View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What confounds Sharpe as he and his men take the bridge?

2. What is a four-pointed star of metal spikes that disables horses?

3. Where may Teresa go if the French do not arrive?

4. What is being stored in the back of the chapel?

5. Why is Sharpe filled with fury?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who do Pailleterie and Tubbs discuss and what do they say?

2. How does Sharpe attempt to sabotage the fort?

3. How does Pailleterie threaten his men and what is there response?

4. What sets Teresa off running for her horse and why is she going for the horse?

5. Why is Sharpe uncertain about how to keep the bridge?

6. What does Pailleterie do while waiting for the French reinforcements?

7. Who raises the alarm about the fire and what do they do?

8. Describe the battle for the bridge and explain why Sharpe retreats.

9. How will makeshift caltrops help Sharpe?

10. What does Pailleterie order when it becomes clear that the fire is out of control?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"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 2

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 3

In any book centered around the military, leadership of the troops is often crucial with the better leaders able to command the respect and loyalty of their men. The men's willingness to follow a particularly leader can have a decisive impact upon the success of a mission. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective among the leaders--Sharpe, Harper, Price, Paillertie, Herault? Analyze the elements of those effective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the good leaders. What makes an excellent leader/commander? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems most ineffective among the leaders--Sharpe, Harper, Price, Paillertie, Herault? Analyze the elements of those ineffective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the poor leaders. What makes a poor leader/commander? Give examples.

3. Is disobeying a poor leader ever justifiable? Explain using details from the text, other books you have read and your personal experience. In times of war, disobeying an order can be punishable by death. Is this harsh sentence justifiable for such an act? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,097 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample