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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. About what does Barker reassure Lavisser?

2. What does Wellesley order Sharpe to take to General Cathcart?

3. What surprises the British sailors on their way to the Danish fleet?

4. What worries Lavisser?

5. What does Sharpe tell Jens to do with what he gave him?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sharpe prove Visser's involvement with the French?

2. What is said about General Castenschiold's Danish militia?

3. Describe the encounter between Sharpe and Barker.

4. Describe Sharpe's converstion with Madam Visser.

5. Where does Sharpe go with Astrid and how does it affect him?

6. Who does Sharpe see sleeping on a chair and how does he deduce who she is?

7. What does the leter to General Payman from the British say and what is Peyman's response?

8. What does Hopper give Sharpe when Sharpe first arrives on his ship, and what do Hopper and Chase say to Sharpe about Grace?

9. What does Sharpe ask of Chase and what is Chase's response?

10. What does Pumphrey say to Sharpe about his Army career and how does Pumphrey imply that Sharpe should cooperate?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

"Sharpe's Prey", like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Sharpe's Prey" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Sharpe's Prey" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

"Sharpe's Prey: Richard Sharpe and the Expedition to Copenhagen, 1807", is written around the historic invasion of Denmark by the British in 1807. Discuss the following:

1. Research the actual historical event of the invasion of Denmark by Britain in 1807, and write an informative essay on it.

2. Compare/contrast the actual historical event with how it is portrayed in "Sharpe's Prey: Richard Sharpe and the Expedition to Copenhagen, 1807". How are they alike? Different? Why do you think Cornwell alters some of the facts? Do you think the alterations improve the story? Why or why not?

3. Choose some minor historical event and write a short story set in that event. Try to stick to the actual facts as much as possible.

(see the answer keys)

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