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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 happens to the soldiers who accompany Lady Farthingdale?

2. With whom is Spain at war during this novel?

3. What does the army that conquered Andrados do in the town?

4. How do the defenders of the castle appear to Sharpe?

5. How does Farthingdale feel about Sharpe's inability to bring back Lady Farthingdale?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Farthingdale do when he is injured and what does Sharpe see after he does it?

2. What does Sharpe do with the prisoners and what bothers him the most about the prisoners as far as who he wanted to capture?

3. What does Nairn tell Sharpe when he is summoned in Chapter 3?

4. Who does Sharpe meet who is head of the rifle company going to Andrados, what is that man like and how does Sharpe feel about him?

5. What happens to Sharpe and the three others in the convent shortly after they meet?

6. What does Sharpe first do when he takes over his new command and to what conclusions does he come?

7. What does Farthingdale do with his troops as Christmas day breaks?

8. What type of combat unit has the Prince Regent sent, why has he sent it and how does Nairn feel about it?

9. Where and at what time is the Prologue set?

10. How important is Andrados, where it is situated and what types of protections are in place around it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The military way of life is in and of itself similar to a distinct culture. Understanding how the military is organized, how it operates, and its basic rules of conduct will make any novel that centers on the military more understandable and enjoyable. Discuss one of the following:

1. Describe and analyze the military structure during the time of Sharpe's Enemy. What is rank? What is the difference between officers and enlisted men? How serious is it to disobey an order? What happens if one decides he does not like being in the military and walks away? How are men conscripted? Does the infantry have a similar means of augmenting their ranks as the maritime action called "impressments"?

2. Compare the infantry of Sharpe's Enemy to that in modern times in for the United States, England or France. What are the similarities? The differences? Are the changes from those times improvements? Why or why not? (This question will require some research).

3. Discuss why you think the military has the following: Uniforms, a rank structure of Officers and Enlisted, Strict Discipline, Training for New Recruits, Court Martial, and Different types of companies (i.e., rifle, Cavalry, artillery, etc). Discuss why you think men (and nowadays women) choose to become professional soldiers.

Essay Topic 2

Honor is a very important concept in Sharpe's Enemy and in the life of those in the upper class during that era. Sharpe demands honor from Ducos, who declines. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of honor in Sharpe's Enemy. What do you think Sharpe would tell you is the definition of honor if you ask him? Do you think honor can be restored if it is lost?

2. Respond to the following statement using specific examples from the book and your own experience: Honor is one of the most important character traits for anyone in any social strata. First fully define the concept of honor, then discuss whether you believe the preceding statement is true with specific examples from Sharpe's Enemy and other books/films, etc... that you have read or experienced.

3. During the era in which Sharpe lives, men could give their word on the basis of being a gentleman and it is assumed to be true. There was no such concept for a lady or anyone of lower social/economic groups. Fully discuss the implications in a society where only gentlemen are considered trustworthy enough to give their word unquestioned.

Essay Topic 3

In any book centered around the military, leadership of the troops is often crucial with the better leaders able to command the respect and loyalty of their men. The men's willingness to follow a particularly leader can have a decisive impact upon the success of a mission. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective? Analyze the elements of those effective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the good leaders. What makes an excellent leader/commander? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems most ineffective? Analyze the elements of those ineffective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the poor leaders. What makes a poor leader/commander? Give examples.

3. Is disobeying a poor leader ever justifiable? Explain using details from the text, other books you have read and your personal experience. In times of war, disobeying an order can be punishable by death. Is this harsh sentence justifiable for such an act? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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