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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 Lord Rossendale say to the Life Guard officers?

2. Where are the Prussians located?

3. What premonition scares one of Sharpe's friends?

4. How does Rossendale get separated from his friends?

5. Where does the retreating British army take up its position.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What new weapon is used, who invented it and why did the description of it stand out among other action scenes?

4. What makes Rossendale feel better about himself?

5. What is one of the most striking differences at the end of a battle and the disposition of the dead between that era and now?

6. 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?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider Sharpe's Waterloo a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

Essay Topic 2

D'Alembord's premonition that he will be killed and his developing fear of tomorrow's events exemplifies the true nature of courage, which includes coming to terms with fear and overcoming it.

1. Discuss in detail whether courage is the absence of fear or doing a task in spite of it. Use examples to support your answer.

2. If a person runs from a battle due to fear, do you think that means he will always run from a battle? Why or why not? Use examples to support your answer.

3. If a person goes into combat with no fear and kills a significant number of the enemy and perhaps rescues other soldiers, is that person courageous? In other words, if a person acts like a hero/ine, yet truly has no fear, does that person still qualify as having courage? Why or why not?

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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