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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 have disposed of, found in the fort?

2. What would happen if the French retake Salamanca?

3. What does Sharpe keep in his room for medicinal purposes?

4. What is sacrificed at Avila?

5. Where does Herault march as night falls?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Sharpe's mission in relation to Major Tubbs and why does he take his mission seriously?

2. What does Teresa want to do and what does Sharpe suggest?

3. Why does Teresa become enraged about what she hears about Avila?

4. What is Major Tubbs' response to hearing the French may come to San Miguel and what does Sharpe say to Tubbs?

5. Who is Major Tubbs supervising and what is his mission?

6. Who welcomes Sharpe to San Miguel and what is he like?

7. Describe General Jean Herault.

8. Describe Major Pierre Ducos.

9. Why is Soult amenable to Ducos' request for some of Soult's men?

10. What is Teresa's response to Hickey's question about fighting the French?

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 are usually more respectable than enlisted men back then? What about today? Why or why not.

2. Major Tubbs, who is an officer and gentleman plans to commit fraud for his personal gain. 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, officers are held more strictly accountable for their behavior than enlisted men and women. Is this fair? Should officers be more accountable for their actions?

Essay Topic 2

"Sharpe's Skirmish", like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Sharpe's Skirmish" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Richard Sharpe is no exception.

1. Trace and analyze situations when Sharpe demonstrates his admirable traits. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Sharpe's character flaws, and explain how the flaws create more complex and believable characters. How do you think either man's character flaws make some situations more difficult for him?

3. After analyzing Sharpe's strengths and weaknesses, decide if Sharpe is an appropriate "hero" of the story. Is there anyone else who might be a more admirable "hero"?

4. Answer the above questions for one other person you think could be considered a hero in "Sharpe's Skirmish".

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This section contains 996 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample