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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 premonition scares one of Sharpe's friends?

2. About what does Rebecque lecture Sharpe?

3. What does Wellington order that his men keep?

4. What does Lieutenant Simon Bloggett want of Sharpe?

5. What is von Bulow's Fourth corp supposed to do?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What charge of heavy cavalry is described in Chapter 15 and what two roles do the horses have?

3. What does Sharpe tell Rossendale during their encounter in the woods?

4. In Chapter 10, what describes a critical decision made by Wellington that ultimately leads to an Allied victory?

5. How does the author fit in a depiction of the Allied Forces in Chapter 13?

6. What does John Rossendale tell his fellow officers about the condition of his sword and pistol in Chapter 10?

7. Describe the area where the retreating British army takes up a position in Chapter 10.

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

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

10. How do Sharpe and other British officers react to the sight of Napoleon and what might be the intent of Napoleon in that regard?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Though the author Cornwell may or may not have such personal views on women, the way women are characterized in his series is often less than complimentary. Discuss one of the following:

1. Present and analyze the treatment of women in Sharpe's Waterloo.

2. Cornwell is trying to be historically accurate, so is his treatment of women in his book(s) justified?

3. Is there any way Cornwell could have presented women in a more positive light and still stayed historically accurate? Explain.

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

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