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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 is Bampfylde doing when Sharpe sees him?

2. Where are the British men heading who are using the bridge?

3. How long do Sharpe and his men march?

4. What does Harper do to Robinson?

5. Why are the French unable to use their howitzers and field guns during the storm?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Sharpe and his men do to prepare for the French forces marching on them at the fortress? What information does Killick give them?

2. What does Killick do with the British prisoners?

3. What do Sharpe and Frederickson think about their situation and what troubles Sharpe?

4. What finally sets up a French assault for the next day?

5. What do the French do on their first assault on the fortress?

6. Describe Pierre Ducos and describe his unusual status.

7. What does Killick do in obedience to the French? What is Sharpe's response?

8. Who joins Sharpe and why?

9. What does Calvet do with his artillery?

10. What happens in the second French assault on the fortress?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Cornwell is masterful in his description of battles and life in general in for a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1820s. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze Cornwells's descriptive passages about life as a soldier. How does he use descriptions of the five senses to make the reader feel s/he is there? Do you find his descriptions compelling? Seemingly accurate? How would the novel be different if Cornwell did not include such descriptive passages?

2. Analyze Cornwells's descriptive passages about the social structure of the times and discuss what you think it would be like to be a person of wealth and/or privilege such as Captain William Bampfyldem, Comte de Maquerre, General Calvet, and Commandant Henri Lassan. Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Sharpe and Harper or one in service to someone of wealth and/or privilege.

3. Describe and analyze Cornwell's descriptive passages about the topographical setting and the physical descriptions of the people. Does Cornwell do an adequate job of actually making the reader "see" the land/sea where the action is taking place? How about getting a visual image of the characters? How does the descriptions of the setting add to the novel? Do you like having an idea of how a character looks? How would the novel be different without such descriptions?

Essay Topic 2

RSM Harper's request to accompany Sharpe begins one of the more risible minor plot arcs presented in the narrative. Discuss the following:

RSM Harper's request to accompany Sharpe begins one of the more risible minor plot arcs presented in the narrative. Discuss the following:

1. What is meant by the term "comic relief?" Why do you think an author interjects comic relief into a story? Is it necessary?

2. Thoroughly discuss the situation with Harper and explain how the situation could be considered comic relief. Do you find it a humorous situation?

3. Why does Harper have to go to such extremes to effect his accompaniment of Sharpe's regiment? What would have happened to Harper had he just gone along with the riflemen after Sharpe told him no? Why do you think Sharpe is so angry to see Harper even though Sharpe greatly respects Harper's ability as a soldier? Would Sharpe have had to be the one to effect punishment against Harper?

Essay Topic 3

Choose two of the following and compare and contrast the two people. Include in the discussion their type of leadership, their personality, their morals and whether you would like to serve under them.

1. Sharpe and Bampfylde.

2. Lassan and Fredrickson.

3. Killick and the Comte de Maquerre.

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