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. Who does the job of disposal?

2. What happens just after Ducos arrives in Spain?

3. Who is MacKeon?

4. What is Sharpe trying to accomplish at the bridge?

5. What does Harper admit to Sharpe?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Major Ducos in Spain?

2. What is Major Tubbs' response to hearing the French may come to San Miguel and what does Sharpe say to Tubbs?

3. What does Teresa want to do and what does Sharpe suggest?

4. What is Sharpe's response to Teresa's question about Gawilghur?

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

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

7. How does Sharpe begin to prepare for the arrival of the French?

8. Describe Major Pierre Ducos.

9. What is Teresa's response to Hickey's question about fighting the French?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in this book.

2. Trace and analyze one major aspect of the setting and how it contributes to the story and characters.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Sharpe's Skirmish". Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "Sharpe's Skirmish". How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in "Sharpe's Skirmish"? Which theme in "Sharpe's Skirmish" speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 992 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample