Genre #5 Book Review #1: Elizabeth George Speare - THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND

1.Bibliography –

Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-440-99577-9

2. Plot Summary –

“Orphaned Kit Tyler knows, as she gazes for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home will never be like the shimmering Carribean islands she left behind. In her relatives’ stern Puritan community, she feels like a tropical bird that that has flown to the wrong part of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely. The only place where Kit feels completely free is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, and on occasion, her young sailor friend Nat. But when Kit’s friendship with the ‘witch’ is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of witchcraft!” (Speare, E., 1958).

3. Critical Analysis -

a.Characters –
The main characters of the story are Katherine “Kit” Tyler, Hannah Tupper - the old Quaker woman, Nat Eaton - the sailor from the ship the Dolphin, her cousins Mercy and Judith Wood, her Aunt Rachel Wood and Uncle Matthew Wood – who let Kit stay with them in Wethersfield, William Ashyby – the rich lad who courts Kit, John Holbrook – the clergyman who courts Judith but really wanted to court Mercy, Goodwife Cruff – who accuses Kit of being a witch, and the little girl, Goodwife’s daughter, Prudence Cruff - whom Kit teaches to read and write.

As the books main character, “Kit is an impetuous, young girl. Orphaned as a baby, she is brought up in wealth and freedom by her grandfather. One can even say she has been a bit spoiled. Kit has never done a day's work in her life. Her grandfather has been a plantation owner and has many slaves. Slavery is something Kit takes for granted. She has grown up with it and never even gives it a second thought. Kit is used to wealth, color and pretty clothes.

Arriving in a Puritan society, so different to what she knows, is a great shock to her. She has a difficult time adapting to the drab life and hard work. Kit finds all the prayer sessions long and boring. She has never had much of a religious education. The young girl loves reading” (bookrags, 2009), teaching others to read, and spending time in the meadow and with Hannah. Her ways are seen as unpure by the Puritan community as she doesn’t do well to keep herself in line; she speaks her mind, is a Royalist where the King is concerned, consorts with witches (Hannah the Quaker) and can even swim (another witch-like quality).

b. Plot –
“Forced to leave her sunny Caribbean home for the bleak Connecticut Colony, Kit Tyler is filled with trepidation. What this spirited teenager doesn't count on, however, is how her aunt and uncle's stern Puritan community will view her. In the colonies of 1687, a girl who swims, wears silk and satin gowns, and talks back to her elders is not only headstrong, she is in grave danger of being regarded as a witch. When Kit befriends an old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, it is more than the ascetics can take: soon Kit is defending her life. Who can she count on as she confronts these angry and suspicious townspeople?” (Amazon, 2009).

c. Setting –
The story begins with Kit on the ship the Dolphin that is sailing from Barbados to Connecticut. The author vividly describes the integral settings to the reader: the ship, the house that Kit stays in with her family in Connecticut, the river, the great meadow, Hannah’s cabin, the meeting house, as well as Blackbird Pond. Through these descriptions, Speares helps recreate the time and place of the story which not only contributes to the story’s authenticity but aids the reader in visualizing Kit’s tale.

“The novel is set in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1687. The author gives a very good description of what the living conditions and habits are in colonial New England. Mrs. Speare also provides the reader with the political and religious scenarios of the time. The book's setting is a very essential part of the story.

This is essentially a historical novel. The story and the main characters are fictional, but based on the behavioral, religious and political reality of the time. The story has a background of true historical facts and characters” (Bookrags, 2009).

“One of Speare's outstanding achievements as a writer is her ability to create a strong sense of place. In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, the contrast between Barbados and New England highlights the distinct characteristics of the Connecticut setting. Speare sets up this contrast in the novel's opening chapter : ‘The bleak line of shore surrounding the gray harbor was a disheartening contrast to the shimmering green and white that fringed the turquoise bay of Barbados...’. Throughout the novel, Speare associates drab colors, particularly gray and black, with Kit's new home, while she describes Barbados with colorful imagery” (Bookrags, 2009).

d. Theme –
Two of the themes in this book are intolerance and bigotry:

“In this novel, Elizabeth George Speare shows the dangers of intolerance and bigotry. In general, it is very necessary for people to feel that they fit in. In this way, they feel secure. They feel in control. Those who are different might disrupt their ordered world. This disruption is frightening. All that is unknown is frightening. Therefore, whoever is different is seen a threat. That is what causes the intolerance.

Bigotry and intolerance are very dangerous within a community or society. When people feel that they are the only ones who are right, they give themselves illegitimate power. They justify the most hideous acts under the ruse of righteousness. Some of the most tragic events have occurred under the name of righteousness.

