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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 when Marriott speaks up about the dog?

2. Whose estate do the recruits pass?

3. What does Nairn suggest that outrages Sharpe?

4. What battle is Sharpe asked to describe?

5. To whom does Girdwood hand over the new recruits?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. 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?

5. What does Sharpe wonder about as far as Simmerson's involvement with the second battalion? What is Sharpe's relation to Jane Gibbons?

6. What does Sharpe give Maggie and why?

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

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

9. What does Sharpe do about the men following him?

10. What does Lord Fenner suggests should be done about the South Essex's trouble?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The conclusion of Chapter 19 finds Sharpe at his lowest ebb--he has "solved" the mystery of his missing men but has also fallen into the hands of his enemies, is under official arrest, and is powerless to effect change. At this point, he appears entirely subject to the whims of Fenner, who plans to send him away under official condemnation.

1. There is a saying in writing circles that for good conflict one needs to: "put a character out on a limb then keep making the limb weaker and weaker." Discuss this idea in relationship to the chronological events that puts Sharpe under arrest and powerless.

2. Discuss what you believe are the emotional, psychological and physical reactions to being powerless and how a person might mitigate some of those reactions. Include in your discussion the harm or benefit one might derive from being powerless.

3. Sharpe is powerless. Most people find themselves in situations in life in which they are powerless. Discuss some lessons one could learn from being powerless. Use examples from the text and your own experience to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Usually the women in this series are background to the men and tend to fit a stereotype of women in this era of history. This book has a different type of woman, Dowager Countess Anne Camoynes, who is strong enough to survive her husband, leaving her in debt and intelligent enough to finally outwit Fenner.

1. Present and analyze the treatment of women in Dowager Countess Anne Camoynes.

2. Cornwell is trying to be historically accurate, so is his treatment of women in his book(s) justified?

3. Is there any way Cornwell could have presented women in a more positive light and still stayed historically accurate? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Though this novel is probably more action driven rather than character driven, obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Sharpe and Girdwood. Include their goals, sense of honor, abilities and social skills.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Harper and Simmerson.

3. Thoroughly analyze the character of Richard Sharpe, discussing both his strong and weak points and how both affect the outcome of the plot.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,096 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample