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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 give Teresa?

2. With what is Massena having problems?

3. Why is Kearsey furious with Sharpe?

4. Who is killed in the explosion about whom Sharpe is glad?

5. What does Harper admire about the French?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Cox say when Sharpe asks permission to leave the fortress?

2. Describe what happens in the explosion attempt.

3. Describe Almeida.

4. Why does Sharpe think there is no hope for his company and who saves them?

5. What happens when Sharpe goes to the telegraph station and who is he with?

6. What is Sharpe's plan for blowing up Almeida?

7. What happens to Teresa?

8. What does Sharpe say to Hogan and what is Hogan's response?

9. How does Sharpe discover that the French are nearby when Sharpe's company approaches the Coa River?

10. What is written about the historical Almeida?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sharpe's Gold, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Sharpe's Gold and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Sharpe's Gold is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. State what you think are three characteristics of a successful novel and whether or not Sharpe's Gold in your opinion is a successful novel.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Sharpe's Gold is one book in a series of novels involving Richard Sharpe. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

2. What is a disadvantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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