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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 Widow Hallahan offer Isabel in exchange for her work?

3. How had Isabel and Curzon been getting information to lead them towards Ruth?

4. How did Curzon disturb the rattlesnake?

5. Who were the first people Isabel and her friends met at Williamsburg?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Serafina think Ruth should leave with Isabel?

2. After Ruth had a fit, in what ways did it become obvious to her companions that she was very sick?

3. How did Curzon help ease tensions upon their arrival at Riverbend?

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

5. Why did Ruth call the donkey Thomas Boon?

6. Why did Isabel think that Curzon should not go searching for food for Ruth?

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

8. Why did Isabel and Curzon need to hide from the British soldiers?

9. Why did Isabel see when she looked at Ruth through "a stranger's eyes" (91) in Chapter XVI?

10. Why did Isabel want people who saw her and Ruth wandering around town to think they were slaves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the theme of love in Ashes. Be sure to touch on familial love as well as romantic love.

Essay Topic 2

In Ashes, there are many situations in which characters lie, whether for the sake of their safety, for malicious purposes, or simply because they are unsure if the person they are speaking to can face the truth. Write an essay exploring the issue of lying within this novel.

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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