Thursday, July 24, 2008

Module 5: Historical Fiction - THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND


BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA:

Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395071143

PLOT SUMMARY:

What would you do if you were accused of witchcraft in Connecticut in 1687? Young Kit Tyler is faced with this frightening dilemma in THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. When her grandfather, her last living guardian, passes away and leaves Kit alone in Barbados, she makes the choice to sail to Connecticut to contact her aunt. Kit’s spirited personality and unconventional upbringing lead to immediate suspicion and disapproval amongst the Puritan community she finds there. Her lively and adventurous spirit does not mesh well with the strict, judgmental attitude of her new home. During this tumultuous experience, Kit finds comfort in a beautiful meadow and some unlikely friends. Kit befriends a sweet elderly woman named Hannah, who is an outcast in the community because people believe she is a witch. Kit also befriends an intelligent, neglected child named Prudence and Nathaniel Eaton, the captain’s son. As suspicions and accusations against Kit mount, she finds herself accused of being a witch and facing a terrifying trial that could ultimately lead to her death. In the end, the truth prevails as Prudence testifies to Kit’s good nature, leaving Kit free to pursue a romance with Nathaniel.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

The character of Kit Tyler is a passionate, spirited teenager who finds herself completely out of place in her new surroundings. Kit is able to remain true to herself throughout her experiences, making her a courageous and remarkable character. She is also a refreshingly strong female character, engaging in nontraditional activities for a girl of her time, such as reading poetry and swimming. Kit is by no means perfect, and her shortcomings, such as her impulsive nature, make her character even more believable and sympathetic.

THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND takes place in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1687. Speare describes the setting in great detail, noting Kit’s first glance of the cold, gray, dreary shoreline from the ship that brought her to America for the first time. This dreary grayness of Kit’s new surroundings is an important part of the story, foreshadowing the cold, uninviting attitude of the strict Puritan community.

The tale of Kit Tyler is the story of a girl wrongly accused who must stay true to herself and stand up for what she believes is right. She unapologetically befriends an outcast regardless of others’ perceptions and rebels against the established order of conformity. Her bravery and conviction win out in the end as she is cleared of the charges against her and free to pursue her own happiness. All of these themes will easily resonate with young readers and keep them captivated by this classic story.

Speare’s style combines a compelling plot with careful descriptions and gripping foreshadowing. Speare carefully balances authentic facts with a great storyline and memorable characters. The religious attitudes of the time are accurate, but they are woven carefully into the story through believable characters so that the historical details are not overpowering. The end result is a timeless story that seamlessly incorporates an important part of American history. This piece of historical fiction is a classic and should be a staple in any library that serves children and young adults.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

From BOOKLIST:
"Strong plot, fully realized characters and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative of a girl whose rebellion against bigotry and her Puritan surroundings culminates in a witch hunt and trial."

From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:
“The setting is the Colony of Connecticut in 1687 amid the political and religious conflicts of that day. Sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler unexpectedly arrives at her aunt and uncle's doorstep and is unprepared for the new world which awaits her…Through these conflicts and experiences, Kit comes to know and accept herself. She learns not to make hasty judgments about people, and that there are always two sides to every conflict. There are several minor plots as well, including three romances, which help to bring this time and place to life.”

*Awards:
Winner of 1959 Newbery Medal

CONNECTIONS:

*Other historical fiction novels by Elizabeth George Speare:
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1989. THE BRONZE BOW. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395877695 (Winner of 1962 Newbery Medal)

Speare, Elizabeth George. 1985. CALICO CAPTIVE. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-18150757

Speare, Elizabeth George. 1983. THE SIGN OF THE BEAVER. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395338905

*Activities:
This historical fiction novel would be a great complement to a unit on colonial American history and Puritan colonies. The novel gives readers a good idea of what life might have been like during this time period, and discussions about the novel could easily lead to further explorations of the attitudes and events surrounding this time period in American history.

A strong theme in this novel is dealing with prejudice and being labeled as an outcast of the community. Students could be encouraged to extend this theme by writing about times when they have felt like outcasts. Or, poetry dealing with not fitting into a group could be shared to highlight the significance of this theme.

Performing a small part of this novel through a Reader’s Theater script could help the history and storyline come alive for students. By adapting a part of one of the chapters and allowing volunteers to read aloud from a script, students will gain new meaning from this historical novel and will feel like they are in Connecticut in 1687 with Kit Tyler.

*Websites:
http://www.biblio.com/authors/419/Elizabeth_George_Speare_Biography.html
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/witch_of_blackbird_pond.pdf

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