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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. Who halts Sharpe's flogging before it is finished?

2. What does Sharpe ask Wellesley about his status if he returns from the mission?

3. Why does Hakeswill challenge Sharpe while they are marching?

4. What does Major General Baird order?

5. Why do McCandless and Sharpe pretend to be at odds?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is with McCandless when he arrives at the courtyard and what does he demand Sharpe do? How did Sharpe's actions turn out?

2. What does McCandless see at Seringapatam and what is his hope?

3. When do Lawford and Sharpe depart, who joins them and why does Sharpe take charge of the mission?

4. What does Sharpe do about his and Mary's conversation?

5. Where do the deserters spend their first night, who interrogates them and what do they see in the courtyard the next morning?

6. What does McCandless encounter on his way back to British forces?

7. What does Sergeant Hakeswill do while they are marching and how does his action affect Sharpe?

8. What is Hakeswill thinking about as he is looking for money and what does he do about a dying soldier who has money taped to his chest?

9. Why does Sharpe's case for the court-martial look hopeless?

10. What nationality is Mary and what do she and Sharpe talk about when he joins her after the battle? To whom was Mary married when she became a widow?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

1. Define the literary term "foreshadow."

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 three instances of foreshadowing in "Sharpe's Tiger". 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 2

In any book centered around the military, leadership of the troops is often crucial with the better leaders able to command the respect and loyalty of their men. The men's willingness to follow a particularly leader can have a decisive impact upon the success of a mission. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective? Analyze the elements of those effective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the good leaders. What makes an excellent leader/commander? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems least effective? Analyze the elements of those ineffective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the poor leaders. What makes a poor leader/commander? Give examples.

3. Is disobeying a poor leader ever justifiable? Explain using details from the text, other books you have read and your personal experience. In times of war, disobeying an order can be punishable by death. Is this harsh sentence justifiable for such an act? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

"Sharpe's Tiger", 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 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 Tiger" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Sharpe's Tiger" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. State what you think are three characteristics of a successful novel and whether or not "Sharpe's Tiger" in your opinion is a successful novel.

(see the answer keys)

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