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. For what does Sharpe say the gold is going to used?

2. What is Sharpe hating to think about doing?

3. What is the commander of Almeida forced to do?

4. Where is Cox when Lossow and Sharpe find him?

5. What really blew up?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Sharpe faring with the wound he receives?

2. What are the losses and who lives after the explosion?

3. Describe Teresa and Sharpe's conversation while they are in bed?

4. Why is Lossow happy?

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

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

7. Why will the Lines of Torres Vedras stop the French?

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

9. Describe the fight between Sharpe and El Catolico.

10. Describe the interaction between Sharpe and Garrard.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of literary techniques evident in Sharpe's Gold. Discuss the following:

1. Look up and define the literary technique called "narrative contrivance." Where do you think narrative contrivance occurs? Why? Give two examples and analyze them to see if the author has to come up with something to "save the day."

2. Does the use of narrative contrivance diminish the impact of the plot? The believability of the storyline?

3. Is there any other way Cornwell could have a mixture of suspense and action while at the same time making certain the main characters are not killed?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Sharpe's Gold.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Gold. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Sharpe's Honour. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,153 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample