The Witch of Blackbird Pond
By: Elizabeth George Speare
Chapters 1-12
Reading Comprehension Questions
Literary Elements
Literary Devices
Vocabulary
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English 7
Period ___
Questions adapted from Learning Links Inc. & Glencoe
Directions: As you read, answer all chapter questions using text evidence and complete sentences. Be sure to
add to your answers during class discussions. This packet will serve as your study guide. (*You may want to
answer the questions in one color, and check and correct in another color. This allows you to monitor your
progress.)
PURPOSE FOR READING: Read to find out how sixteen-year old Kit Tyler responds to different expectations in her
new surroundings.
VOCABULARY Chapters 1-8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
auspiciously: adv. in a manner that suggests a positive outcome; favorably
cowed: adj. intimidated
disheartening: adj. likely to lower morale
fulsome: adj. insensitive
hankering: n. strong desire
nonplussed: adj. at a loss for words
punctilious: adj. concerned about following the rules exactly
timorous: adj. fearful
Chapter 1 and Chapter 2
1. What are Kit’s first impressions of America? What does this reveal about her background and
character?
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2. How do the people aboard the boat react when Kit rescues the doll? Focus on the reactions of Nat,
John, Goodwife Cruff, and the child.
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3. Why is Kit making the journey to Connecticut?
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4. What are Kit’s views regarding the Puritans?
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5. Why does Kit feel uneasy at the end of chapter one?
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Questions adapted from Learning Links Inc. & Glencoe
6. What does Kit reveal about her childhood on Barbados? What problems might this create for her in
her new environment?
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7. What does John Holbrook reveal about himself? What is Kit’s reaction?
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8. Nat says: “But we Eatons, we’re mighty proud that our ship has a good honest stink of horses!” How
does this statement reflect Nat’s attitude toward slavery? How does it contrast with Kit’s attitude?
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Literary Element: Setting
Setting in literature refers to the time and place where the story occurs.
9. What is the setting of this novel?
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10. How important is setting to this novel?
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Literary Device: Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger is when something ends at the moment of heightened suspense. In a book, this element
is usually placed at the end of a chapter to encourage the reader to continue on to the next chapter.
11. What is the cliffhanger at the end of chapter two?
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Questions adapted from Learning Links Inc. & Glencoe
Chapter 3 and Chapter 4
1. What did Kit think about the town of Wethersfield on the day of her arrival?
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2. How did Uncle Matthew, Aunt Rachel, Judith, and Mercy greet Kit?
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3. How did Kit’s trunks affect her family? What was the difference between her accustomed life and
that of her relatives?
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4. What happened to Aunt Rachel and Kit’s mother back in England that separated them for the rest of
their lives?
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5. What surprises Kit about the Wood household on her first day in Wethersfield?
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6. Why does Kit find it so difficult to handle the household chores?
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Questions adapted from Learning Links Inc. & Glencoe
Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7
1. Why do Judith and Matthew each think that Kit should not wear her silk dress to the meeting?
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2. What does the presence of the Sabbath houses, the pillory, the stocks, the whipping post, and the
meeting house reveal about life in Wethersfield?
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3. At Meeting, what impression does Kit make upon the townspeople and William?
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4. What does Matthew mean when he asks Dr. Bulkeley, “Do you think we have labored and sacrificed
all these years to build up a free government only to hand it over [to Andros] now without a
murmur?” What does this remark reveal about Matthew Wood?
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5. How does Dr. Bulkeley present the Royalist point of view?
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6. What is the relationship between William “making up his mind” and the construction of his house?
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7. What happened when William first “comes to call” on Kit?
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Literary Element: Characterization
Characterization is defined as the methods an author uses to acquaint the readers with the characters
is the story.
Questions adapted from Learning Links Inc. & Glencoe
Vocabulary Chapters 9-16
1. adroit: adj. skilled
2. composure: n. calmness
3. decorum: n. conformity to standards of good taste
4. enthrall: v. to hold spellbound
5. incoherent: adj. disorganized or hard to understand
6. ingenious: adj. clever or original
7. obstreperous: adj. noisy; rowdy
8. tryst: n. secret agreement or meeting place
9. uproariously: adv. in a very noisy or funny manner
Chapter 8 & Chapter 9
1. Why does Judith think that Hannah Tupper is like a witch?
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2. What causes Kit to seriously consider marrying William?
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3. How does the idea of teaching make Kit feel about herself?
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4. What does Mercy reveal about the history of the Wood family that leads to a better understanding of
Matthew Wood?
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5. Describe the dame school—its teachers, educational materials, location, and discipline.
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6. How does Kit’s innocence and creativity lead to the loss of her job?
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Questions adapted from Learning Links Inc. & Glencoe
7. What about Hannah differs sharply from Judith’s description of her?
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8. In what way is Kit like Hannah’s flower?
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Literary Device: Symbolism
A symbol in literature is an object, an event, or a character that represents an idea or a set of ideas.
9. What does the meadow symbolize for Kit? Cite specific TBDs to support your answer.
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10. How is Hannah’s tropical flower a symbol for Kit? Explain.
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Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12
1. Why is Kit unable to promise that she will not return to Hannah’s house?
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2. How does Kit know that Judith is in love?
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3. What hardships has Hannah endured in Wethersfield because she is Quaker?
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Questions adapted from Learning Links Inc. & Glencoe
4. What do Nat and Kit have in common in their past?
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5. What does the gift of leftover apple tart reveal about Aunt Rachel’s character?
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6. What does Nat mean when he says to Kit, “I can still see the green feathers if I look hard enough.
But they’ve done their best to make you into a sparrow, haven’t they?” (Some points to consider:
what does the sparrow represent? What do the green feathers represent?)
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7. What political opinions do Nat and Uncle Matthew share?
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8. Why is Kit embarrassed when she returns from Hannah’s house?
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Literary Device: Simile
A simile is a figure of speech in which a comparison between two unlike objects is stated directly using
the words “like” or “as.” For example:
…as the clear low voice** went on, a contentment*
wrapped her round like sunshine in the meadow.
**John Holbrook’s voice
*happiness, ease
What is being compared?
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9. What is the effect of this comparison?
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Questions adapted from Learning Links Inc. & Glencoe
Questions adapted from Learning Links Inc. & Glencoe