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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. Who does El Catolico trust?

2. What do they discover when they look for the gold?

3. What worries Sharpe?

4. Who descends upon Sharpe's company?

5. Why is one of Sharpe's man left alive?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sharpe find when he follows the woman he later learns is Teresa?

2. What does Sharpe observe during the fighting between the Spanish and French and for whom does he look?

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

4. Why does Kearsey leave Sharpe's company and what does Sharpe decide to do?

5. What happens when Sharpe begins to dig in the grave?

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

7. What does Sharpe ask Joaquim Jovellanos and what is Joaquim's reply?

8. Why is Harper proud and how much of his discovery is there?

9. Describe the English attack on the French in the village.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the entire series of novels concerning Richard Sharpe takes place during the Napoleonic Wars; therefore understanding the political and social situation during that time helps to a greater understanding and appreciation of this book and others in the series. Discuss one of the following:

1. Research and write an expository essay about how the Napoleonic Wars begin and end.

2. Research and write an expository essay about the battles that take place on land between Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars.

3. Compare/Contrast the importance of the British infantry during the Napoleonic Wars to the importance of the British infantry during either WWI or WWII.

4. Write an expository essay on how the Napoleonic War affects the social culture of one of the following countries: Britain, France, or Germany.

Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Richard Sharpe is no exception. Sharpe's legendary powers of military strategy is juxtaposed with his reputation as a womanizer. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Sharpe demonstrates his prodigious powers of military strategy. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Sharpe's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Sharpe's admirable traits helped him obtain a high rank in the military despite his background as a child. Have his flaws impacted his career at all? Do any of those under his command seem to notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

Essay Topic 3

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider Sharpe's Gold a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

(see the answer keys)

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