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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 arrives at the farmhouse with extra cavalry?

2. What do Sharpe's men do when he assembles them in the morning?

3. When was the fortress to which the soldiers come built?

4. What does Sharpe tell Harper he plans for the troops to do?

5. What will Vivar's troops do in the morning?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Sharpe do to talk to the French and what is the French colonel's appearance like compared to Sharpe?

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

4. What does Vivar tell Sharpe about leadership?

5. What do the British and Spanish find when they enter a village, what do they do and how do the troops feel?

6. What does Mrs. Parker say about Santiago de Compostela and the British?

7. What does Vivar tell Davila to do?

8. What does Sharpe tell the Parkers when they see French cavalry coming and what does he do with his riflemen? Who does he see within the French forces?

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

10. What does Murray tell Sharpe before Murray dies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Rifles. Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Sharpe's Rifles. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in Sharpe's Rifles? Which theme in Sharpe's Rifles speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Sharpe's Rifles.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Sharpe's Rifles. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Sharpe's Rifles. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

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