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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. How does the British mount an attack on the dam?

2. What type of action is Knowles leading?

3. What does Sharpe conclude after seeing the ball from his leg?

4. Who captures one of the bastions?

5. What is one of the most deadly setups the French have?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Wellington decide Badajoz has to be taken immediately?

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

4. What does Sharpe find when he returns to the baggage train, why is Windham angry and what is the conclusion about the incident?

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

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

7. What has the French built across the Rivillas Stream and what do the British do about it?

8. What does Harper do after Sharpe retreats from the dam? What do they find out?

9. What does Rymer say about his blotched mission, what does he decide to do and what does Sharpe do in response?

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

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 RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in the book 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

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 3

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?

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