View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What has Sharpe been told about the gold?

2. About how many men die in the explosion?

3. What did the French not expect?

4. About whom does Hogan ask?

5. What seems almost impossible that was accomplished?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the Lines of Torres Vedras.

2. Why is Lossow happy?

3. What is written about the historical Almeida?

4. Who is causing Sharpe problems about moving the gold on to Wellington?

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

6. What are some of the problems the British seem to be having?

7. Describe what happens in the explosion attempt.

8. What is Teresa learning and from whom?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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, 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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,271 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample