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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 were the characters referring to when they talked about "His Excellency" (124)?

2. What did the British deserter in the woods say that he had been ordered to do?

3. What is a "confab"?

4. In Chapter XXVII, why did Isabel decide it was best to find the British army?

5. How did Isabel calm Ruth in the woods?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Isabel's narration during her fake kiss with Curzon indicate that she may have had romantic feelings towards him?

2. Why were many of the men in Curzon's company from Rhode Island?

3. Why did Isabel believe it was foolish for Curzon to support the Patriots?

4. What did Isabel mean when she said, "We had been forced back into war for our liberty" (151)?

5. Why did Mister Hallahan not pay Isabel for her work in the tavern?

6. Why did Isabel tell Widow Hallahan that Ruth had been shoveling donkey dung?

7. What was Curzon's manner like when he encountered Isabel and Ruth at his company's camp?

8. Why did Isabel not tell Ruth the truth about Aberdeen?

9. Why did Ruth's worry about Aberdeen increase as time went on?

10. Why was Ebeneezer angry with Curzon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Anderson often includes visual and auditory imagery to help set the mood in tense, nostalgic or otherwise emotional scenes. Write an essay that gives examples of this and describe how Anderson's imagery effectively helps set different moods.

Essay Topic 2

How are Isabel, Ruth, Curzon, and other black characters treated by white characters in Ashes? Which white characters treat them with respect? Which white characters treat them poorly? What message is Anderson trying to send about racism?

Essay Topic 3

In a tender moment, Serafina tells Isabel, "Don't forget how to be gentle" (39). Write an essay exploring the ways in which this statement manifests as a major theme of Ashes.

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