View a FREE sample

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's men do when they reach the main British encampment?

2. What kind of motivation does the French commanding officers have?

3. What type of man is the man who meets Duco?

4. What do the Facture town authorities try to do?

5. How does Killick respond to Calvet's request?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Sharpe and Frederickson think about their situation and what troubles Sharpe?

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

3. What type of crime was committed in the town and what happens to the perpetrator?

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

5. What does Bampfylde do about Killick's ship and how does that turn out?

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

7. What happens with Ducos' plan and how does Sharpe feel about de Maquerre's information?

8. What happens in the second French assault on the fortress?

9. Describe Pierre Ducos and describe his unusual status.

10. Who joins Sharpe and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although Hogan's fever and eventual death is not focused on in a dominant way, the credibility of the basic plot relies heavily on this intelligence officer's information being withheld due to illness. In other words, Sharpe will go to war believing he is to act a certain way while in point of fact his mission was intended to be something else entirely. Choose one of the following to answer in detail:

1. Explain why the convenience of Hogan's illness is likely a narrative contrivance. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Explain how you believe the plot could have worked without Hogan's illness. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. Based on Sharpe's behavior in his decision not to go to Bordeaux because of a "feeling" about de Marquerre, why would the author go to the trouble of inventing Hogan? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 6, Sharpe has captured the formidable redoubt with only one man killed, and that man killed by friendly fire from the frigate. Discuss the following:

1. What is meant by "friendly fire?"

2. Are many soldiers in war are killed by friendly fire? Why or why not? What causes a soldier to be killed by friendly fire?

3. How do you think friendly-fire deaths can be avoided? Or can they? Is this just an acceptable consequence of battle? How difficult do you think it is to tell who one is shooting at when engaged in a pitched battle? What factors might affect the occurrences of friendly-fire deaths in Sharpe's time? In modern warfare? What types of battle situations are more likely to engender friend-fire deaths?

Essay Topic 3

Richard Sharpe is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in this book 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, is a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet" or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed more admirable?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Sharpe who 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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,109 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample