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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 Becky tell Isabel?

2. What does Isabel naively believe when she talks to Curzon late at night?

3. What does Mrs. Lockton believe of Ruth?

4. Where is the opening of the novel set?

5. Where does Madam Lockton send Isabel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What worries Isabel about Ruth being around Mrs. Lockton regularly?

2. What does a soldier find when he searches the linen chest?

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

4. What does Isabel struggle to do as she is working about the house?

5. What happens when Miss Finch's nephew comes up while Isabel is talking to the Pastor?

6. Why has Miss Mary Finch's nephew come to Rhode Island?

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

8. What are Isabel and Ruth doing in the funeral procession, and what is important about the day for them?

9. What happens when Isabel goes and talks to Colonel Regen?

10. What does Curzon tell Isabel about the Locktons, and what promise does he make?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of freedom in "Chains". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with freedom? Why? What are some symbols of freedom? Symbols of slavery? What characters are free? Why are they free?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in "Chains". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of growing up and personal responsibility in "Chains". How does Isabel grow up? How does she try to get others to help her out of her situation? How does she finally end up taking responsibility for helping herself?

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes it is the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Chains" is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an important part of what makes "Chains" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Isabel. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Madam Lockton. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Mr. Lockton. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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