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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. Why wouldn't the Partisans buried a man on Sunday?

2. Who is Major Kearsey?

3. Who is El Catolico marrying?

4. Why does Sharpe have suspicions about Kearsey?

5. How does Kearsey fall off his horse?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What happens to Kearsey as he is returning to Sharpe's company?

4. How do Harper and Sharpe capture an enemy lancer, and how does Teresa help them escape from the rest of the lancers?

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

6. What does Sharpe learn as he takes stock of his company after the fighting and how does Kearsey react to his rescue?

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

8. Why are Sharpe's men angry and sad as they enter the village?

9. How do Sharpe and Teresa begin a romance?

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 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 2

Sharpe, despite his background, is an officer and a gentleman and is therefore accorded more respect and trust even in enemy territory than the common soldier. It is assumed that he will return with the gold intact.

1. Does it seem likely that officers are usually more respectable than enlisted men back then? What about today? Why or why not.

2. Sharpe has begun an affair with Teresa, a woman he ostensibly is holding as a hostage. Do you think this is how an officer and gentleman comports himself? Why or why not.

3. In the present military in the United States, both officers and enlisted can be held for court martial for adultery or having sexual relations with someone of inferior rank. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with the policy?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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