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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 does Madam Lockton convince the soldiers to do?

2. How does Mrs. Lockton amuse her friends?

3. What does Curzon promise Isabel?

4. What does Madam Lockton send to Isabel's room?

5. Why is Isabel devastated during the search of the Lockton's home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What surprises Isabel when she goes to bring Lady Seymour back to the Lockton home?

2. What does Miss Finch's nephew do with Isabel and Ruth and who tries to intervene?

3. What happens when the boat carrying Isabel and Ruth and their new owners lands in New York?

4. How does Isabel feel about Ruth's assigned role in the household?

5. Why do the soldiers remove the windows in the Lockton house?

6. What does Isabel do to protect Ruth's innocence.

7. About what does Becky warn Isabel?

8. What does Isabel do the night of the first Loyalist meeting after the household members have gone to sleep?

9. How does Mr. Lockton flee his home, and what does he do when his wife tries to go with him?

10. What is Isabel's assigned role in the Lockton household?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Chains".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Chains". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes in this book. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

"Chains" belongs to the young teen historical fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young teen historical fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young teen historical fiction and a fantasy or mystery?

Essay Topic 3

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Chains" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Chains" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

4. Would you say "Chains" had a happy ending? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,110 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample