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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 the legend say will happen if the banner is ever captured?

2. What officer does Sharpe see?

3. What does the colonel suggest?

4. What does Vivar want the riflemen to do which is a change in plans?

5. What does Sharpe expect as he waits for Vivar's cavalry charge?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What happens when Sharpe enters the palace?

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

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

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

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

10. What is Harper's idea about the Spanish volunteers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In any book centered around the military, leadership of the troops is often crucial with the better leaders able to command the respect and loyalty of their men. The men's willingness to follow a particular leader can have a decisive impact upon the success of a mission. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective? Analyze the elements of those effective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the good leaders. What makes an excellent leader/commander? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems most ineffective? Analyze the elements of those ineffective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the poor leaders. What makes a poor leader/commander? Give examples.

3. Is disobeying a poor leader ever justifiable? Explain using details from the text, other books you have read and your personal experience. In times of war, disobeying an order can be punishable by death. Is this harsh sentence justifiable for such an act? Why or why not.

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

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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