The Witch Of Blackbird Pond

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What does the term “witch hunt” mean in modern times? What were some well-known witch hunts in world history?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may benefit from a discussion on the perception of “witch hunts” during the time period of the novel’s publication (the late 1950s). With pre-reading introduction or review of the post-WWII/early Cold War era, students can discuss throughout their reading whether McCarthyism and the Red Scare may have impacted the author’s choices, and speculate on parallels a reader in that time might have discovered. Information from these or similar resources can help students develop additional context on the topics of historical or figurative witch hunts.

• “McCarthyism and the Red Scare” - This article from the University of Virginia gives the historical context of McCarthyism.
• “The Salem Witch Trials of 1692” - The Peabody Essex Museum site offers a condensed history and other resources related to the Salem Witch Trials.
• “Witch Trials in Early Modern Europe and New England” - Berkeley Law discusses the suppositions, accusations, and processes involved in historical witch trials. (Teacher-appropriate; not student-facing due to complexity and content)

2. Who were the Puritans? What were some of their beliefs, and how did these beliefs impact their daily lives? What were the roles and responsibilities of women in Puritan society, and how did religious doctrine influence these roles?

Teaching Suggestion: If students do not have much background on the topic, they might be able to speculate more effectively if they consider the reason for Puritanism’s emergence, in that it developed as a response to the perceived corruption of the Church of England. This might help students to see why the Puritans immigrated to America and why they had such a strict moral code. This historical context will be useful for students in understanding the attitudes of the Puritan characters in Connecticut, especially as Kit comes into conflict with the strictness of Puritan society. It could also serve as background for discussing the attitude of Puritans toward the King of England and why some of them might have chafed under his rule, as Matthew does in the novel.

• “Puritanism in New England” - This article from Washington State University provides an overview of Puritan beliefs. (Teacher-appropriate; not student-facing due to complexity, reading level, and appropriateness/sensitive language)
• “Colonial America for Kids: Puritans” - This Ducksters article provides a simpler overview of Puritan beliefs, including a small portion on women’s roles.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

What are some challenges of moving to a completely new place, especially one where you are considered an outsider? Reflect on a time when you felt out of place or unaccepted in a certain community or group. How did you react?

Teaching Suggestion: With this potentially sensitive topic, it may be helpful to welcome students to draw on examples from books, film, or TV. Alternatively, students might brainstorm ways to promote acceptance and inclusivity. At a more advanced level, students might additionally discuss assimilation versus integration.

• “Create a Sense of Belonging” - This brief Psychology Today article offers advice on building positive, welcoming environments and promotes self-acceptance as a first step.
• “On Being an Outsider” - This article from the New York Times describes the different approaches that three members of a household have with feeling like an outsider. (Subscription may be needed to view.)
• “The Important Difference Between Assimilation and Integration” - This article discusses challenges that immigrants face and why some people or communities find it easier to assimilate.

Differentiation Suggestion: To encourage student agency and for students who might benefit from an opportunity to practice artistic skills, a visual representation of their experiences as an outsider might replace this writing prompt. For example, utilizing a line drawing or blank template of a human form, students might include their own characteristics on the inside of the form and the characteristics of the outside community in the background.