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 La Aguja's real name?

2. Where does Teresa want to ride?

3. What will add a page to Soult's page of glory?

4. What does Harper insist about his men?

5. Who does Sharp yell at for staring at his wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Herault gain command of the South Army's horsemen?

2. What does Ducos think of Herault's plan.

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

4. Describe the setting and mission for Captain Richard Sharpe.

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

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

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

8. Describe General Jean Herault.

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

10. Describe Major Pierre Ducos.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Richard Sharpe is no exception.

1. Trace and analyze situations when Sharpe demonstrates his admirable traits. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Sharpe's character flaws, and explain how the flaws create more complex and believable characters. How do you think either man's character flaws make some situations more difficult for him?

3. After analyzing Sharpe's strengths and weaknesses, decide if Sharpe is an appropriate "hero" of the story. Is there anyone else who might be a more admirable "hero"?

4. Answer the above questions for one other person you think could be considered a hero in "Sharpe's Skirmish".

Essay Topic 2

Many events that happen in "Sharpe's Skirmish" are foreshadowed by previous events and/or signs. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "foreshadowing."

2. Why would an author use foreshadowing? Do you think it adds or detracts from your experience as a reader? Explain.

3. Trace and analyze five instances of foreshadowing in "Sharpe's Skirmish". Match up what is mentioned earlier and what it foreshadows. Did you guess that each instance of foreshadowing was a "heads up" of something to come? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

"Sharpe's Skirmish" is one book in a series of novels involving the character Richard Sharpe. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

2. What is a disadvantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 850 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample