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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 are six external fortresses placed in Badajoz?

2. What does Sharpe do when he gets to his old company?

3. How are the walls of Badajoz reinforced?

4. Why are the men of Sharpe's old company not doing their job?

5. How does Knowles base his conduct during the assault?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the fortifications of Badajoz.

3. What do the British forces begin to do when they arrive at Badajoz and what makes their tasks more difficult?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

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