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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Kearsey worry the Spanish will do if they do not receive the gold?
2. To what does El Catolico admit?
3. Why is Sharpe pleased?
4. Where does Sharpe want to look for the gold?
5. Who is Lieutenant Colonel William Lawford?
Short Essay Questions
1. What sort of guide is Kearsey and why do the men find him annoying?
2. Why is the mood somber in Chapter one among the forces allied against Napoleon?
3. Why is Harper proud and how much of his discovery is there?
4. Describe Sharpe's company's escape from the village where the gold was.
5. Describe the scene when Sharpe apologizes to Ayres.
6. What happens when Sharpe begins to dig in the grave?
7. How does Sharpe threaten El Catolico's men?
8. What does Kearsey reiterate about the gold?
9. Why does Kearsey leave Sharpe's company and what does Sharpe decide to do?
10. Describe Sharpe's discussion with Wellington.
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
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
Cornwell is masterful in his description of battles and life in general in for a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s. 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 Sharpe's Gold 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? Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Sharpe and Harper or Teresa.
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 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?
This section contains 1,301 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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