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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 do the British and Spanish troops discover when they enter a village?

2. What does Williams tell Sharpe that Vivar has told Williams about the strongbox?

3. How long do the Spanish troops and the riflemen travel?

4. What does Sharpe advise Vivar not to do?

5. What does the French commander tell Sharpe?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Vivar tell Sharpe about leadership?

3. What does Sharpe ask from the Parkers when they stop in a small town for the night and what does Sharpe end up doing for his men?

4. What does Sharpe order the Parkers to do and what does Sharpe do when Mrs. Parker refuses?

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

6. What do the British and Spanish find when they enter a village, what do they do and how do the troops feel?

7. What does de l'Eclin accuse Sharpe of and what is Sharpe's response? What does Vivar's brother say?

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

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

10. What does Vivar asks Sharpe and what does Sharpe decide to do after speaking with Vivar?

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

Essay Topic 2

Sharpe, despite his background, is an officer and a gentleman and is therefore accorded more respect and trust even in enemy territory than the common soldier. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem likely that officers were usually more respectable than enlisted men back then? What about today? Why or why not.

2. Sharpe treats Mrs. Parker harshly and even drags her from the carriage and lets her drop in the mud. Do you think this is how an officer and gentleman comports himself? Why or why not?

3. In the present military in the United States, both officers and enlisted can be held for court martial for adultery or having sexual relations with someone of inferior rank. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with the policy?

Essay Topic 3

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 Rifles qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in Sharpe's Rifles 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.

(see the answer keys)

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