Witch of Blackbird Pond Review Sheet
Characters: On a separate piece of paper, write a sentence telling me about each of these main characters:
Kit Tyler
William Ashby
Goodwife Cruff
Mercy Wood
Nat Eaton
Prudence Cruff
Judith Wood
John Holbrook
Matthew Wood
Hannah Tupper
List at least seven differences between Kit’s life in Barbados and Wethersfield
Barbados
Wethersfield, Connecticut
What is the setting (time & place) of the novel? ________________________________________________
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Why is setting so important in historical fiction? ________________________________________________
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How does the setting impact the plot of The Witch of Blackbird Pond? ______________________________
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What would you say is the main conflict in the novel?____________________________________________
Example of man vs. self (internal)__________________________________________________________
Example of man vs. man _________________________________________________________________
Example of man vs. society _______________________________________________________________
What are two major themes of the novel? _____________________________________________________
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What are some reasons Kit is believed to be a witch? ____________________________________________
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Kit does things without thinking first, and sometimes she defies the rules. What are at least five things she did
that caused problems for her later: __________________________________________________________
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Literary Concepts:
What is a theme?_________________________________________________________________________
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What is point of view? _____________________________________________________________________
What is an objective point of view? _________________________________________________________
What is an omniscient point of view? ________________________________________________________
What is limited omniscient? ________________________________________________________________
What is the first-person point of view? _______________________________________________________
What is the third person point of view? ______________________________________________________
What’s a “flat” character? _________________________________________________________________
What’s a “round” character? _______________________________________________________________
Essays:
Complete your choice of THREE essays, and turn them in at the beginning of class on Friday, Sept. 24.
Be sure to answer thoroughly in a well-constructed paragraph.
1.
“Flat” characters are those who are not fully developed. In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, most
characters are “round,” meaning that we see both their good and bad traits. Using this definition,
discuss three “round” characters from the novel, explaining why they are NOT flat.
2.
The setting of historical fiction usually has a huge impact on the plot. Explain how the setting of The
Witch of Blackbird Pond drives the entire plot. Give at least five specific examples.
3.
What is the most powerful theme in the novel? Support your choice of theme with at least three
examples. Also, how does the setting of the book impact this theme?
4.
Kit changes a great deal in the novel, especially in her views of others. Explain in what ways she
changed, giving at least three specific examples.
5.
The author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond wove in many details about life in a Puritan colony in America
in the 1600’s. Discuss at least five things you learned about society in colonial America.
6.
What is the point of view of The Witch of Blackbird Pond? Is that the best choice for the point of view of
this novel? Why or why not? Be sure to support yourself with examples from the book.
7.
Explain the beliefs of Puritans and Quakers. Why would these beliefs lead to conflict between them,
and how did the Puritans in the book treat the Quakers?
8. Conflict is necessary to the plot, and there is more conflict in Witch of Blackbird Pond than in most
fictional works. Discuss at least 4 conflicts Kit encounters in the book: 2 with other people, 1 internal,
and 1 external vs. the society.
On a separate piece of paper, make a list of the words we have defined while reading the novel. These will
also be on the test.