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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. How many French soldiers are in Almeida?

2. Why is Sharpe feeling bitter and defeated after the first battle at the village?

3. What does Kiely learn when Sharpe returns to San Isidoro?

4. What kind of pace do the troops in the south use to march north?

5. Who is Sir William Erskine?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Hogan and Wellington decide about Sharpe and the battle at Isidoro?

2. What do the French do at the church in Nave de Haver?

3. What does Hogan say to Sharpe about letting Juanita go free?

4. What is Kiely's reaction to Juanita being caught by Sharpe?

5. Who and what does Sharpe find at a house in San Cristobal?

6. How does Hogan set up confronting Father Sarsfield?

7. What does Sharpe persuade Harper to do and why?

8. Who do Sharpe and Harper join in the first battle for the village and what happens to that person?

9. How do Sharpe and his men help the southern troops?

10. How does Harper's superstitious action turn out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A work of fiction is often organized around a structure called a plot. Discuss the following:

1. Define plot and its major parts (rising action, climax, falling action, resolution [or denouement]. Write a sentence or two synopsis of the major plot of the Sharpe's Battle.

2. Identify where the parts of the plot seem to fall in Sharpe's Battle. Explain using examples.

3. Define the literary term "subplot." Write a sentence or two synopsis of a subplot in Sharpe's Battle.

4. Identify the major parts of the subplot you identified in task number 3.

5. Why do you think identifying the plot and elements of the plot is useful?

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 War affects the social culture of one of the following countries: Britain, France, or Germany.

Essay Topic 3

Sharpe's Battle is one book in a series of novels involving Richard Sharpe. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

2. What is a disadvantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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