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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 wants to give the banner to the French?

2. What do the riflemen get from the French?

3. What does Harper say about the riflemen fighting well?

4. What does Sharpe say is the cost of his aid?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Vivar tell Sharpe to do in the chapel and what does Sharpe find?

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

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

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

5. Why does Sharpe burst into the chapel?

6. What does Sharpe do with the sentry?

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

8. What does Sharpe tell Vivar about capturing Santiago de Compostela and what does Vivar say about Sharpe's opinion?

9. What does Sharpe ask Vivar about the riflemen and what is Vivar's response? How does Sharpe answer him?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Richard Sharpe is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in Sharpe's Rifles and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Sharpe who you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person. Illustrate your statements with examples from the text.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Sharpe's Rifles, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Sharpe's Rifles and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Sharpe's Rifles is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Richard Sharpe is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in Sharpe's Rifles and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Sharpe whom you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person. Illustrate your statements with examples from the text.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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