the troops is often crucial with the better leaders able to command the respect and loyalty of their men. The men's willingness to follow a particularly leader can have a decisive impact upon the success of a mission. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective? Analyze the elements of those effective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the good leaders. What makes an excellent leader/commander? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems most ineffective? Analyze the elements of those ineffective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the poor leaders. What makes a poor leader/commander? Give examples.

3. Is disobeying a poor leader ever justifiable? Explain using details from the text, other books you have read and your personal experience. In times of war, disobeying an order can be punishable by death. Is this harsh sentence justifiable for such an act? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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