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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 do Sharpe and Harper discuss?

2. What news do local bandits bring to Vivar?

3. What does Sharpe command his riflemen to do?

4. For what does Sharpe search the city?

5. Who does Sharpe see outside the city?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Sharpe going into the palace?

2. What do Sharpe and Louisa talk about and what is Louisa's idea? How does Sharpe feel about her idea?

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

4. What do Sharpe and Harper decide about the French coming to the town?

5. What is the legend about the gonfalon?

6. Why does Sharpe burst into the chapel?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider Sharpe's Rifles a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

Essay Topic 3

Choose two of the following and compare and contrast the two people. Include in the discussion their type of leadership, their personality, their morals and whether you would like to serve under them.

1. Sharpe and Vivar.

2. Harper and Willams.

3. Vivar and de l'Eclin.

(see the answer keys)

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