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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 tactic does Sharpe want to use to attack Santiago de Compostela?

2. Who wants to give the banner to the French?

3. What does Vivar say he must do because of the banner?

4. What does Vivar say blacksmiths will begin to make?

5. What does Vivar asks Sharpe after the first battle?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Louisa tell Sharpe when they meet in the palace and what does Sharpe figure out from what she says?

2. How do the townspeople react to the British and Spanish attacking?

3. What does Vivar want the riflemen to do and what does Sharpe do?

4. What does the French colonel suggest to Sharpe?

5. What kind of idea does Sharpe have and what is Vivar's response?

6. Where do the riflemen flee from the French pouring out of the palace and what do they see there?

7. What does Sharpe do with the caltrops and how do they work?

8. What does Vivar tell Sharpe and what does he do?

9. What do Harper and Sharpe discuss and what does Harper tell Sharpe?

10. How does Sharpe feel about Louisa being gone and what does Vivar tell Sharpe about her absence?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Cornwell is masterful in his description of battles and life in general for a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze Cornwells's descriptive passages about life as a soldier. How does he use descriptions of the five senses to make the reader feel s/he is there? Do you find his descriptions compelling? Seemingly accurate? How would the novel be different if Cornwell did not include such descriptive passages?

2. Analyze Cornwells's descriptive passages about the social structure of the times and discuss what you think it would be like to be a person of wealth and/or privilege such as Don Blas Vivar, Major Warren Dunnett, Colonel Pierre de l'Eclin, and the Count of Mouromorto. Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Sharpe and Harper or one in service to someone of wealth and/or privilege.

3. Describe and analyze Cornwell's descriptive passages about the topographical setting and the physical descriptions of the people. Does Cornwell do an adequate job of actually making the reader "see" the land/sea where the action is taking place? How about getting a visual image of the characters? How do the descriptions of the setting add to the novel? Do you like having an idea of how a character looks? How would the novel be different without such descriptions?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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