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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. Why did Walter speak loudly to the horses?

2. What did Ruth take with her from Riverbend?

3. How did Isabel feel when she realized that Walter and Serafina had become like family to Ruth?

4. Why did Isabel call Widow Hallahan "snake-souled" (104) in Chapter XVIII?

5. Why did Walter and Serafina have no family at Riverbend?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Curzon mean when he said, "Lazarus is a lass" (81)?

2. What is the narrative point of view of Ashes?

3. What did Isabel believe was the worst thing that slave owners did to slaves?

4. Why did Isabel and Curzon head to Riverbend instead of Charleston to look for Ruth?

5. How did Anderson illustrate Ruth’s love of animals throughout their time at Riverbend?

6. When Isabel arrived at Riverbend, what had changed about Ruth since the last time she saw her?

7. After leaving Riverbend, Isabel stated that Curzon was growing more short-tempered by the day. What did she think was the cause of his change in mood?

8. How did Isabel and Ruth get jobs at the laundry?

9. How does Anderson begin each chapter in Ashes?

10. Isabel used a simile to describe her feelings when rejected by Ruth. What did she compare herself to?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout Ashes, Isabel's relationships with all of the other major characters change. Write an essay analyzing how changes in Isabel's relationship with Ruth cause changes in her relationships with other characters, like Curzon and Aberdeen.

Essay Topic 2

Ashes is an example of historical fiction. What about Ashes makes it fit into this genre? What work did Anderson need to do in order to effectively write a historical fiction novel? You may use outside research to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining how descriptions of military tactics fit into Isabel's narrative in Ashes. Describe why Anderson chose to include these sometimes detailed descriptions and the importance they play in the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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