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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 kind of precautions do the troops take?

2. To whom does Vivar think the French might surrender?

3. What do Sharpe and Louisa say to each other when he sees her after the battle?

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

5. Who does Sharpe see outside the city?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the legend about the gonfalon?

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

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

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

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

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

7. What does the French colonel suggest to Sharpe?

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

9. What happens when Sharpe enters the palace?

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 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.

Essay Topic 2

Cornwell has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Sharpe's Rifles qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in Sharpe's Rifles are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. Do you think the culture of that era is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.

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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