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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 Captain Willsen doing at the opening to Chapter 1?

2. What does Sharpe do after throwing the sand?

3. Why does Sharpe stay in the wagon as it starts moving?

4. What does Lavisser tell Sharpe and Barker to do once that have made landfall?

5. Where are Willsen and Lavisser going together in several days?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Sharpe find Astrid and what does he do?

2. What does Sharpe tell Hocking he wants and what is Hocking's response?

3. How does Sharpe escape confinement and what frightens him about his escape means?

4. What is Captain Willsen doing at the opening of this chapter and why?

5. How does Sharpe manage to get some weapons for himself on the boat?

6. Why is Sharpe in his present circumstances?

7. Describe Sharpe and Baird's initial conversation.

8. What does Captain Dunnett announce to his troops concerning stealing from the Danes. and who appears to have already done so?

9. How does Sharpe get to Copenhagen?

10. What is Wapping Steps and why does Sharpe go there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Cornwell has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think this book qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in the book are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. Do you think the culture of that era is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Richard Sharpe is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in "Sharpe's Prey" and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Sharpe who you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person. Illustrate your statements with examples from the text.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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