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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 does Sharpe tell Williams to do if he does not want to obey Sharpe?

2. What does the French negotiator tell Sharpe about the French army?

3. How does Father Alzaga feel towards Sharpe?

4. What does Vivar encourage Sharpe to do about Harper?

5. What does Sharpe say he plans to do about the French to the French negotiator?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Sharpe's men begin to call out enthusiastically when the Parkers come in front of the assembly and what does Mrs. Parker explain to Sharpe?

2. What does Major Dunnet tell Sharpe to do, how does he address him and how does he feel about Sharpe? What does Murray suspect about Dunnet's feelings towards Sharpe?

3. What does Vivar tell Sharpe about Vivar's troops?

4. What does Sharpe tell the Parkers when they see French cavalry coming and what does he do with his riflemen? Who does he see within the French forces?

5. What does Mrs. Parker say about Santiago de Compostela and the British?

6. What does De l'Eclin tell Sharpe about surrender and what does he say about the French army? What does Sharpe think of De l'Eclin's assertion about the French army?

7. What happens when the French assault the farmhouse the first time and what does Sharpe tell Harper? What is Harper's response?

8. What does Sharp worry about with Louisa, what does she tell him and what is her response when he tells her about the strongbox?

9. What happens as Sharpe is about to order his riflemen to flee the house and who joins him in the woods?

10. What does Vivar ask Sharpe to recount and what does Vivar explain to Sharpe? Where does he ask Sharpe to go?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose two of the following and compare and contrast the two people. Include in the discussion their type of leadership, their personality, their morals and whether you would like to serve under them.

1. Sharpe and Vivar.

2. Harper and Willams.

3. Vivar and de l'Eclin.

Essay Topic 2

Richard Sharpe is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in Sharpe's Rifles and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Sharpe who you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person. Illustrate your statements with examples from the text.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Sharpe's Rifles.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Rifles. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Sharpe's Rifles. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

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