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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 seems likely about Sharpe and Jane?

2. Upon whom is Sharpe invited to call?

3. For how many men is the second battalion drawing rations?

4. What is the month and year at the opening of Sharpe's Regiment?

5. Where do the men head eventually?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Sharpe walk to a poor rookery? What is Sharpe's connection to it?

2. Under what names do Sharpe and Harper enlist and who enlists with them?

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

4. What are a couple of irregularities Sharpe notices about the recruiting Havercamp is doing?

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

6. What does Anne tell Fenner and why?

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

8. How were the recruits trained initially and what other work did they do?

9. Describe John Lynch, the training sergeant and his particular dislike.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Richard Sharpe is no exception. Sharpe's legendary powers of military strategy is juxtaposed with his reputation as a womanizer. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Sharpe demonstrates his prodigious powers of military strategy. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Sharpe's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Sharpe's admirable traits helped him obtain a high rank in the military despite his background as a child. Have his flaws impacted his career at all? Do any of those under his command seem to notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

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

Sharpe becomes entangled with Anne Camoynes in a sexual liaison and fails to question her motives for so engaging him. Anne indeed works as a spy and agent for Fenner and gathers information about Sharpe during their sexual escapade.

1. Why do you think Sharpe doesn't question Anne's motives in becoming involved with him? Use examples from the text and your own experience to support your answer.

2. It seems that to make Sharpe not question or see Anne's motives is a stretch of credibility. He was raised basically on the streets and has been in the military for many years. Discuss what you believe are the reasons a reader might believe Sharpe could be that gullible. Do you think the author should have addressed this weakness? Use examples from the text and your own experience to support your answer.

3. Anne hates Fenner yet reports to him Sharpe's stance on the second battalion and on his determination to pursue the issue. Discuss the conflicts in Anne's character and the lack of congruence between her emotions and her behavior. Use examples from the text and your own experience to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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