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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 Killick tell Sharpe?

2. What does Harper do to Robinson?

3. Why is the attack Ducos presses technically illegal?

4. What does Sharpe do to all the supply wagons?

5. Of what Is the convoy which comes across the ambush site consist?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do both Calvet and Sharpe realize about the assaults on the fortress and how it will end.

2. What occurs during the exchange between Calvet and Killick?

3. What does Calvet argue and how does Ducos respond and why does he respond that way?

4. What does Calvet do with his artillery?

5. What happens when Sharpe sees de Maquerre?

6. What kind of fighting method does Sharpe have his men do?

7. What does Bampfylde do before leaving Teste de Buch?

8. Describe the bridge that the British built.

9. What happens when the French first arrive at the fort and how does Calvet respond to it?

10. What is the first town to which Sharpe and his men come and what is there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 Siege 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 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Richard Sharpe is no exception. Sharpes legendary powers of military strategy is juxtaposed with his reputation as a womanizer and his somewhat superstitious nature as demonstrated by his worry for his wife's health. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Sharpe demonstrates his prodigious powers of military strategy. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Sharpe's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Sharpe's admirable traits helped him obtain a high rank in the military despite his background as a child. Have his flaws impacted his career at all? Do any of those under his command seem to notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

Essay Topic 3

Along with treason, another detestable action is spying. Spies are not considered in the same vein as soldiers in uniform and are not protected by the customs and regulations that govern the treatment of soldiers who are in uniform when captured. Comte de Marquerre is a French spy and suffers eventual death at the hands of Sharpe. Discuss one of the following:

1. Why do you think spies are not accorded any rights under many countries' laws and customs?

2. Even though all countries abhor spies, often even their own, they still spy, and men and women are still willing to be spies. Discuss why you think this is so.

3. Research and analyze the history of spying in either England, the United States, or Russa.

(see the answer keys)

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