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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 do with the Spanish?

2. Why does Sharpe have his men make as much noise as possible?

3. Who is Batten?

4. How does Sharpe know the French are leaving?

5. Who saved Lawford's life seven years earlier?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are discussing Sharpe's state of mind?

2. Who is Cox and what does Sharpe learn from him?

3. What do they discover when they open the Moreno family vault and what is Sharpe's reaction?

4. Who is holding the gold and what does Kearsey know about the man and the situation?

5. Describe Sharpe's company's escape from the village where the gold was.

6. Why is the mood somber in Chapter one among the forces allied against Napoleon?

7. What sort of guide is Kearsey and why do the men find him annoying?

8. Where and who are the Provosts and what is their purpose?

9. Describe Sharpe's discussion with Wellington.

10. What does Kearsey reiterate about the gold?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Sharpe's Gold.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Gold. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Sharpe's Honour. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

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 this book 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 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Gold. 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 Sharpe's Gold. 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 Sharpe's Gold? Which theme in Sharpe's Gold speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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