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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 do after throwing the sand?

2. What does Sharpe do as he is fleeing the scene of the murder he committed?

3. Why does Lavisser suggest taking the service entrance?

4. What does Sharpe hear coming from the house?

5. Who is Jem Hocking?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the initial communication between Captain Willsen and John Lavisser.

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

3. Describe the approach of the British ships to the Danish shore.

4. Why is Sharpe in his present circumstances?

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

6. How does Sharpe rescue Skovaard?

7. Where is Sharpe on Friday night at the opening of Chapter 2, and what does he do initially?

8. What does Baird want of Sharpe?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 Prey" 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 2

Sharpe visits the orphanage master from the place where he was raised and kills the man, Hocking. He visits an orphanage in Copenhagen and is astounded by the differences between the two. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the two orphanages with as much information as is offered and by deducing other information by the context in the story. Why do you think the two countries have such different orphanages?

2. Research the treatment of orphans in England of the early 1800s and Denmark of the same period. Compare/contrast what you learn with what is presented in "Sharpe's Prey".

3. Research how orphans are treated today in England and/or Denmark. Compare/contrast that to how they are treated in the early 1800s. What do you think are the reasons for the differences between today and then? Which is more humane? Why?

4. Fully describe what you think is the ideal orphanage and why.

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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