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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 is the name of Sharpe's horse?

2. What nationality does Sharpe pretend to be?

3. What kind of hair does the prisoner being hung have?

4. How does the prosecutor portray Sharpe?

5. Why does Sharpe write a letter to Major Hogan?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is el Matarife doing with a prisoner when Sharpe meets him at the inn and what does Sharpe do about it?

2. What is Sharpe observing in Chapter Ten and what does he think about his horse?

3. What sentence does Sharpe receive at the end of his trial and how do the Spanish feel about it?

4. Why does Sharpe feel guilty in Chapter One?

5. Who is assigned to defend Sharpe and what does he tell Sharpe?

6. Describe what the Spanish see during Sharpe's supposed execution.

7. Why is La Marquesa angry in Chapter Eight and what happens in her encounter with Hacha?

8. What does the Mother Superior at the convent ask Sharpe and what does he tell her?

9. What does Hogan order Sharpe to do and why?

10. What does Father Hacha think to accomplish with his actions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In any book centered around the military, leadership of the troops is often crucial with the better leaders able to command the respect and loyalty of their men. The men's willingness to follow a particularly leader can have a decisive impact upon the success of a mission. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective? Analyze the elements of those effective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the good leaders. What makes an excellent leader/commander? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems most ineffective? Analyze the elements of those ineffective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the poor leaders. What makes a poor leader/commander? Give examples.

3. Is disobeying a poor leader ever justifiable? Explain using details from the text, other books you have read and your personal experience. In times of war, disobeying an order can be punishable by death. Is this harsh sentence justifiable for such an act? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider Sharpe's Honor a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

Essay Topic 3

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. He has been told if he gives his parole he will not be guarded yet he cannot accede to that. Discuss the following:

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 Helene, a woman recently widowed and who has participated in setting Sharpe up to be convicted of murder. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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