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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 was Ruth's main responsibility at the laundry?

2. How long had Isabel and Curzon been traveling together as the book opens?

3. Isabel, Curzon, Aberdeen and Ruth met some soldiers a few days after Ruth recovered from her illness. What did the soldiers want?

4. Why were Isabel and Ruth walking up and down the main street of Williamsburg?

5. How was Williamsburg different from cities like Philadelphia and New York?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why did Isabel cry when talking to Serafina?

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

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

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

6. 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?

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

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

9. Why did Aberdeen know Ruth better than Isabel did?

10. What advice did Walter give Ruth before leaving her with Isabel, Curzon and Aberdeen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Any novel set during a war is obviously rife with external conflict. But characters in Ashes all experience internal conflict as well. Choose three characters from Ashes and analyze one major internal conflict, as well as one major external conflict, that each one faces. Which conflict affects each character most?

Essay Topic 3

Isabel often jumps to conclusions about what people are thinking based on their actions. Write an essay describing some situations in which she does this and explaining how it affects the way she interacts with her companions.

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