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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 told Isabel that she needed to chose a side in the war?

2. Who did Ruth say were moles?

3. Who did Ruth think they were looking for in the crowd of soldiers in Chapter XXVII?

4. What did Isabel find missing from her haversack?

5. What did Aberdeen say he was going to do after the war was over?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why did Isabel say that her purpose was to find Ruth some gingerbread?

3. Why was Ebeneezer angry with Curzon?

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. Why did Isabel think digging the trench was a bad idea?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the theme of finding one's purpose in Ashes. Where does this theme originate? Which characters have a purpose? How do the characters' purposes grow and change throughout the novel?

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

In the beginning of Ashes, Isabel claims that she wants to remain as far away from the war as possible. Eventually, though, she does choose a side. Write an essay analyzing the development of Isabel's perception of the Revolution and what caused her opinions to change on this topic.

(see the answer keys)

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