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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. Who does Maggie Joyce send after Sharpe?

2. What does Lynch do to Marriott?

3. With whom do Harper and Shapre meet up?

4. Who is summoned to account for the missing battalion recruits?

5. What happens just before Sharpe's Regiment opens?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sharpe decide is the best course of action following his encounter in the city? How do he and Harper live?

2. Who is in charge of the training camp Havercamp takes them to and what is he like as a commander?

3. Of what units does the South Essex consist and what is the function of each of those units? What seems to be the problem with one of the units?

4. What does Nairn suggest Sharpe should do and why?

5. Under what names do Sharpe and Harper enlist and who enlists with them?

6. What does Lord Fenner suggests should be done about the South Essex's trouble?

7. What happens that makes Sharpe believe he can straighten out the problem with the second battalion?

8. With whom does Sharpe meet concerning the South Essex problems and what does he tell Sharpe?

9. What does Sharpe do about the men following him?

10. Where do Harper and Sharpe go and why do they receive attention? How do Sharpe and Harper feel about the attention?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The recruiting sergeant is a bluff, likable man who tells ridiculous, grandiose lies and draws in many unsuspecting recruits. Of course his entire spiel is lies, but even Sharpe admires Havercamp's ability to spin military enlistment as something desirable and exciting.

1. Do you think someone who lies as much as Havercamp does can also be a likable person? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own experience to support your answer.

2. Most people have known someone who has joined the armed forces and inevitably hear the complaint that his/her recruiter lied. Discuss the concept that a recruiter lying isn't really wrong since everyone knows recruiters lie.

3. Compare and contrast the tactics of a military recruiter to a sales person, for example, one selling a used car.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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