What are some themes in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
The Witch of Blackbird Pond ThemesPuritan Hypocrisy. When Kit arrives in Wethersfield, Connecticut to live with her Aunt Rachel and her Uncle Matthew, who are Puritans, she struggles to adapt to their culture. ... Love, Values, and Attraction. ... Difference, Prejudice, and Discrimination. ... Home and Belonging. ... Sexism.
What is the moral of The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Lesson Summary One moral from The Witch of Blackbird Pond is that home is with the people you love. Kit Tyler thinks Barbados is her home, but then realizes that anywhere with Nat Eaton is really home. Another lesson is a warning about allowing politics to interfere in relationships.
What is the main conflict in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Conflict. Right away, Kit finds that she does not fit in well with the Puritan society of Wethersfield. Her wealthy upbringing and free-spirited ways make it hard for her to adjust to the hard work and strict religious practices of her family and neighbors.
What is the point of view of The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is in third person limited perspective.
What is Kit's Secret in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
We also learn that Kit has some kind of secret that she has been keeping from everyone. Nat appears to tell Kit that, since Mrs. Eaton is no longer on board, she must eat with Goodwife Cruff – the mother of the girl with the doll. He also mentions that Goodwife Cruff now thinks Kit is a witch.
Is The Witch of Blackbird Pond about witchcraft?
She, and later Nat, help Hannah escape aboard the Dolphin. When Kit becomes the target of the mob's blame, she is arrested for witchcraft. Facing the possibility of having her ear cut off, branding or hanging, Kit endures a trial of charges for befriending a witch and other trumped up charges.
What is the mood of The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Answer and Explanation: The mood of The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a bit gloomy and austere with the only light coming from love, warmth, and kindness. This is most readily seen when Kit finds peace in Hannah Tupper's modest home: "The girl looked about her.
What is the tone of The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Direct, Sympathetic, Non-Judgmental.
What is the foreshadowing in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Lesson Summary One example occurs when Nat warns Kit about the water test for witches to persuade her to give up swimming while she is in Connecticut. This foreshadows that Kit will later be accused of witchcraft and that when he gets a boat, he will name it The Witch because witches float.
What happens at the end of The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
At the end of The Witch of Blackbird Pond all is right with the world: Kit Tyler has been cleared of all charges of witchcraft and is a free woman.
Who does John marry in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
MercyHe marries Mercy, his true love, and returns to study with Bulkeley under the condition that he “will teach me theology and medicine, but I will think as I please” (21.4).
Who is Kit most loyal to in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?
Kit is strong-willed, loyal to England, and does not initially understand the lifestyle of the colonists. She bonds with a fellow outcast, Hannah Tupper, a Quaker who other townspeople think is a witch. Kit falls in love with Nat Eaton, who is also friends with Hannah Tupper.
Cuff
From the text: Her mother leaned forward, grasped the woolen jumper and jerked her back, smacking her down with a sharp cuff. When a thin whimper f...
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Upon arriving at her aunt's house, Kit receives the disturbing news that John Holbrook has joined the militia to fight the Indians. Judith is very...
Chapter 19, Witch of Blackbird Pond
During the trial, Mr. and Mrs. Cruff present the copybook Kit gave to Prudence as proof that Kit is doing evil. Soon after, Nat enters the courtroo...
What is the theme of Witch of Blackbird Pond?
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. No matter the place or time in which a story is set, young readers can always relate to Kit's need to find her rightful place in the adult world of work and relationships. All three of the girls in the Wood household - Kit and her cousins Judith and Mercy - find their place in the community by the story's resolution.
Where is the Witch of Blackbird Pond set?
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is set in 1687 in the colonies of New England . The story covers a year in the life of teenaged Katherine Tyler, arriving in the village of Wethersfield, Connecticut after the death of her beloved grandfather. Katherine, known as Kit, has been raised by her grandfather in the freedom and sunshine of the island of Barbados. The start of the narrative is Kit's journey from Barbados to live with her only relatives in America aboard the sailing ship The Dolphin.
What does Kit learn from Puritan life?
But, by the end of the tale, Kit has learned to appreciate the sincerity and loyalty of her family and community.
Why is Kit attracted to John Holbrook?
Judith is attracted to John Holbrook due to his sincerity. Unfortunately, John is actually in love with Mercy, but only Kit knows this secret. Kit has an initial connection with Nat but he disappears from the narrative until near the ending, when Kit realizes that a life with Nat sailing between the West Indies and New England is what she really wants.
The Effect of Ignorance and Fear on Perpetuating Evil
Witch hunts are always born from fear and suspicion (and not, as some have suggested, out of a commitment to democracy and justice).
The Geography of Personality
Few things are quite as stressful for any teenager than being uprooted from familiar surroundings and being forced against your will to start over in a strange and unfamiliar place entirely populated by complete strangers who are conditioned to view your arrival with a certain suspicion.
Religious Intolerance in Puritan Settlements
While it is certainly true that the Puritans fled England to the New World to escape organized persecution of their religious beliefs, the great irony is that almost as soon as they had established a simulation of the trappings of civilization they had left behind, they set to persecuting those who did not adhere to their rigid Puritanical beliefs.
Love, Values, and Attraction ThemeTracker
The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Love, Values, and Attraction appears in each chapter of The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Click or tap on any chapter to read its Summary & Analysis.
Love, Values, and Attraction Quotes in The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Below you will find the important quotes in The Witch of Blackbird Pond related to the theme of Love, Values, and Attraction.
Why are Hannah and Kit called witches?
Both Hannah Tupper and Kit are labeled as witches because of how they appear or how they act. In reality, however, Hannah and Kit are some of the kindest people in the colony. The judgments the colonists make based on appearance are not accurate.
What does the grass mean in Kit's meadows?
The meadows symbolize peace for Kit. The waving grass reminds her of the billowing waves surrounding her home in Barbados. Kit comes to the meadows when she is worried or upset, and the meadows bring her a sense of calm.
Can an author leave a storyboard?
The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. Unlisted storyboards can be shared via a link, but otherwise will remain hidden.
When was Witch of Blackbird Pond published?
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a children's novel by American author Elizabeth George Speare, published in 1958 . The story takes place in late-17th century New England. It won the Newbery Medal in 1959.
What is the boat called in the book The Witch?
Nat returns to Wethersfield with a surprise: he has a new boat, and is also captain. The boat is called the Witch, named after Kit.
Who is the protagonist in The Witch?
Katherine Tyler: Better known as "Kit," she is the protagonist, an independent, rebellious, and kind girl from rich family in Barbados who lived with her grandfather before he died and struggles to find a new identity in Wethersfield as she lives with her Puritan aunt, Rachel, in the colony she is also thought of to be a witch.
Why does Prudence write Nat's name in the copybook?
Just as the case seems to be decided and Kit is guilty, Nat appears with Prudence, who testifies that she herself wrote her name in the copybook. To demonstrate her literacy, Prudence reads a Bible passage and writes her name, thus convincing her father both that she is intelligent and that no witchcraft could be involved, as the devil would be foolish to allow a child to be taught to use the Bible against himself. While Nat is initially in trouble for returning and evades capture, Matthew Wood intervenes on his behalf so that his sentence is remitted because Nat came back to see justice done, not to cause further mayhem.
