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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 Curzon sign Isabel up as his wife when he enlisted in the army?

2. Why did Isabel not want to go inside the Bruton Parish Church?

3. What was a redoubt?

4. How did Isabel calm Ruth in the woods?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Isabel's feelings towards Aberdeen change by the time she encountered him hiding in the bushes?

2. What did Isabel mean when she said, "I am my own army" (126)?

3. Why was the British soldier in the woods deserting his army?

4. Why was Isabel angered when she heard the minister's sermon at Bruton Parish Church?

5. Why did Isabel think that Ruth burned the free papers?

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

7. What kind of person was Miss Marrow?

8. Why was Isabel cheered by Kate and Elspeth's frustration at the extra work they had to do after the storm?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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