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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. Why are the lancers unable to get by the horses?
2. Why is Coignet's order useless?
3. Why does Coignet raise an alarm?
4. About what is Sharpe at least thankful?
5. Who is Hagman?
Short Essay Questions
1. In what way are both Sharpe and Pailleterie furious at the other group?
2. How does Sharpe attempt to sabotage the fort?
3. Who do Pailleterie and Tubbs discuss and what do they say?
4. What strategy does Herault choose to fight Sharpe and his men?
5. Why is Sharpe now grateful for Harper's earlier disobedience about the wine?
6. How does MacKeon again "save the day"?
7. How does Pailleterie threaten his men and what is there response?
8. What does Sharpe do after sabotaging the fort?
9. What is the aftermath of the battle at the bridge of San Miguel?
10. What is Pailleterie's reaction when seeing San Miguel?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Cornwell is masterful in his description of battles and life in general in for a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s. Discuss one of the following:
1. Trace and analyze Cornwell's descriptive passages about life as a soldier. How does he use descriptions of the five senses to make the reader feel s/he is there? Do you find his descriptions compelling? Seemingly accurate? How would the novel be different if Cornwell did not include such descriptive passages?
2. Analyze Cornwell's descriptive passages about the social structure of the times and discuss what you think it would be like to be a person of wealth and/or privilege such as Major Tubbs or Ducos. Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Sharpe and Harper or one in service to someone of wealth and/or privilege.
3. Describe and analyze Cornwell's descriptive passages about the topographical setting and the physical descriptions of the people. Does Cornwell do an adequate job of actually making the reader "see" the land/sea where the action is taking place? How about getting a visual image of the characters? How does the descriptions of the setting add to the novel? Do you like having an idea of how a character looks? How would the novel be different without such descriptions?
Essay Topic 2
"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.
Essay Topic 3
Discuss one of the following:
1. Trace and analyze the theme of manipulation and power in "Sharpe's Skirmish". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with manipulation and power? Why? What are some symbols of manipulation and power? Symbols of powerlessness? What characters seem powerless?
2. Trace and analyze the theme of war in "Sharpe's Skirmish". Why is Britain engaged in a war? What are some symbols of war that occur in the book? Is the war justified? Does Aubrey and his crew perform with honor as warriors? Do you think their behavior to the enemy would be in accordance with the Geneva Conventions (you may need to research this)?
3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in "Sharpe's Skirmish". How does the world of Sharpe's time seem to view death? Who tries to avoid killing? Who seems to kill for frivolous reasons? Who seems afraid of dying? Not afraid? Who meets death gracefully? In resignation? With joy? With fear?
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This section contains 1,183 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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