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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 type of position does Sharpe's company assume?

2. How long has Leroy known Sharpe?

3. For what does Teresa look to Sharpe?

4. For what does Matthews mistake Sharpe?

5. How long has it been since Sharpe has seen Teresa?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who reports to Sharpe when reinforcements arrive for the battalion, what mistake does he make and what does he do after he is corrected?

2. What does Sharpe discuss with Lawford and what does Lawford tell him?

3. What do Hogan and Sharpe discuss when they get together and what is Hogan's opinion of taking Badajoz?

4. Who does Sharpe see in the new replacements that throws him off and what happens when he sees that person? How does he feel about the encounter?

5. What guerrilla rider approaches Sharpe and what does she tell him? What does she look like?

6. What do Sharpe and Hogan discuss when they see each other in Chapter 1?

7. What siege does Sharpe participate in at the beginning of Chapter 1 and how does he pass his time when not fighting?

8. What happens to Sharpe's and Teresa's relationship when the army leaves for Badajoz? Where will Teresa be staying in Badajoz? Upon what is she counting on from Sharpe?

9. Why is Sharpe's back scarred?

10. What does Teresa confess to Sharpe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Honor is an important concept in RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ and in the life of those in the upper class during that era. It is assumed that those who are officer's and gentlemen would keep their word after offering it.

1. Trace and analyze the theme of honor in RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ. What do you think Richard Sharpe would tell you is the definition of honor if you ask him? How about Harper? Windham? Do you think honor can be restored if it is lost? Did Windham restore his honor by giving Harper the gold coin? What about when he publicly apologized?

2. Respond to the following statement using specific examples from the book and your own experience: Honor is one of the most important character traits for anyone in any social strata. First fully define the concept of honor, then discuss whether you believe the preceding statement is true with specific examples from RICHARD SHARPE AND THE SIEGE OF BADAJOZ and other books/films, etc... that you have read or experienced.

3. During the era in which Richard Sharpe lives, men could give their word on the basis of being a gentleman and it is assumed to be true. There was no such concept for a lady or anyone of lower social/economic groups. Fully discuss the implications in a society where only gentlemen are considered trustworthy enough to give their word unquestioned.

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Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Richard Sharpe is no exception. Sharpe's legendary powers of military strategy is juxtaposed with his reputation as a womanizer. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Sharpe demonstrates his prodigious powers of military strategy. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Sharpe's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Sharpe's admirable traits helped him obtain a high rank in the military despite his background as a child. Have his flaws impacted his career at all? Do any of those under his command seem to notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

Essay Topic 3

In any book centered around the military, leadership of the troops is often crucial with the better leaders able to command the respect and loyalty of their men. The men's willingness to follow a particularly leader can have a decisive impact upon the success of a mission. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective? Analyze the elements of those effective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the good leaders. What makes an excellent leader/commander? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems most ineffective? Analyze the elements of those ineffective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the poor leaders. What makes a poor leader/commander? Give examples.

3. Is disobeying a poor leader ever justifiable? Explain using details from the text, other books you have read and your personal experience. In times of war, disobeying an order can be punishable by death. Is this harsh sentence justifiable for such an act? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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