The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare Name_______________________________

*THIS study guide has a few extra writing assignments (noted with an asterisk* and “ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER.”) These questions will be answered in paragraph form, turned in for grading and are worth up to 25 points. You will be graded on the thoughtfulness of your response as well as your grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. These paragraphs should be handwritten and between 50-75 words. Double space and be sure to paraphrase (say in your own words) your research and facts.*

Use complete sentences to answer the following questions. For some questions, you will need to use a dictionary or do some research.

BEFORE YOUR START

1. The Witch of Blackbird Pond is historical fiction. What is historical fiction?

2. The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a winner of the Newberry Medal. What is the Newberry Medal?

3. *Research/read about Elizabeth George Speare. ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER, write a paragraph about her. Be sure to only include the important facts about when she lived, where she was born, other notable works, etc. This should resemble the kind of information found in an “about the author” section of a book. Be sure to PARAPHRASE (say it in your own words, do not copy). (25 graded homework points, see note at top of page)*

CHAPTER 1

1. What is the setting?

2. Who is Kit Tyler?

3. What does Mrs. Eaton do in the spring and summer months?

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4. What is meant by “proper housewife”? Who does it seem decides what is proper?

5. Why did Kit’s spirits bob “like whitecaps in the harbor”?

6. What did Kit do concerning the “useless twig in the current”?

7. What did Nat mean when he snapped, “Then you might have thought for someone else”?

8. What is meant by the Barbados – heathen island – Puritan – Roundhead – King Charles exchange between Kit Tyler and John Holbrook?

9. According to some of the passengers, what is a sure sign of a witch? CHAPTER 2 1. How many days did it take the Dolphin to go 43 miles?

2. How captivated was Holbrook by his book?

3. What was John Holbrook’s father’s occupation?

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4. What is the Accidence?

5. Reverend Gershom Bulkeley was a real person. Do a little research about him. On a SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER write a paragraph explaining who he was, what he did and why he was important. Be sure to PARAPHRASE (say in your own words). (25 graded homework points, see note at top of study guide)

6. Explain the process of walking up the river. 7. What cargo will the Eatons not haul?

8. How did Kit learn to read?

9. What authors wrote Kit’s favorite plays?

10. When it came time to leave the ship, what did Kit have to admit about her aunt and uncle?

CHAPTER 3

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1. What was Nat’s departing words to Kit? Is there any grounds to think this could be foreshadowing? If so, explain why.

2. How did Kit’s aunt and uncle react to her arrival?

3. Why didn’t Kit write? What happened to her grandfather’s plantation?

4. “The cold, measured words fell like so many stones into the quiet room.” To what is this statement referring? What figure of speech is used? What does the diction, word choice, explain about the tone and mood of the scene?

5.“’Your grandfather was a King’s man, I reckon?’ ‘He was a Royalist, sir. Here in America are you not also subjects of King James?’” Explain the difference between a Royalist (or Loyalist) and a Patriot in America in 1687 (the year the novel begins). How do these differences lead to the American Revolutionary War in 1775?

CHAPTER 4

1. “As the heavy door shut behind him, the cloud gradually lifted from the room.” (pg. 25) Actual cloud? Metaphorical cloud? Explain. 2. “’There’s no Scriptures saying Mother has to be the one to do all the caring…’” What does the Scripture say about caring for the poor and the widows? [To get the full effect of the 1687

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time period, use the King James Version of the Bible. Try blueletterbible.org or studylight.org for a word search and several translations.]

3. “Mercy’s laugh was a ripple of silver.” Simile or metaphor? What do you think this means?

4. Carding wool – what does that mean? 5. What was the real reason for Kit’s immediate departure to Connecticut?

6. Why wouldn’t Matthew allow the girls to keep the dresses that Kit gave them? What item was his one exception? Why?

7. What was Judith’s grievance?

CHAPTER 5

1. What church did Kit grow up attending? What faith was the Wood family? How do these differ?

2. Who was in the Meeting that Kit knew? 3. What does this question mean: “Have you set your cap for him?”

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4. What is a Sabbath house?

5. What was the purpose of the Sabbath?

CHAPTER 6

1. How long had it taken to prepare the Thursday night meal for Reverend Bulkeley?

2. What did Matthew Wood argue Gershom about?

3. Look up Proverbs 24:21. Read it. Does it match the text as referenced in this chapter?

4. What’s the “proper way” to “call on” a young lady [ask her out]?

5. Who does Judith plan to marry?

CHAPTER 7

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1. Read the description of William and his behavior on their “first date.” What do you think of that?

2. Who was the king when Connecticut’s charter was created? Who is the king now?

3. How do the Woods know that William Ashby is serious about courting Kit?

4. What is one thing that Kit appreciated about William Ashby?

CHAPTER 8

1. About what had the meadow reminded Kit?

2. What is unique about Widow Tupper?

3. What fever might have Mercy and her deceased brother had?

4. What job had Kit been recommended to do? What skill did Kit have that allowed her such a position?

5. What would the order of the Wood children be if all had lived?

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CHAPTER 9 1. What is a hornbook?

2. Explain the following: “If only patience were contagious like mumps.” Simile or metaphor? What does this mean?

3. What did Kit do differently with her teaching? What experience in Kit’s background would cause her teaching be different?

4. What is an indulgence?

5. Why was Kit dismissed from the school?

6. Where did Kit go after being dismissed? Why do you think she went there?

7. “’So thee came to the meadow,’ said Hannah, patting the girl’s hand with her small gnarled claw, ‘What went wrong this morning?’ she listened, nodding her head like a wisened old owl, as the tale of the morning’s woes came pouring out.” What does insight does this passage offer about Hannah? Simile or metaphor?

8. What message did Kit learn from Hannah Tupper and the flower? Look up the word parable. Would the flower story qualify as a parable? Why? Why not?

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CHAPTER 10

1. What was the result of Kit’s visit to Mr. Kimberley?

2. Why did Aunt Rachel warn Kit not to talk about her visit with Hannah Tupper?

3. When did Kit see Hannah Tupper again?

4. How was Kit expected to teach school?

5. Who showed up at Hannah’s while Kit was there?

6. Hannah spins flax into thread to earn money. What bills does Hannah have to pay?

7. *Research/read about the difference between Quakers and Puritans. ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER, write a paragraph explaining these differences. Be sure to paraphrase (see note at top of study guide for complete instructions). (Worth 25 homework points)*

CHAPTER 11

1. What did the books of New England contain?

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2. What does the following statement from Kit say about the difference in learning words and using words? “But most of these children would never even imagine the adventure that words could mean.”

3. Which child was not allow to attend school, but did lay flowers on the doorstep fix Kit?

4. Kit made arrangements with Prudence to meet her for reading lessons. Where did they meet?

5. Hannah’s had a cure for every ill that included blueberry cake, a kitten, and an invisible ingredient. What was the invisible ingredient?

6. Look up the word irony? What is the irony in Goodwife Cruff’s name?

7. Analyze the poem by Anne Bradstreet; write your analysis (what it means) in the space below.

8. During the reading of the poem, what had Kit discovered?

CHAPTER 12

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1. How were candles made?

2. What did Kit help Nat do?

3. Explain Nat’s comment, “There are two sides to Royalty, Kit.”

4. What does Matthew Wood mean by, “She is a heretic, and she refuses to attend Meeting. She has no claim on your charity.”

CHAPTER 13

1. What did John Holbrook tell Kit.

2. What happens when John Holbrook shows up at the Wood household and states he plans to not attend the husking bee?

3. Based on what you read in chapter 13, what is John Holbrook’s character weakness?

4. Infer (guess/decipher from the context) What did the red-orange kerneled corn cob apparently signify?

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CHAPTER 14 1. What amazed Kit about the New England autumn?

2. Why was the ship so important and exciting?

3. What does Nat mean by “That order looks definite enough.”

4. What does the following sentence mean? “To think I worried about that little bird. I might have known it would gobble up a nice fat partridge in no time.”

5. What upsetting news does Matthew Wood receive at the end of Chapter 14?

CHAPTER 15

1. Who seems to know and be able to communicate with William most of all?

2. How did Judith know that William had come around to Matthew Wood’s way of thinking? 3.Governor Andros was a real person. Who was he and what could Governor Andros’s presence in Connecticut mean for the residents?

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4. Connecticut was annexed with what other colony?

5. What does William report to Matthew Wood?

6. *Matthew and William are discussing the of Connecticut Charter. Research “Connecticut Charter Oak” and ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER explain this tradition/legend in your own words in paragraph form. See beginning of study guide for full instructions (worth 25 homework points).*

CHAPTER 16 1. What is All Hallows Eve?

2. “All Saints Day is a papist feast.” What does this mean? [Look this up online on your own.]

3. What did the “rowdy band of rivermen” do?

4. Why can’t the town celebrate Thanksgiving?

5. Who did Kit find in the stocks?

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6. What did John Holbrook join?

CHAPTER 17

1. What illness fell upon the children in Connecticut?

2. Who did the townspeople blame for the illnesses?

3. What did Kit do to help Hannah?

CHAPTER 18 1. What had Matthew Wood come to think about Kit?

2. Why was Kit locked up?

3. What memory did the Cruff’s have of Kit that would have supported the claim Kit was a witch?

4. What had happened to Goody Harrison and Good Johnson? Why?

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5. What memory warmed Kit as she was locked up?

CHAPTER 19

1. What is Kit accused of being involved with?

2. What did Goodman Whittesley accuse Kit of doing to his cattle.

3. Who speaks up to defend Kit?

4. Who unexpectedly showed up with an unexpected witness?

5. Explain the change in authority that occurred in the Cruff household the few moments after Prudence finished speaking/reading.

6. What was Adam Cruff’s argument of reason for withdrawing the charge?

7. Goodwife Cruff wanted Nat arrested. Why?

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8. When dealing with people like Goodwife Cruff, people who look to point out fault and get other in trouble, what do you do? (Use your own reasoning to answer.)

9. What reasoning did Matthew Wood give to keep Nat from being arrested?

CHAPTER 20

1. What did Kit think of snow?

2. What did Kit decide about William?

3. “’An almost intolerable loneliness wrapped Kit away from the joyous crowd.’” Personification? What does this mean?

4. Who showed up unexpectedly at the Wood family’s door?

CHAPTER 21

1. What marriage intentions were announced in April?2. Kit intended to offer two of her dresses to Uncle Matthew. Why did she think he would accept them now?

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3. What had Kit not realized about Nat?

4. What had Kit named his Ketch? Why? (pg. 160-161) Would this be considered ironic?

Adapted from http://windsor.k12.mo.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/01/The-Witch-of-Blackbird-Pond-Questions.pdf

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