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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 Sharpe order Williams to do at the beginning of Chapter 2?

2. In the prologue, where have Vivar and his men taken refuge?

3. How does Sharpe get a telescope?

4. What does Sharpe advise Vivar not to do?

5. What does Sharpe say he plans to do about the French to the French negotiator?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Murray tell Sharpe before Murray dies?

3. Who does Sharpe meet when a monk wakes him and asks Sharpe to come with him and what does this person say to Sharpe?

4. What does De l'Eclin tell Sharpe about surrender and what does he say about the French army? What does Sharpe think of De l'Eclin's assertion about the French army?

5. With whom does Sharpe dine the first night in the fortress and why do Vivar and Alzaga argue?

6. What does Major Dunnet tell Sharpe to do, how does he address him and how does he feel about Sharpe? What does Murray suspect about Dunnet's feelings towards Sharpe?

7. What does Sharpe order the Parkers to do and what does Sharpe do when Mrs. Parker refuses?

8. What does Vivar ask Sharpe to recount and what does Vivar explain to Sharpe? Where does he ask Sharpe to go?

9. What does Vivar tell Davila to do?

10. What does Sharpe ask about the strong box and what is Vivar's response? How does Sharpe respond to this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sharpe, despite his background, is an officer and a gentleman and is therefore accorded more respect and trust even in enemy territory than the common soldier. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem likely that officers were usually more respectable than enlisted men back then? What about today? Why or why not.

2. Sharpe treats Mrs. Parker harshly and even drags her from the carriage and lets her drop in the mud. Do you think this is how an officer and gentleman comports himself? Why or why not?

3. In the present military in the United States, both officers and enlisted can be held for court martial for adultery or having sexual relations with someone of inferior rank. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with the policy?

Essay Topic 2

Honor is a very important concept in Sharpe's Rifles and in the life of those in the upper class during that era. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of honor in Sharpe's Rifles. What do you think Sharpe would tell you is the definition of honor if you ask him? Do you think honor can be restored if it is lost?

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 Sharpe's Rifles and other books/films and other media that you have read or experienced.

3. During the era in which Sharpe lives, men could give their word on the basis of being a gentleman and it was 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.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of literary elements that occur in many works of fiction. Irony is a means of increasing both the humor and the complexity of a story. Cornwell often includes irony in his Richard Sharpe series. Point of view is the way the story is narrated; all works of fiction have a point of view. Conflict is almost always present in a work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary terms irony, point of view and conflict.

2. Identify two instances of irony in Sharpe's Rifles, offering examples from the text.

3. Identify the point of view of the novel and discuss why you think Cornwell chooses to use that particular point of view. Does the point of view seem to be the best one for Sharpe's Rifles? Why or why not.

4. Identify two major conflicts in Sharpe's Rifles. Are the conflicts completely resolved by the end of Sharpe's Rifles? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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