Chains Study Guide, Chapters 6-10
Name: ____________________________________________
Chapter 6
1.
Curzon runs ahead of Isabel, causing her to lose her temper. Why does Isabel apologize to Curzon for being
rude?
2.
What nickname does Curzon assign to Isabel?
3.
What stop does Curzon make on the way to retrieve water?
4. What does Curzon do that shows his character?
5.
What political ideas does Curzon share with Isabel on their walk?
6. What is Isabel’s reaction?
7. What favor does Curzon ask of Isabel?
8. What could this do to help Isabel and Ruth?
9. What are Isabel’s main concerns?
10. Why does Isabel tell Curzon that she cannot help?
Chapter 7
11. Characterize Becky Berry.
12. What does Isabel learn from Becky about her new life with the Locktons?
13. As Isabel begins to prepare the house with Becky, what does she learn about the politics of servants and slaves?
14. How does Isabel’s skillful memory lead her to challenge Becky?
15. How does Becky respond when Isabel challenges her statement of Lockton’s politics?
16. Who is Lady Clarissa Seymour?
17. Why do the Lockton’s treat her like the queen?
18. What advice does Becky offer Isabel before departing on her errands?
Chapter 8
19. What does Isabel do with the cobwebs that she gathers during her chores?
20. What insight does this offer into both the science and the social structure of the time period?
21. How does Isabel’s behavior indicate her understanding of her role in the Lockton home?
22. Why has Madam Lockton decided to use Ruth as a personal maid?
23. When Isabel becomes horrified and outraged that Ruth will be treated as a curiosity, Becky warns Isabel to hold her
anger and take care. Why?
24. What might the final line of this chapter foreshadow?
Chapter 9
25. While vaguely aware of what is going on around her, Isabel is lost in her thoughts when sharpening the knives. What
are her thoughts?
26. What might the knives symbolize?
27. Why is Isabel summoned to the parlor?
28. How does Isabel handle herself when she sees that Ruth has been crying?
29. How does Madam Lockton further strip Isabel of her identity during the meeting with Lady Seymour?
30. What is the significance of Anderson’s placement of the whetstone rhyme at the end of the scene in the parlor?
31. How has Anderson constructed the characters and conflict in the novel to make this doubly significant at this point in
the novel?
32. While serving the men in Mr. Lockton’s library, what catches Isabel’s attention?
33. When Isabel returns to the library with more food, what does she see and hear through the crack in the door?
34. How does the last line of the chapter contribute to your interest in the plot of the novel? Explain.
Chapter 10
35. How does Ruth respond when Isabel asks why she was crying in the parlor?
36. What does Isabel conclude from Ruth’s response?
37. Why does Isabel decide to report what she has learned about the linen chest to Curzon?
38. How does the reader know that Isabel has given her plan careful consideration?
39. What happens when Isabel reaches Bellingham’s building?
40. After Isabel tells Curzon everything she has seen and heard, he tells her to go home and not to let anyone know she
is an informant. Why does this frighten Isabel?