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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 is Badajoz located?

2. What causes the first assault wave to falter in Chapter 24?

3. How do the assembled men feel about Harper's punishment?

4. What does Sharpe say when Hogan tells him of the plan for assaulting the dam?

5. Where is Sharpe assigned following the mission at the dam?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Robert Knowles doing at the beginning of the attack and who does he think about when planning his actions?

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. Describe the fortifications of Badajoz.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Though this novel is probably more action driven rather than character driven, obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Sharpe and Rymer. Include their goals, sense of honor, abilities and social skills.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Harper and Hakeswill.

3. Thoroughly analyze the character of Richard Sharpe discussing both his strong and weak points and how both affect the outcome of the plot.

Essay Topic 2

Cornwell is masterful in his description of battles and life in general in for a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1820s. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze Cornwells's descriptive passages about life as a soldier. How does he use descriptions of the five senses to make the reader feel s/he is there? Do you find his descriptions compelling? Seemingly accurate? How would the novel be different if Cornwell did not include such descriptive passages?

2. Analyze Cornwells's descriptive passages about the social structure of the times and discuss what you think it would be like to be a person of wealth and/or privilege such as Wellington, Lawford, and Windham. Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Sharpe and Harper or one in service to someone of wealth and/or privilege.

3. Describe and analyze Cornwell's descriptive passages about the topographical setting and the physical descriptions of the people. Does Cornwell do an adequate job of actually making the reader "see" the land/sea where the action is taking place? How about getting a visual image of the characters? How does the descriptions of the setting add to the novel? Do you like having an idea of how a character looks? How would the novel be different without such descriptions?

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?

(see the answer keys)

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