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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 Windham realize about punishing Harper?

2. What does Windham do to Harper?

3. Where do Sharpe and his men assemble prior to their assault?

4. What type of action is Knowles leading?

5. What do the British learn in Chapter 23 that makes them delay the assault for a day?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is foreshadowed in Sharpe's humiliation of Hakeswill?

2. Why do the British delay the assault one more day in Chapter 23?

3. What is Sharpe doing at the beginning of the assault on Badajoz?

4. What happens to Sharpe as he retreats from the dam?

5. What does Sharpe say when Hogan informs him of the plan for the dam and what is the plan?

6. Describe the fortifications of Badajoz.

7. What does Windham do to Harper and what do Harper and Sharpe talk about before the event?

8. How are the French able to kill so many of the British, what does that cause and how does Sharpe feel as he watches?

9. At first, what does Sharpe do while the British are dealing with the Rivillas Stream?

10. Where does Teresa's family live in Badajoz?

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

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ. 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 RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ. 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 RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ? Which theme in RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

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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