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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. Who is the young British woman at the village?

2. What does the sergeant Williams order the riflemen to do before the second attack of the French?

3. What does Sharpe advise Vivar not to do?

4. What does Sharpe learn about the road to Lisbon?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. With whom does Sharpe dine the first night in the fortress and why do Vivar and Alzaga argue?

2. 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?

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

4. 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?

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

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. What does Sharpe have his riflemen do when the French ambush them?

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

10. What does Vivar tell Davila to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sharpe's Rifles is one book in a series of novels involving Richard Sharpe. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

2. What is a disadvantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

In any book centered around the military, leadership of the troops is often crucial with the better leaders able to command the respect and loyalty of their men. The men's willingness to follow a particular leader can have a decisive impact upon the success of a mission. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective? Analyze the elements of those effective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the good leaders. What makes an excellent leader/commander? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems most ineffective? Analyze the elements of those ineffective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the poor leaders. What makes a poor leader/commander? Give examples.

3. Is disobeying a poor leader ever justifiable? Explain using details from the text, other books you have read and your personal experience. In times of war, disobeying an order can be punishable by death. Is this harsh sentence justifiable for such an act? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Honor is a very important concept in Sharpe's Rifles and in the life of those in the upper class during that era. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of honor in Sharpe's Rifles. What do you think Sharpe would tell you is the definition of honor if you ask him? Do you think honor can be restored if it is lost?

2. Respond to the following statement using specific examples from the book and your own experience: Honor is one of the most important character traits for anyone in any social strata. First fully define the concept of honor, then discuss whether you believe the preceding statement is true with specific examples from Sharpe's Rifles and other books/films and other media that you have read or experienced.

3. During the era in which Sharpe lives, men could give their word on the basis of being a gentleman and it was assumed to be true. There was no such concept for a lady or anyone of lower social/economic groups. Fully discuss the implications in a society where only gentlemen are considered trustworthy enough to give their word unquestioned.

(see the answer keys)

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