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Deena Lang
Mr. Maite
Humanities VII- VIII - 4B
13 Ferbruary 201513 February 2015

I tried to pull away, but my hands and head were locked fast. The splinters chewed on
me. Dandelions grew in the mud. The glowing iron streaked in front of my face like a comet. The
crowd roared. The man pushed the hot metal against my cheek. It hissed and bubbled. Smoke
curled under my nose. They cooked me. This excerpt from the novel Chains by Laurie Halse
Anderson greatly demonstrates the fact that reading a book like Chains can help a reader to get
to know themselves. This quote includes many different items readers can reflect on, and
compare themselves to. To begin with, one item readers can compare and reflect on is Isabels
actions and their own. When looking at this quote, readers could ask if they think they would
have the ability to handle the situation of being branded with strength as Isabel did. Secondly,
readers could reflect on Isabels emotion and their own during a situation as such. Lastly, readers
can look at their own character and the character of Isabel in the quote and get to know their true
character and who they are better. Through readers comparing themselves to abilities, emotions,
and character of the characters in this novel, readers will definitely be able to learn something or
two about themselves.

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First of all, readers definitely can get to know themselves better by comparing their
abilities to to Isabels abilities. During the novel, Isabel had the ability to stand up for others,
which is something a slave could be severely punished for. She stood up for her sister Ruth,
when others could have hurt her, such as the time Madam Lockton beat Ruth. Isabel spoke her
mind and her opinion, and was not afraid to. Keeping this in mind, readers could wonder if they
would have been able to collect the strength and courage to stand up for others, or if they would
be too scared to act in that situation. In addition to Isabel having the ability to stand up for others,
she also had the ability to help those who had helped her, even if it was dangerous to do so.
When Isabel went to the prison without Madam Lockton knowing to give food and company to
Curzon, she risked being punished for doing so. Isabel also had the ability save Curzon and free
him, so not only she would have a better life, but they both would. People could learn something
about themselves from this because they would find out if they would be able to live up to what
Isabel did to help her friend. Also, a very important ability Isabel had was that she persevered for
her goal of freedom, and she would not let anyone get in the way of doing that. She rarely
doubted herself, and worked very hard to achieve that goal. If it meant sneaking out at night, it
meant sneaking out at night to get free. Whatever Isabel had to do, she did it. Not only did she
make it free, but she freed Curzon too. The fact that she was able to not only achieve a goal for
herself, but also for someone else, is absolutely amazing. When looking at an example like this,
someone could learn what it really means to push hard and really try for what you are going for,
and if they think they could do something like that, especially if they were in a situation like
Isabels. Through a reader looking at and reflecting on their abilities and Isabels abilities, a
reader could learn more about who they are and what they are capable of.

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Another way a reader can learn something about themselves from the book Chains is by
comparing their reactions and emotions to Isabels emotions. To begin with, when Isabel was
branded, she seemed to have a feeling of anger, but she kept her feelings contained. She knew it
was not the time or place to scream. Her emotions come alive through the authors words, and
readers can compare how they would react with the way Isabel reacted to the situation. In
addition, readers can think about Isabels emotions and what their emotions might be in that
situation. Also, another important part of the book where readers can learn about their emotions
is the part where Isabel finds out that Ruth had been sold. She seems to feel ashamed, upset, and
angry because she feels that it was her responsibility to make sure nothing happened to Ruth.
Ruth was the only thing she had, and Isabel was the only thing Ruth had. Together they made a
team. Once they were apart you could sense a feeling of loneliness. When reading the novel,
readers might compare how they would have felt in that situation. By doing so, they may find out
more about who they are as a person. Additionally, Isabel often was faced with many challenges,
but she never let her emotions get in the way of achieving her goal of freedom. For example,
when Madam Lockton got angry with her, she kept it together, keeping her goal of freedom in
mind. If someone was reading the novel, they could ask themselves if they wouldve reacted the
same or differently than Isabel in that kind of situation. Emotions play a very important role in
the reason readers can learn more about themselves from Chains.

Thirdly, a reader can learn more about themselves from reading Chains by reflecting on
their own character and Isabels character. During the beginning of the book, readers learn about
Isabel, and during this time readers can begin to reflect on their own character and Isabels. In
the beginning of the book, Isabel was a young girl who was willing to speak her own mind and

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was very determined. Readers can compare their own character, to Isabels traits of character
during this time. Later on, Isabels character drastically changes, and she becomes older and
more experienced. She cares deeply about others, and she always tries her hardest. She wants the
best for not only her, but for everyone. Readers can then compare their personality traits to the
older Isabels personality and character traits. Not only can a reader compare their character to
Isabel at the begging and end of the book, but readers could compare themselves to Isabel in the
middle of the book. They could think about if they went through a change of character like
Isabel, and if they always kept one trait, like Isabels determination. Although a reader may not
have the same character as Isabel, it will give them a chance to find their differences, which will
result in the reader learning a lot about their personality, who they are, and what their strengths
are.

Readers can truly learn a lot about themselves through the book Chains. Abilities play a
big role in this. Through readers comparing their abilities to Isabels abilities, they can learn a lot
about their capabilities. Also, emotions are a very big part of readers learning something about
them from reading the novel. Isabels emotions and theirs may be very different, but they may
be very much the same. Lastly, character really does help the reader to learn about themselves.
Readers who compare their character and personality to the characters in the novel will learn
what their true traits are, and if they share any with the characters in the novel. Throughout the
novel, the story is filled with ability related, emotional, and characteristic scenes which all help
the reader to learn something more about who they are. Those who read this novel can step away
with not just the storyline, but with knowledge of who they really are. This is why readers can
learn something about themselves from reading the novel Chains.

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