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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 ask Harper to do with Spanish civilians?

2. What tactic does Sharpe want to use to attack Santiago de Compostela?

3. For what does Harper think the volunteers might be good?

4. Where does Vivar go when he leaves the palace?

5. Why does Sharpe run back into the town?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sharpe do with the sentry?

2. What does Sharpe hear as the riflemen are fighting and who appears? Why are the Cazadores fighting so hard?

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

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

5. Why does Vivar come to Sharpe in the tavern, how does Sharpe act?

6. What does the French colonel tell Sharpe and what is Sharpe's response?

7. What news do local bandits bring and what is Vivar's response to their news?

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

9. Why does Sharpe know the French who have appeared are not the real attack?

10. How long do the troops march and what do the riflemen do to keep their movement a secret?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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