Chains

Examples of figurative language in "Chains" include metaphors, such as comparing Isabel's situation to a bird trapped in a cage, and similes, like describing the sound of chains as loud as thunder....

In Chains, Isabel faces numerous challenges that shape her character, including slavery, separation from her sister Ruth, and betrayal by those she trusts. Isabel's journey is marked by her quest for...

In Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains, bees symbolize Isabel's internal struggles, representing her feelings of depression, confusion, and her longing for escape and rebellion. Bees become active and...

At the end of Chains, Isabel discovers that Ruth was not sold but sent to Charleston. Madam Lockton reveals this during a confrontation, threatening Ruth's life to upset Isabel. Isabel resolves to...

Key events in Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains include Isabel and her sister Ruth being sold to the Locktons, Isabel's discovery of a plot to assassinate George Washington, and her involvement in...

The points at which Isabel understands Thomas Paine’s words in Common Sense are when she starts visiting Curzon in jail, once Lockton travels to England, and the night before the ball.

In Chains, primary sources at the start of chapters highlight the story's themes. Chapter 2's epigraph by Phillis Wheatley reflects Isabel's plight, as she discovers she remains enslaved despite Miss...

The songs "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley and "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke relate to Chains by depicting themes of slavery, resilience, and hope. Marley's lyrics resonate with Isabel's...

Becky fears being tarred and feathered for brewing tea because, during the American Revolution, tea symbolized British oppression due to the taxes imposed by Britain. Colonists, particularly the...

In Chains, the River Jordan represents the slaves' journey to freedom. It is a metaphorical boundary they must cross to achieve liberation, much like the Biblical Hebrews crossing into the Promised...

In chapter three, Isabel's first impression of Madame Lockton is "thin" and wealthy. She has a bruise around her wrist that could have come from an abusive husband.

The setting of Chains significantly impacts the story and characters. Set during the American Revolution, the novel portrays the harsh realities of slavery and the struggle for freedom. The urban...

Isabel in Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains is a resilient and determined character. Despite facing immense hardships and enslavement, she remains brave and resourceful. Her loyalty to her sister Ruth...

The "I" branded on Isabel's cheek symbolizes her defiance and strength. Initially, Madam Lockton brands her with the "I" for "insolence," intending it as a punishment and warning. However, Isabel...

I will go with those chapters rather than the provided pages, as the pages of my edition do not line up with those chapters. Chapter 16 begins with Isabel realizing that there is no way out for her...

The "lion inside of Isabel" in Chains symbolizes Isabel's inner strength, courage, and resilience. Despite the hardships and oppression she faces, the metaphor of the lion represents her...

Isabel's first act of bravery in Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson occurs when she boldly speaks out of turn to defend her sister Ruth during a potential sale to the Locktons. Despite the risk of...

In Chains, literary devices like simile, metaphor, personification, and symbolism are prominent. Imagery is vivid, with similes and metaphors creating visual pictures, such as a man's mouth...

Madam Lockton treats Isabel harshly and with cruelty in Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. She gives Isabel strict and often demeaning instructions, expecting complete obedience and punishing any...

The Great Fire of 1776 in New York City began in a tavern near White Hall Slip and destroyed 493 buildings, about a third of the city, shortly after British forces took control. There were minimal...

The climax of Chains occurs when Isabel decides to take her fate into her own hands by escaping from the Locktons and rescuing her friend Curzon. This pivotal moment represents her shift from a...

In Chains, Grandfather is a minor yet symbolically significant character. He is an elderly slave at the Tea Water Pump, known for his wisdom and connection to African heritage. He represents the...

The quote "The beast has grown too large... we need to cut off its head" in Anderson's Chains refers to the American colonists' rebellion against British rule. The "beast" symbolizes the growing...

In the novel Chains, three main conflicts exist. The first is Isabel's struggle against slavery, exacerbated by deceitful promises of freedom and her abusive relationship with her owner, Mrs....

Between those two chapters, I would focus on chapter 14. Chapter 15 is entirely focused on Isabel dealing with the fallout of Madam Lockton having seen one of Ruth's seizures. It is chapter 14 that...

