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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 Sharpe have to do before dressing?

2. Where does Lavisser enter the carriage in which Sharpe and Baird are riding?

3. In what does Sharpe say he is interested?

4. Who is one of the men who appears to be sneaking into Skovaard's home?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Baird want of Sharpe?

3. Why is Richard Sharpe angry about his commission and how did he get a commission?

4. What is the reason for the mission to Copenhagen?

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

6. What does Sharpe do and think after fleeing Wapping Steps.

7. Describe the murder of Captain Willsen.

8. Why is Sharpe in his present circumstances?

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

10. How does Sharpe deal with Hocking's two bodyguards?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

A work of fiction is often organized around a structure called a plot. Discuss the following:

1. Define plot and its major parts (rising action, climax, falling action, resolution [or denouement]. Write a sentence or two synopsis of the major plot of the "Sharpe's Prey".

2. Identify where the parts of the plot seem to fall in "Sharpe's Prey". Explain using examples.

3. Define the literary term "subplot." Write a sentence or two synopsis of a subplot in "Sharpe's Prey".

4. Identify the major parts of the subplot you identified in task number 3.

5. Why do you think identifying the plot and elements of the plot is useful?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Sharpe's Prey". Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "Sharpe's Prey". How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in "Sharpe's Prey"? Which theme in "Sharpe's Prey" speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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