For example, in this book, one sees how the Quakers are persecuted and treated terribly, through the character Hannah’s also known by the townsfolk as the Witch of Blackbird Pond” (Bookrags, 2009).

e. Style –
The author writes this story to reflect the times back in the mid-1600’s as well as way of speech that the God-fearing Puritans would use to talk to one another. It is written so well that all of the above literary elements are woven together to help create this story from a previous historical time. Also, “the story is written in a very straightforward, narrative style. It is written in third person. It concentrates on the main character, Kit. She is present in all the scenes, so the reader's knowledge is restricted to Kit's experiences and point of view” (Bookrags, 2009).

f. Additional criteria –
“Even though the story of Kit Tyler is fictitious, a few real people walk through the imaginary story. Sir Edmond Andros, the royal governor, Captain Samuel Talcott, the magistrate, Eleazer Kimberley, the schoolmaster, and Reverend Gersholm Bulkeley, the ardent royalist, were important men of their time” (Speare, E., 1958).

g. Awards & recognitions –
** Winner of the 1959 Newbery Medal
** ALA Notable Children's Book

4. Review Excerpts –

** “Irresistible!” –- The Washington Post

** “Compelling.” -– 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."--Booklist.

** A high-spirited teenage girl rebels against the narrow-minded ways of Puritan Connecticut and befriends a lonely old woman who is subsequently accused of being a witch. "Strong plot, fully realized characters, and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative."--Booklist.

** “Outstanding.” -– San Francisco Chronicle

5. Connections –

Books by Elizabeth George Speare include:
• Calico Captive (1957)
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1958) Winner of the 1959 Newbery Medal
• The Bronze Bow (1961) Winner of the 1962 Newbery Medal.
• The Sign of the Beaver (1983)

This book lends itself to so many educational connections for students, not only from a historical point of view but also from a humanistic stand point.
Some essay questions that you can think about and research with students in connection with this story are:

• “What influence do different climatic conditions have on cultural habits?
• Does bigotry and religious intolerance still exist today? How does it affect our lives?
• Who are the Quakers, and why are they considered troublemakers?
• Would modern day people be able to survive without all the conveniences of ready-made products, machines and communication systems the way the early settlers did?” (Bookrags, 2009).

Other topics for discussion could include:

1. “Why does Speare load the first chapter with so many important characters?
Are all the principal characters well drawn?
2. Does Kit react to situations the same way that a sixteen-year-old today would?
3. What might readers conclude about outcasts in this Puritan society? About the Quakers?” (Bookrags, 2009).

Cool Classroom Connections:

“Puritans
What's a Puritan? Why did they come to America? What's the difference between a Puritan and a Pilgrim? What would it be like to live in a family of Puritans? What is a Quaker?

Witches
Explore the history of the Salem Witch trials. Compare Kit's experience at her trial.

Early American Life
Learn about Connecticut yesterday and today. Explore the life of the women and children in colonial New England. Contrast Kit's life with her grandfather and life with her Puritan aunt and Uncle. Discuss the government of early Connecticut. What was the charter? What was the relationship of England with the colonies?

Barbados Island
Where is Barbados? What does it look like? Draw a picture.that will remind Kit of home. What does the land look like? What about the plants and animals?

Prejudices
Have you ever been unfair to someone or had something said to you based on your physical appearance? How do we form our prejudices?” (Literature Learning Ladders, 2002).


Note:
I also listened to the CD of the book and thought it was great! The narrator, Mary Beth Hurt was wonderful! She used different voices and intonations to reflect the different characters in the story and was very interesting to listen to! I found this review of the audio story and I agreed with the reviewer:

“Into the somber, hard, emotionally deadened world of the American Puritans drops Kit--a charming, vibrant young woman from the Caribbean. Narrator Mary Beth Hurt sets the tone from the beginning, emphasizing Kit's enthusiasm, intelligence, and independent nature. Her clipped speech and sometimes breathy delivery draw a vivid picture of this lively young woman, forced to tamp down her spirit to fit into this negative, overbearing society. Hurt creates individual and clearly recognizable voices for all the characters, from Hannah's gentle, kind spirit to Matthew's solid but intimidating presence; and she skillfully develops Prudence from an obedient, fearful child without hope to a bright, caring, and courageous young girl. Speare's classic adapts well to audio, and Hurt gives it life, and hope.” (Amazon, 2009).



References

Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-440-99577-9

Bookrags, (2005-2009). The witch of blackbird pond study guide, retrieved October 31, 2009, from http://www.bookrags.com/The_Witch_of_Blackbird_Pond

Amazon, (1996-2009). The witch of blackbird pond, retrieved November 1, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Blackbird-Elizabeth-George-Speare/dp/0440995779/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Literature Learning Ladders, (2002). The witch of blackbird pond, retrieved November 1, 2009, from
http://eduscapes.com/newbery/59a.html