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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 Sharpe conclude after seeing the ball from his leg?

2. What does Sharpe order the men to do when the French attack?

3. What does Sharpe do after setting the charges?

4. What does Windham realize about punishing Harper?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What is Hakeswill doing while the British prepare for the assault of Badajoz and what do the men think about him?

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

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

8. Why does Windham realize he made a mistake and what does he do to mitigate it?

9. What does Wellington call, why is Sharpe present and what does Sharpe request? How does Wellington respond to Sharpe's request?

10. What do the British troops do after the weather clears in Chapter 17 and what do they decide about the plain?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Richard Sharpe is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Sharpe who you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person. Illustrate your statements with examples from the text.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Usually the women in this series are background to the men and tend to fit a stereotype of women in this era of history. This book has a different type of woman, Teresa Morgan, who is a guerrilla soldier and leader of her riders.

1. Present and analyze the treatment of women in RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ.

2. Cornwell is trying to be historically accurate, so is his treatment of women in his book(s) justified?

3. Is there any way Cornwell could have presented women in a more positive light and still stayed historically accurate? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Sharpe, despite his background, is an officer and a gentleman and is therefore accorded more respect and trust even in enemy territory than the common soldier. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem likely that officers are usually more respectable than enlisted men back then? What about today? Why or why not.

2. Sharpe has resumed his affair with Teresa while still considering marrying Jane Gibbons. Do you think this is how an officer and gentleman comports himself? Why or why not.

3. In the present military in the United States, both officers and enlisted can be held for court martial for adultery or having sexual relations with someone of inferior rank. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with the policy?

(see the answer keys)

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