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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. What does Tippoo order his jettis to do?

2. Whose name does Sharpe yell out?

3. Who do Sharpe and Lawford join?

4. What is Sharpe ordered to do after reaching the British?

5. Why are the Forlorn Hopes so named?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Sharpe and Lawford doing when Gudin comes to arrest them?

2. What does Hakeswill do when it comes his turn to be killed?

3. Where does Sharpe go after the ceremony, what does he find out and how does he feel about it?

4. How does Tippoo entertain his troops and what does he plan to do with the British prisoners during the entertainment?

5. How does Tippoo execute criminals and what does he do afterward?

6. What does Tippoo decide to do with Lawford and Sharpe after questioning them?

7. Why was Sharpe honored and what did he receive?

8. What does Tippoo hope as the British prepare to attack and what happens to that hope?

9. How does Sharpe get information about the mine and what does he figure out about the mine?

10. What does a mill fort do for Tippoo's troops and what does the British do about the mill fort?

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

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "Sharpe's Tiger". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Cornwell chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors, then trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Cornwell chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss Cornwell's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Cornwell use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme.)

(see the answer keys)

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