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 is one thing that makes Tubbs happy about their arrival at this fort?

2. With whom does Major Tubbs have to work?

3. Why does Napoleon send Ducos to Spain?

4. Who is Arthur Wellesley?

5. Where does Ducos want to force the British?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Herault do after sacrificing 300 French infantrymen?

2. Describe General Jean Herault.

3. Why is Soult amenable to Ducos' request for some of Soult's men?

4. Describe Major Pierre Ducos.

5. What does Herault suggest as a tactic for taking San Miguel?

6. What does Harper admit about the bottles of wine he was tasked with destroying?

7. What does the author say about "Sharpe's Skirmish" in his introduction to the story?

8. Who is Major Tubbs supervising and what is his mission?

9. What does Sharpe order Lieutenant Price to do and why?

10. Why does Teresa become enraged about what she hears about Avila?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Sharpe's Skirmish" is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation of when Major Tubbs is disparaging of Sharpe because he rose through the ranks and is not a "gentleman" born, but it is Major Tubbs who plans to defraud his country by selling off rifles that are perfectly good and pocketing the money. What other situations contain irony in "Sharpe's Skirmish"?

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from Sharpe's Skirmish. What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in "Sharpe's Skirmish" and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not. Some possible techniques: Allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

Essay Topic 3

"Sharpe's Skirmish", like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Sharpe's Skirmish" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,034 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample