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. Why does Sharpe write a letter to Major Hogan?

2. What does Sharpe do when they arrive at the convent?

3. What is the result of what Sharpe did to the French in Chapter 1?

4. Why is Patrick worried about Sharpe?

5. Where did Sharpe get the telescope he owns?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ducos do to set La Marquesa up to do his bidding?

2. How did Sharpe survive his death sentence?

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

4. Why is Angel helping Sharpe and what kind of weapon does he carry?

5. Why is Patrick worried about Sharpe in Chapter Three?

6. How does Sharpe feel about tents, why does he feel that way and what does he and Patrick think they might be able to do about them?

7. Who is La Marquesa and what is her nationality?

8. Why does Leroy confront Sharpe and what does he want Sharpe to do?

9. What is the Marques and Father Hacha discussing in Chapter Five? What does the Marques say about his wife?

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

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 Honor 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, or the Marques. Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Sharpe and Harper or one in service to someone of wealth and/or privilege.

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 or sea 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

Sharpe accepts the challenge of the duel not only because he is bored, but because he feels he needs to redeem himself somehow. Perhaps by fighting the duel he can erase the mistakes of his past, honor his dead wife, and give himself some peace all at once.

1. Sharpe will participate in a dangerous duel because he feels guilty about his wife. How do you think guilt and reckless behavior are related? Use examples from the book and your own experience to support your answer.

2. Discuss some of the behaviors that teenagers in modern America might have because of feelings of guilt. How efficient do you think these behaviors are in erasing guilt?

3. Discuss constructive actions or behaviors a person might use or do in order to assuage guilt. Would any of these be available to Sharpe? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In chapter three, the reader learns through Patrick Harper that Sharpe is bored and gets into trouble when he is bored. Sharpe accepts the challenge of the duel not only because he is bored, but because he feels he needs to redeem himself somehow. Cornwell often uses characters around Sharpe to examine Sharpe's inner workings. This paints a picture of the mysterious, tough character by not requiring an explanation from Sharpe himself. It also gives insight about the characters around Sharpe, as only the people really close to him are allowed to examine his feelings.

1. Explain how boredom has caused many people, especially teenagers, to participate in behaviors that are harmful or illegal. Use examples from the book and your own experience to support your answer.

2. Discuss why a person might become bored and how boredom can be relieved with beneficial activities. What are some ways to relieve boredom? What are some ways to avoid boredom? Use examples from the book and your own experience to support your answer.

3. Do you think Cornwell's technique of using the characters around Sharpe to present Sharpe's inner workings to be effective? Why or why not? Why do you think the author would chose to make Sharpe known in this manner? Use examples from the book and your own experience to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,264 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample