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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 intervenes when Sharpe and Vivar get into a fight?

2. Why does Vivar bury the French dead?

3. Why has Louisa joined Sharpe's group?

4. How do the French plan to get close to the farmhouse?

5. What does Harper refuse to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens as Sharpe is about to order his riflemen to flee the house and who joins him in the woods?

2. What does Sharpe have his riflemen do when the French ambush them?

3. What happens when the French assault the farmhouse the first time and what does Sharpe tell Harper? What is Harper's response?

4. What does Murray tell Sharpe before Murray dies?

5. What does de l'Eclin accuse Sharpe of and what is Sharpe's response? What does Vivar's brother say?

6. What does Williams tell Harper about Sharpe and what does Sharpe tell Williams to do? What is Williams suggestion to Sharpe?

7. What does Vivar tell Sharpe about leadership?

8. What does Vivar tell Sharpe about Vivar's troops?

9. What does Vivar asks Sharpe and what does Sharpe decide to do after speaking with Vivar?

10. What does Dunnet order the riflemen to do when the French are charging them and what is Sharpe's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Richard Sharpe is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in Sharpe's Rifles and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Sharpe whom you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person. Illustrate your statements with examples from the text.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

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 Rifles 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 3

Richard Sharpe is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he usually comes out on top, in Sharpe's Rifles and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Sharpe who you might call a hero/heroine and explain why you choose that person. Illustrate your statements with examples from the text.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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