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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. Where did Isabel and Curzon hide to survey Riverbend when they first arrived?

2. How did Curzon disturb the rattlesnake?

3. Why did Serafina have Ruth and Aberdeen hide in the hayloft with Isabel and Curzon?

4. What was Ruth's main responsibility at the laundry?

5. How were the soldiers by the milestone distracted from Isabel's movement in the woods?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How does Anderson begin each chapter in Ashes?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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