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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. Where are the French guns located by the breach?

2. What non-soldiers does the Army allow to travel with the baggage train?

3. Where do Sharpe and Teresa eat dinner?

4. Why is Sharpe worried about his status with his company?

5. In Chapter 8, what begins to arrive for the battalion?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

3. What does Sharpe do right after the conclusion of the battle at Ciudad Rodrigo?

4. Why is Sharpe worried following the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in Chapter 5?

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

6. What happens to Sharpe's and Teresa's relationship when the army leaves for Badajoz? Where will Teresa be staying in Badajoz? Upon what is she counting on from Sharpe?

7. What guerrilla rider approaches Sharpe and what does she tell him? What does she look like?

8. What does Sharpe discuss with Lawford and what does Lawford tell him?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 womanizer. 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 2

Honor is an important concept in RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ and in the life of those in the upper class during that era. It is assumed that those who are officer's and gentlemen would keep their word after offering it.

1. Trace and analyze the theme of honor in RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ. What do you think Richard Sharpe would tell you is the definition of honor if you ask him? How about Harper? Windham? Do you think honor can be restored if it is lost? Did Windham restore his honor by giving Harper the gold coin? What about when he publicly apologized?

2. Respond to the following statement using specific examples from the book and your own experience: Honor is one of the most important character traits for anyone in any social strata. First fully define the concept of honor, then discuss whether you believe the preceding statement is true with specific examples from RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ and other books/films, etc... that you have read or experienced.

3. During the era in which Richard Sharpe lives, men could give their word on the basis of being a gentleman and it is assumed to be true. There was no such concept for a lady or anyone of lower social/economic groups. Fully discuss the implications in a society where only gentlemen are considered trustworthy enough to give their word unquestioned.

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Essay Topic 3

Note that in the British military service, commissions could be purchased for monetary payments to the government. Thus, Rymer's appearance as an inexperienced captain means simply that he comes from a moneyed family. Leroy and Sharpe consider the process, theoretically corrupted, that leads to Rymer's commission.

1. Do you think that a wealthy person should be able to purchase a high rank in the military? Why or why not?

2. It seems that money has always had some sway over the military. In modern times one of the complaints against the Vietnam War is that "rich kids" didn't go. Explain how getting out of military duty because of wealth is as corrupt as obtaining a higher rank because of money.

3. Discuss why someone like Rymer who had enough money to purchase a captaincy would even enter the military and risk his life. Use examples from RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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