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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. Where does Killick set Sharpe's men ashore?

2. With whom does Ducos meet?

3. What do the French do besides bombard and shell the fortress?

4. Why has Killick agreed to a staged surrender?

5. After a section of a wall falls what does Sharpe do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What type of tactic has Sharpe used to get his men out of the fort? Describe how it worked.

2. Who joins Sharpe and why?

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

4. What do the French do on their first assault on the fortress?

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

6. What does Calvet do with his artillery?

7. What is going on that favors the British and why does it favor them?

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

9. What do Sharpe and his men do to prepare for the French forces marching on them at the fortress? What information does Killick give them?

10. What does Killick do with the British prisoners?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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

The English decide a temporary bridge must be constructed, using dozens of small ships as a system of support. To this end, the British Navy begins to capture dozens of small vessels. A large number of suitable craft is located near Gujan, and a naval expedition led by Captain Horace Bampfylde is organized. The British army decides that a diversionary action is also needed to divert French forces from the river crossing site; to this end, they decide on a military feint near Gujan; the two missions will be launched simultaneously. A sympathetic superior officer, Colonel Elphinstone, bluntly states that Sharpe has been selected as a sacrificial lamb. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the British command believes the loss of the Sharpe's Company in a battle against hopeless odds is acceptable? Do you think Sharpe would have followed orders to take his men to divert the French had he known the odds were so overwhelming? Explain with examples.

2. Many wars are fought under the assumption of "acceptable losses." Usually it is the common foot soldier who is doing most of the dying. In fact, the term "cannon fodder," is often used to describe infantry who are killed by the hundreds gaining small hills or bits of land, sometimes to lose the same piece of "real estate" several times with continuing loss of life. Is this truly acceptable?

3. Sometimes some will say that wars would be few and far between if those who decided to go to war had to be in the front lines. Do you think that would make a difference?

(see the answer keys)

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