Witch of Blackbird Pond Study Questions Ch 5-8

How does the author show us in word pictures what Judith feels about Kit? Ch 5

• "Her pretty mouth had a sulky droop, and the long fringe of lashes barely hid the envy and rebellion in her blue eyes."

• Kit was terribly bored. Ladies on one side and men on the other. No one was allowed to move at all. The benches were hard as rock and hurt her and her toes fell asleep. The kids in back who cut up were hit on head until they learned how to behave. The service was hours long. Kit was not used to this at all.

• Rev. Bulk feels they should listen to the new Governor appointed by King James. Matthew refuses b/c Ct colony has a charter and the Gov. is coming in and trying to change things.

• The silence was so silent that it almost felt that the opposite. It felt that they were yelling and screaming at her even though no one made a sound.

What were the pillory, whipping post, and stock used for? Ch 5

• Mercy explained why Judith said earlier that she wished Kit were a boy. The family lost two baby boys. Mercy also helped squash the arguing between Rev. and Matthew during dinner by asking someone to read Scriptures.

• Sabbath houses are houses used for people who live too far from the Meeting house. There are two services. One in am and one in evening so these families that live too far, stay in a Sabbath house to stay warm and rest for the day while awaiting second Meeting.

• This was a place for public humiliation.

• She learned to knit b/c each time William would call on her, he would just sit and stare and not speak much. She took up knitting so she would have something to do during their "dates".

Judith asked Kit, "Have you set your cap on him?" What does that mean? Ch 5

• This one

• Judith is asking Kit if she has her heart set on going after him, to date him.

• Rev. Bulk feels they should listen to the new Governor appointed by King James. Matthew refuses b/c Ct colony has a charter and the Gov. is coming in and trying to change things.

• Kit is surprises at how rigid John has become since she first met him on the Dolphin. Kit enjoys that Williams likes to look at her. She enjoys the fact that Williams is the only person not demanding she work so hard.

What are Sabbath houses? Why were they necessary? Ch 5

• Kit was terribly bored. Ladies on one side and men on the other. No one was allowed to move at all. The benches were hard as rock and hurt her and her toes fell asleep. The kids in back who cut up were hit on head until they learned how to behave. The service was hours long. Kit was not used to this at all.

• It's a school to teach very young children letters and to read the basics that way they can one day go to grade school.

• Sabbath houses are houses used for people who live too far from the Meeting house. There are two services. One in am and one in evening so these families that live too far, stay in a Sabbath house to stay warm and rest for the day while awaiting second Meeting.

• She is older and lives alone in a run down home in the Great Meadow. Her home floods often but she never leaves.

Describe the church service. How is it different from your own (if you have a church experience)? Ch 5

• He is rigid in his opinions. He is harsh towards Matthew Wood. His scripture if effective b/c he purposely has John read one about obeying a "king". It angers Matthew even more.

• Kit was terribly bored. Ladies on one side and men on the other. No one was allowed to move at all. The benches were hard as rock and hurt her and her toes fell asleep. The kids in back who cut up were hit on head until they learned how to behave. The service was hours long. Kit was not used to this at all.

• Sabbath houses are houses used for people who live too far from the Meeting house. There are two services. One in am and one in evening so these families that live too far, stay in a Sabbath house to stay warm and rest for the day while awaiting second Meeting.

• The silence was so silent that it almost felt that the opposite. It felt that they were yelling and screaming at her even though no one made a sound.

Why is this sentence about the townspeople's reaction to Kit so effective? "It was not so much a sound as a stillness so intent that it made her ears ring." Ch 5

• She is older and lives alone in a run down home in the Great Meadow. Her home floods often but she never leaves.

• The silence was so silent that it almost felt that the opposite. It felt that they were yelling and screaming at her even though no one made a sound.

• Judith is asking Kit if she has her heart set on going after him, to date him.

• It's a school to teach very young children letters and to read the basics that way they can one day go to grade school.

What is Rev. Bulkeley like? Is his use of scripture effective here? Ch 6

• "Her pretty mouth had a sulky droop, and the long fringe of lashes barely hid the envy and rebellion in her blue eyes."

• He is rigid in his opinions. He is harsh towards Matthew Wood. His scripture if effective b/c he purposely has John read one about obeying a "king". It angers Matthew even more.

• Kit is surprises at how rigid John has become since she first met him on the Dolphin. Kit enjoys that Williams likes to look at her. She enjoys the fact that Williams is the only person not demanding she work so hard.

• She feels at home there. She instantly feels a sense of freedom that she has not felt since Bardados.

How does Mercy show that she is a peacemaker throughout these chapters? Give as many examples as possible. What other character qualities are evident in Mercy's life? Ch 7

• The silence was so silent that it almost felt that the opposite. It felt that they were yelling and screaming at her even though no one made a sound.

• Mercy explained why Judith said earlier that she wished Kit were a boy. The family lost two baby boys. Mercy also helped squash the arguing between Rev. and Matthew during dinner by asking someone to read Scriptures.

• The Wood family had two baby boys, both lost to death.

• It's a school to teach very young children letters and to read the basics that way they can one day go to grade school.

Why does Kit learn how to knit? What is her attitude toward her other chores? Ch 7

• Kit is surprises at how rigid John has become since she first met him on the Dolphin. Kit enjoys that Williams likes to look at her. She enjoys the fact that Williams is the only person not demanding she work so hard.

• Rev. Bulk feels they should listen to the new Governor appointed by King James. Matthew refuses b/c Ct colony has a charter and the Gov. is coming in and trying to change things.

• She learned to knit b/c each time William would call on her, he would just sit and stare and not speak much. She took up knitting so she would have something to do during their "dates".

• "Her pretty mouth had a sulky droop, and the long fringe of lashes barely hid the envy and rebellion in her blue eyes."

Why are Rev. Bulkeley and Matthew Wood arguing over loyalty to the king and the Mass. Charter? Ch 7

• She feels at home there. She instantly feels a sense of freedom that she has not felt since Bardados.

• Rev. Bulk feels they should listen to the new Governor appointed by King James. Matthew refuses b/c Ct colony has a charter and the Gov. is coming in and trying to change things.

• She learned to knit b/c each time William would call on her, he would just sit and stare and not speak much. She took up knitting so she would have something to do during their "dates".

• Kit is surprises at how rigid John has become since she first met him on the Dolphin. Kit enjoys that Williams likes to look at her. She enjoys the fact that Williams is the only person not demanding she work so hard.