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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 do when Harper thinks Sharpe has agreed with the men?

2. What does Sharpe advise George to do?

3. From whom is Major Blas Vivar hiding a strongbox?

4. How does Father Alzaga feel towards Sharpe?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

3. Who does Sharpe meet when a monk wakes him and asks Sharpe to come with him and what does this person say to Sharpe?

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

5. 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?

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

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

8. What is the fortress to which Vivar has brought Sharpe and the Spanish troops and what does Vivar say about Spain and the French?

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

10. What does Sharpe ask about the strong box and what is Vivar's response? How does Sharpe respond to this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Rifles. Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Sharpe's Rifles. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in Sharpe's Rifles? Which theme in Sharpe's Rifles speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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