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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. How did Isabel and Ruth bury the bodies they found in the woods?

2. Why did Ebeneezer initially tell Isabel that he could not hire her and Ruth to work for his company?

3. How had the people who Ruth and Isabel found in the woods died?

4. How did Ruth's mood change while working at the army camp?

5. Why was Isabel suspicious of Aberdeen when she and Ruth spent their day off from the laundry with him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was Ebeneezer angry with Curzon?

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

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

4. What did Isabel do in preparation to leave the laundry in Williamsburg?

5. Why was Isabel grateful that Ruth did not say anything in the presence of Sergeant Armstrong?

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

7. Why was Aberdeen curious about Isabel favoring the British?

8. How did Missus Serafina's advice help Isabel mend her relationship with Ruth?

9. Why did Mister Hallahan not pay Isabel for her work in the tavern?

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

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

Ashes is an example of historical fiction. What about Ashes makes it fit into this genre? What work did Anderson need to do in order to effectively write a historical fiction novel? You may use outside research to support your argument.

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)

This section contains 890 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample