Stocks appear in The Witch of Blackbird Pond after Nat puts jack-o-lanterns in the house of William Ashby as a childish prank. These ghoulish decorations, though a common part of our contemporary American Halloween celebration, were once considered Satanic in nature.
Full Answer
What are the vocabulary terms in the Witch of Blackbird Pond?
There are lots of other vocabulary terms just waiting to be defined in Elizabeth George Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond. We've gotten a headstart on those terms by defining the following: impulsive, nonchalance, deft, chagrined, placating, timorous, filigree, indignant, inveigled, sundry, and surreptitiously.
Who wrote the Witch of Blackbird Pond?
She gained a reputation as a children’s author as she went on to write three more children’s books, including The Witch of Blackbird Pond, which won the Newbery Medal. Speare died at the age of 85 from an aortic aneurism. Get the entire The Witch of Blackbird Pond LitChart as a printable PDF.
What is Charter Oak in the Witch of Blackbird Pond?
According to legend, when Governor Andros held a meeting in Hartford, Connecticut to collect the Connecticut colony’s charter (as he does in The Witch of Blackbird Pond ), attendees snuck the charter out of the meeting room and hid in an extraordinarily large oak tree, now known as Charter Oak.
What is the setting of the Witch of Blackbird Pond?
That's the decision Elizabeth George Speare made in The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Set in the late 1600's in Puritan Connecticut, Speare tells the story of Katherine ''Kit'' Tyler.
Why is Nat placed in the stocks in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Nat is put in the stocks for illuminating William Ashby's house with jack-o-lanterns and is banished from Wethersfield. Nat returns with Prudence to free Kit during her trial. Nat returns to Wethersfield with his boat the Witch. He and Kit are to be married.
What is a symbol in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Hannah Tupper's cats symbolize how prejudice can cause people to misinterpret innocent things. Hannah owns several cats, and the animals bring comfort and joy to her and… Thompson, Annie.
Who does Kit marry in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Kit will ultimately marry Nat Eaton, the new captain of the Witch. The two meet while Kit is sailing on his father's ship, the Dolphin, to live with...
Why does Kit end her relationship with William?
Why does Kit end her relationship with William? Because she doesn't care about the things that Willam does.
What is the theme of The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Making Decisions. In many ways, The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a coming of age story. The theme of learning to take responsibility and make wise decisions is a common one in young adult literature.
How does Kit show independence in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Independence and Self-Determination Kit stands out from the others because of her independent spirit. She traveled alone all the way from Barbados, and acts according to her own judgment rather than the dictates of her society. The Connecticut colonists value independence too.
Does kit marry William?
William is pranked by Nat and the men from the Dolphin. He does not attend Kit's trial. Kit breaks with William. William and Judith are engaged, and later married.
Is The Witch of Blackbird Pond a true story?
It is true that the story is fiction; however, the good historical fiction writer does so much research to maintain accuracy to the time and place, even including authentic sites, events, and people, that the story still enlightens even as it entertains and challenges the reader.
Who dies in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
There are no deaths in the bulk of the story until an illness strikes many people in town. On page 182 is "John Wetherell's boy died today.
Will and Kate break up?
Good morning and no, Prince William and Kate Middleton have not broken up. Rumors that the royal couple split began making the rounds this morning due to an MSN article, which has since been deleted (a pretty strong indication in and of itself that the story is false).
Did Kate and William live together before marriage?
The pair are likely to mark the day privately at their home in Kensington Palace, but the royal couple made a bit of history ahead of their wedding as they became the first to be permitted to live together ahead of their big day.
Why does Kits rescue of the doll cause suspicion in the other passengers?
Why does Kit's rescue of the doll cause suspicion in the other passengers? Kit can swim and in the time of the book, only "witches" could swim. Who is John Holbrook, and why is he going to Wethersfield?
Background Information
One of the best parts of reading a new book is feeling like you are transported into a different world. Sometimes that's because the story takes place somewhere that isn't Earth, but sometimes it's because the author chooses a time in history as the setting. That's the decision Elizabeth George Speare made in The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
Vocabulary Terms
Impulsive - Are you the type of person who thinks through every angle, or do you just jump right in? If you're the type to do something without thinking it through first, you are impulsive like Kit.
clamber
A clumsy form of climbing something difficult often requiring the use of hands as well as feet.
composure
A steady and controlled state of one's emotional reaction to even anxiety-producing events or situations.
heretic
Someone singled out by a church for ostracism on charges of having professed views or engaged in behavior that directly contradict official doctrine or dogma.
nonplussed
A reaction filled with awkward confusion about how to respond appropriately.
pauper
Describing someone facing unfortunate circumstances which have left them penniless and homeless.
Puritans
Religious group whose desires to purify the Church of England eventually made them the object of harassment and urged them to cross the Atlantic and settle in Americas to enjoy greater religious freedom.
heathen
A term that basically covers anyone who is not a member of the religious organization of the person using that term to describe others.
What is the witch of Blackbird Pond about?
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is set in Connecticut Colony in the 17th century and explores politics and social issues in a Puritan community. In the 1630s, the English colonized Connecticut. In 1662, King Charles II of England granted the leaders of Connecticut Colony a charter that gave the colonists of Connecticut an exceptional degree of self-governance. According to the charter, the colonists could divide up and sell Connecticut’s land as they saw fit, and they could elect their own officials. But King James II, the next King of England, wanted more control over the colonies. So, in 1686, he appointed Sir Edmund Andros as Royal Governor of the colonies. This appointment invalidated all previous charters, including Connecticut’s. The result was that the colonists could no longer govern themselves; they had to answer to the King of England again. This led to tension among colonists, which plays an important role in The Witch of Blackbird Pond. For example, Matthew Wood is passionate about maintaining self-governance, whereas Reverend Bulkeley is a royalist, someone who believes the King should have control over the colonies. In addition to the era’s politics, The Witch of Blackbird Pond also focuses on religion. Many of Connecticut’s English colonists were Puritans, members of a religious group that was persecuted in England. Wanting to practice their religion freely, thousands of Puritans left England for the American colonies. Like many Christians in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Puritans believed that demons existed and could possess people. It was not uncommon at this time to blame unexplained events on witchcraft, like how the Puritan townspeople in the novel blame a plague on Hannah Tupper’s supposed witchcraft. In many instances—such as in the famous Salem witch trials—people killed or otherwise persecuted men and women who were regarded as outsiders or were generally resented.
What was the result of the appointment of the King of England in the Witch of Blackbird Pond?
This appointment invalidated all previous charters, including Connecticut’s. The result was that the colonists could no longer govern themselves; they had to answer to the King of England again. This led to tension among colonists, which plays an important role in The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
Where did the charter oak tree hide?
According to legend, when Governor Andros held a meeting in Hartford, Connecticut to collect the Connecticut colony’s charter (as he does in The Witch of Blackbird Pond ), attendees snuck the charter out of the meeting room and hid in an extraordinarily large oak tree, now known as Charter Oak.
What is the difference between Reverend Bulkeley and Matthew Wood?
For example, Matthew Wood is passionate about maintaining self-governance, whereas Reverend Bulkeley is a royalist, someone who believes the King should have control over the colonies. In addition to the era’s politics, The Witch of Blackbird Pond also focuses on religion.
Who wrote the plot of The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “The Witch Of Blackbird Pond” by Elizabeth George Speare. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.
What is the theme of the Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Winner of the 1959 Newbery Medal, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare explores themes of religious intolerance and the ways ignorance and the fear of difference lead to violence and mistrust. It begins in 1687, with sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler traveling alone by ship to her aunt and uncle’s home in Connecticut.
How does Prudence prove her abilities?
Prudence proves her abilities by reading out sections of the Bible and Kit is acquitted. Although she is free, Kit’s life is far from happy. Nat flees straight after the trial as he is still banned from the town, so Kit is left without him or Hannah for company.
What does Kit learn about John Holbrook?
Kit is further distressed to learn that John Holbrook has signed up to a militia that intends to fight local Native Americans. Things get even worse when a fever sweeps through the town and the townspeople accuse Hannah of causing the sickness through witchcraft.
Why does Goodwife Cruff say Kit must be a witch?
However, far from being grateful, Goodwife Cruff instead says that Kit must be a witch, because only witches can float in water. Later, a fellow passenger named John Holbrook warns Kit that Goodwife Cruff is spreading this rumor among the other passengers.