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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 happens just before Sharpe's Regiment opens?

2. What does a day's worth of recruiting yield?

3. Who is summoned to account for the missing battalion recruits?

4. Where are small detachments sent from time to time?

5. What does Sharpe think of the recent battle?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where is Sharpe sent on a work party and what does he take the time to do?

2. Where do Harper and Sharpe go and why do they receive attention? How do Sharpe and Harper feel about the attention?

3. What does Jane tell him about the system for the recruits there and what does she say she will do?

4. Where does Sharpe meet Jane Gibbons when at Simmerson and what do they do?

5. What standard was at the royal gala and what did it have to do with Sharpe? What did the Prince have Sharpe do?

6. With whom does Sharpe meet concerning the South Essex problems and what does he tell Sharpe?

7. What is Havercamp like as a person, and what does he promise the recruits and how does he pay for the drinks he serves the recruits?

8. How does Harper feel about Marriott's punishment for escaping and what does he do, what happens to him and what does Sharpe assume?

9. When Sharpe presented at the royal gala, how does Sharpe present himself and how does the Prince feel about Sharpe?

10. What does Sergeant Carew at the second battalion depot tell Sharpe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the entire series of novels concerning Richard Sharpe takes place during the Napoleonic Wars; therefore, understanding the political and social situation during that time helps to a greater understanding and appreciation of this book and others in the series. Discuss one of the following:

1. Research and write an expository essay about how the Napoleonic Wars begin and end.

2. Research and write an expository essay about the battles that take place on land between Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars.

3. Compare/contrast the importance of the British infantry during the Napoleonic Wars to the importance of the British infantry during either WWI or WWII.

4. Write an expository essay on how the Napoleonic War affects the social culture of one of the following countries: Britain, France, or Germany.

Essay Topic 2

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 Sharpe's Regiment 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 3

Cornwell is masterful in his description of battles and life in general in for a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1820s. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze Cornwells's descriptive passages about life as a soldier. How does he use descriptions of the five senses to make the reader feel s/he is there? Do you find his descriptions compelling? Seemingly accurate? How would the novel be different if Cornwell did not include such descriptive passages?

2. Analyze Cornwells's descriptive passages about the social structure of the times and discuss what you think it would be like to be a person of wealth and/or privilege such as Wellington, Lawford, and Windham. Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Sharpe and Harper or one in service to someone of wealth and/or privilege.

3. Describe and analyze Cornwell's descriptive passages about the topographical setting and the physical descriptions of the people. Does Cornwell do an adequate job of actually making the reader "see" the land/sea where the action is taking place? How about getting a visual image of the characters? How does the descriptions of the setting add to the novel? Do you like having an idea of how a character looks? How would the novel be different without such descriptions?

(see the answer keys)

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