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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 does Baird say that seems to momentarily shock Lavisser?

2. What does Baird want Sharpe to do?

3. What does Sharpe hope about the murder?

4. What do Brown and Belling explain to Sharpe about his commission?

5. What does Baird do when Sharpe starts to cry?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sharpe rescue Skovaard?

2. Why is Sharpe in his present circumstances?

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

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

5. What does Baird want of Sharpe?

6. Who is Lavisser and how does he act in the carriage as they are riding to the docks?

7. What does Skovaard read to Sharpe out of a Danish newspaper and what does Skovaard do?

8. Describe Sharpe and Baird's initial conversation.

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

10. Why are Astrid and her father shocked at Sharpe's appearance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are three "villains" in "Sharpe's Prey". Lavisser is a fanatical patriot, Barker seems to be self-serving and Madame Visser is a French spy.

1. Explain, with examples from the text, what you see are the main motivations behind Barker's behavior. If he lived in America today with what crimes do you think he would be charged?

2. Lavisser is a "villain" who does not seem to be motivated by self-interest. Discuss why or why not you believe this statement to be true. Use examples from "Sharpe's Prey" to support and illustrate your opinion.

3. Do you think crimes or immoral behavior motivated by good intentions is more pardonable than that motivated by self-interests? Why or why not? Use examples from "Sharpe's Prey" to support and illustrate your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Good versus Evil. Both Barker and John Lavisser are shown to be "evil" characters.

The objective of this lesson is to look at good versus evil.

1. Class discussion. What is good? What is evil? Can good and evil both exist in the same person or situation? Who determines good and evil? In what ways can a "good" person act evil? What about an "evil" person acting good? How should evil be confronted? What can be done about evil? Is Sharpe all good versus Barker and Lavisser the "evil" character? Is life that simple? Is morality black and white? What are the "gray" areas in the scope of good versus evil?

2. Group work. In groups have students list ways in which Sharpe is perhaps not completely good. What of his actions could be considered evil, even if he is motivated for the good of all?

3. Class work. In class have students write an essay addressing the following question: Can good and bad exist together in the same person? Can a world be just good or just bad? When does "good" do harm? When does "bad" do good?

4. Homework. Students will choose one well known historical figure and write a paper comparing everything good and everything bad known about that person. The students might include personality traits, behaviors, actions, especially those which effected history, etc. The paper should include the student's opinion about whether the student would consider the person good or bad and how their traits compare to the characters in this play.

(see the answer keys)

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