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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 happens when Halkett obeys the Prince of Orange's orders?

2. To whom is a note about the French advance delivered?

3. Who is Prince William of Orange?

4. What do Harper and Sharpe contemplate?

5. Why do the Prince of Orange's men refuse to follow him to attack the French cannon?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Sharpe's mother and in what wars has he fought? To whom is he attached now?

2. What did the actions in Chapter 7 show about the Prince of Orange and some of the other British officers?

3. What do Sharpe and Harper do on the second night of battle?

4. What are some of the types of infantry attack used in the battle for Quatre Bras?

5. Who does Sharpe encounter while escaping the crossroad area and what happens?

6. What do Rebecque and Sharpe decide Sharpe should do as they study a map of the area?

7. What is used on the field of battle besides weapons and men and why?

8. How does Sharpe mitigate a complete disaster with the battalions under French cavalry attack?

9. What actions of the Dutch-Belgium cavalry in Chapter 7 tell the reader about their ability? What impressions might their actions give?

10. What is the ultimate end of the second day of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

D'Alembord died of a leg wound. This was a fairly routine occurrence at that time. Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Compare/contrast the medical remedies used in Sharpe's Waterloo to those which would be used in our modern world.

2. Many wars are partially, if not completely, determined by factors other than the actual fighting. One of those factors is disease. Research and discuss how epidemics/pandemics have influenced the outcome of three different wars throughout history.

3. Discuss why men died so readily of wounds that would be easily treated today.

Essay Topic 2

Most of the entire series of novels concerning Richard Sharpe takes place during the Napoleonic Wars; therefore understanding the political and social situation during that time helps to a greater understanding and appreciation of this book and others in the series. Discuss one of the following:

1. Research and write an expository essay about how the Napoleonic Wars begin and end.

2. Research and write an expository essay about the battles that take place on land between Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars.

3. Compare/Contrast the importance of the British infantry during the Napoleonic Wars to the importance of the British infantry during either WWI or WWII.

4. Write an expository essay on how the Napoleonic Wars affect the social culture of one of the following countries: Britain, France, or Germany.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Waterloo. Consider the following: How do 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 Waterloo. 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 Waterloo? Which theme in Sharpe's Waterloo speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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