The Great Fire of 1776 in "Chains" both strengthens and weakens the British occupation of New York City. While the destruction of many rebel homes reduces immediate resistance, the fire intensifies...

In Chains, personification is used to convey emotions and actions vividly. For instance, Isabel describes her "belly flipped" to express anxiety, and her "worry ate a hole in her belly," attributing...

The historical context of "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson is set during the American Revolution, specifically between May 1776 and January 1777 in New York City. The novel highlights the conflict...

The fire in New York City significantly strengthens the bond between Isabel and Lady Seymour. Isabel's bravery in saving Lady Seymour and her cherished belongings deepens their relationship. Lady...

Isabel's decision to help Curzon at the end of Chains is driven by her growing sense of empathy and moral duty. Curzon's desperate situation and dependence on Isabel highlight her internal...

In Chains, the most common mood found in the novel is one of fear and foreboding. The author uses various metaphors, hyperbole, and imagery to build the mood of the text. Chapter 14 has strong...

The resolution in "Chains" occurs when Isabel and Curzon, after escaping and Curzon regaining his health, set off together to find Isabel's sister, Ruth. The plot begins with Isabel's enslavement...

In "Chains," Mr. Lockton, the mayor, and other conspirators plot to assassinate George Washington, believing his death would cause the Patriot rebellion to collapse. Initially, they attempt to bribe...

The water pump in Chains symbolizes societal and wealth divides, serving as a gathering place for slaves who draw water for the affluent. It represents class disparity as wealthy whites use its...

In Chains, Isabel plants seeds from her mother's jar in chapter 13, finding the act comforting despite not knowing what they will grow into. The seeds sprout, but the plant remains unidentifiable. By...

In Chains, "the beast" the mayor of New York refers to is the rebellion, and he means that it has grown too powerful. The mayor suggests that to weaken the rebellion, they must "cut off its head" by...

Ruth, Isabel's younger sister, is a central figure in Isabel's life, evoking deep feelings of love and protectiveness in Isabel. Isabel is devoted to Ruth's well-being, often putting Ruth's needs...

Some of the motifs in Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson are the bees, which represent Isabel's unclear thinking, and the "I"-shaped scar on Isabel's face.

Grandfather's speech to Isabel at the Tea Water pump signifies the harsh reality that neither side in the war will grant freedom to slaves, emphasizing that true freedom comes through faith, as...

The Locktons live in Manhattan, New York, specifically on Wall Street, south of the Tea Water Pump. Their residence is a grand, cream-colored, five-story stone house with a small garden, carriage...

Curzon ends up in jail after the Battle of Fort Washington, a real event during the American Revolutionary War where the British, aided by Hessian troops, defeated the Patriots and captured nearly...

In "Chains," Isabel reads Robinson Crusoe as it parallels her own life. Both Crusoe and Isabel experience enslavement and struggle for freedom. Isabel's reading foreshadows her future, as she...

The money hidden in Madam Lockton's linen chest was intended to bribe members of the Patriot army to switch allegiance to the British. Isabel overhears a conversation revealing that the money,...

Biblical allusions used in Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson include references to being enslaved, which the New Testament refers to as the plight of sinners. The fact that Isabel's young, innocent...

Isabel, a slave during the Revolutionary War, evaluates the benefits of siding with either Loyalists or Patriots based on who might grant her freedom. Initially, she sees potential in both:...

The setting of "Chains" is primarily in Manhattan during the American Revolutionary War, specifically between May 1776 and January 1777. The protagonist, Isabel, is enslaved by the Lockton family and...

The prison severely deteriorates Curzon's physical and mental condition due to harsh conditions, lack of care, and scarcity of food. Initially wounded, his health declines as he suffers from cold,...

Significant geographical locations in Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson include New York City, where the majority of the story unfolds, and Rhode Island, where the protagonist Isabel and her sister...

Madam Lockton is a wealthy British Loyalist known for her cruelty and selfishness. As a slave owner, she is particularly harsh towards Isabel, whom she physically and emotionally abuses. Madam...

"Ad astra," meaning "to the stars," is an apt code for the rebels in Chains as it symbolizes their aspiration to achieve the seemingly impossible—freedom from British oppression. The phrase,...