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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 Geisenau do?

2. How does Rossendale get separated from his friends?

3. Who falls with the heavy cavalry?

4. Why does Sharpe go over to Rossendale?

5. What is the weather like as the British wait for Napoleon's army?

Short Essay Questions

1. What stops the French from pursuing the retreating British army?

2. What makes Rossendale feel better about himself?

3. What gross error in judgment and orders did the Prince of Orange make in Chapter 15?

4. What is the difference between Napoleon and the Duke in how they come before their men and how their men acknowledge them?

5. Why, on the third day, are the French still confident of victory?

6. What is a major failure on the French part that leads to their ultimate defeat?

7. What happens to the British Heavy Cavalry unit with which John Rossendale is riding?

8. How does D'Alembord's premonition show courage?

9. What is the difference between the disposition of the Allied Forces and the French in Chapter 13? For what does this afford the author an opportunity?

10. What person and his position, provide a good example of dealing with incompetent superiors?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Before the battle, civilians gathered to watch the fighting. Given war today, this seems a strange custom and dangerous. Nothing is written as to how the civilians of the losing army would be treated.

1. How often do you think "innocent" civilians are killed during a war or conflict?

2. Is it immoral to harm non-combatants during a conflict? What if those non-combatants support their government's policies about the war/conflict?

3. In WWII, the US government targeted two cities in Japan with atomic bombs. The targets were not military targets and the intent was to kill as many people as possible, no matter their age, sex, or status. Is this an acceptable way to end a war?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 11, the macabre auction of the personal possessions of the dead officers is another example of the brutally simple disposition of the fallen soldiers' belongings and also their corpses. Only the most privileged soldiers and officers will have the benefit of loved ones and servants to seek them out from the vast field of dead and dying when the battle is over.

1. Do you think the treatment of dead soldiers and their possessions in this era meant that people had little value to society as a whole back then? Why or why not?

2. In terms of manpower does it seem to be short-sighted of the ruling class to pay so little attention to the wounded on the battle field? In other words, how many men may have died who could have survived to continue serving in the military? Why or why not would you consider the ruling class short-sighted in regards to wounded men?

3. Compare and discuss the difference in the way wounded are treated in war today as compared to that era.

Essay Topic 3

Though this novel is probably more action driven rather than character driven, obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Sharpe and Rossendale. Include their goals, sense of honor, abilities and social skills.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon.

3. Thoroughly analyze the character of Richard Sharpe discussing both his strong and weak points and how both affect the outcome of the plot.

(see the answer keys)

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