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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 the French want Bampfylde to do?

2. Who suggest the site to which Killick moves his ambush?

3. How do Sharpe and Frederickson feel about each other?

4. What does the man who meets de Maquerre do for a living?

5. What does Killick decide to do against the British land force?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe briefly Sharpe's new command.

2. What is Harper's story concerning how he is with Sharpe's men?

3. How does Frederickson feel about the treatment of the Americans and what does he do?

4. What does an English frigate do about the Teste de Buch and how does Lassan respond?

5. What does Harper ask Sharpe, how does Sharpe respond and what does Harper say to that response?

6. How is Killick's ambush neutralized?

7. What is Sharpe's mission and what does Elphinstone think about it?

8. What does Lassan do to help him make a decision about his defense?

9. How does Sharpe prepare first for his mission? How does that turn out?

10. What does Bampfylde do with the American prisoners and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Honor is an important concept in Sharpe's Siege and in the life of those in the upper class during that era. It is assumed that those who are officer's and gentlemen would keep their word after offering it.

1. Trace and analyze the theme of honor in Sharpe's Siege. What do you think Richard Sharpe would tell you is the definition of honor if you ask him? How about Fredrickson? Bampfylde? Do you think honor can be restored if it is lost? When Frederickson extends his word of honor that the Americans will be treated fairly, why does Sharpe take Fredrickson's word seriously? Why does Sharpe believe Killick's word that he will no longer engage the British if set free?

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 Siege and other books/films, etc... that you have read or experienced.

3. During the era in which Richard Sharpe lives, men could give their word on the basis of being a gentleman and it is 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

In Chapter 9, the meeting between de Maquerre and Ducos heavily foreshadows future developments. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "foreshadow."

2. What is foreshadowed by the meeting between de Maquerre and Ducos? What are other instances of foreshadowing in the book? What purpose do you think it serves that the author chooses to give "hints" of things to come?

3. Are there times when something seems to be foreshadowed in Sharpe's Siege, but it does not play out in the manner hinted at? Why do you think the author chooses to lead the readers astray? How do you react when something happens in the book of which there is no hint whatsoever earlier? Do readers like to "prepare" themselves for future action in a book? Do you feel "cheated" when a major character whom you have come to enjoy immensely dies or is killed suddenly with no hint that it is going to happen? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The technical discussion of the fortress' construction is interesting and precise, though the large amount of jargon makes an appreciation of the fortress' strength difficult to assess without reference to a military dictionary. However, a full understanding of the layout is not necessary to the novel. Instead, the general feeling that the fortress is well-designed and difficult to penetrate is sufficient. Choose one of the following to answer in detail:

1. Did you find the technical data to be easy to understand in the way in which the author presented it? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. In what ways did the amount of description and technical data on the fortress add to and subtract from the experience of reading the book? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. If the last sentence above is true and a full layout was not necessary, why do you think the author wrote so much detail into the book? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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