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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. On what type of terms did Teresa and Sharpe part?

2. What does Wellington believe about Badajoz?

3. How many times have the British attempted to take Badajoz?

4. How long has Leroy known Sharpe?

5. What is Hakeswill's most obvious character defect?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is Sharpe's rank in Chapter 1 and what is the ambiguity surrounding his rank?

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

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

6. What does Sharpe do with his guerrilla friend?

7. What happens in Chapter 1 when night falls and what does Lawford send Sharpe and his company to do?

8. What does Teresa confess to Sharpe?

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hakeswill is the primary antagonist in the novel and a completely deplorable character; he steals, attempts rape, murders, threatens infanticide, attempts more murders, and always seeks to frame someone else for his crimes.

1. Why do you think Hakeswill is still in the military? Discuss his motives and the military's motives for allowing him to stay. Use examples from Richard Sharpe and the Siege of Badajoz to support your answer.

2. What do you think would happen to Hakeswill if he served in the U.S. Army and still did the crimes he did? Compare the modern concept of criminals in the military with that of the era of RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ.

3. Hakeswill manages to come close to raping Teresa in the stables, he shoots Sharpe and later tries for Teresa again. Discuss why he was able to shoot Sharpe when he was caught in the stables trying to rape Teresa. Do you think he should have been arrested at that point? What does it say about the status of women in that era that a man who is caught trying to force her receives no disciplinary action at all.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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

1. Would you consider RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

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

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

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