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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 Sergeant does Ducos ask to help him steal Napoleon's treasure?

2. What is Château Lassan?

3. What does Napoleon do right before the Battle of Toulouse?

4. Under what rule is Bordeaux when Sharpe and Frederickson are there?

5. Why are Sharpe and Frederickson detained?

Short Essay Questions

1. Of what does Part I in this novel consist and what does Part I serve to do in the novel's narrative arc?

2. How does Sharpe respond to Jane's demands in the Prologue?

3. What happens as Sharpe and the others are about to board a ship in Bordeaux?

4. Who writes Sharpe and what information is in the letter he receives in Chapter 4?

5. How does the assault of Nairn's troops end?

6. What does Sharpe and his friends do after the battle of Toulouse?

7. Describe Henri Lassan's sister.

8. What do Sharpe and Frederickson decide to do and how does Harper help?

9. What does Lassan's mother want him to do and how does he feel about it?

10. What does Napoleon do when he is worried about failure and who does he use to help him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 this book 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 2

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 Wars affect the social culture of one of the following countries: Britian, France, or Germany.

Essay Topic 3

The novel presents one pimp actively recruiting women as whores amidst rampant poverty and imminent mass starvation. Thrown into this mix are many disabled French veterans and various displaced persons. The end of the war has not brought an end to the humanitarian crisis.

1. Compare the situation with the ravages of war in Bordeaux to a modern day refugee camp. How are they similar? How are they different?

2. In view of the aftermath of war, discuss the various groups of people in a country who are affected by war and its aftermath besides the members of the military.

3. Given the fact that war usually has no redeeming value and that all the people in a country are affected by war, not just the members of the military, discuss what you believe are the reasons the average person still responds when the government calls for war.

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