The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Main points of the chapters we have discussed so far...

Chapter 1

• Reader is introduced to Kit Tyler, 16-year old who is traveling to the American Colonies.

• Kit is traveling alone to the colonies from Barbados.

• There are several characters who are on the boat ride with Kit such as Mr. Holbrook, who is studying to be a minister

• The Cruff family is on the boat, and Kit sees them as surly.

• The name of the settlement Kit is traveling to is Wethersfield.

• The name of the boat she is traveling on is the Dolphin.

Chapter 2

• Kit describes Prudence Cruff, a sad and lonely child she is somehow drawn to.

• The reader learns that Kit's parents died when she was very young and that she was raised by her grandfather.

• Kit's grandfather was a wealthy plantation owner in Barbados.

• Kit is on her way to the colonies to meet her aunt, her only living relative after her grandfather dies.

• The reader learns that Kit can read and often does so for pleasure, not for work or study.

• When Kit finally arrives in Wethersfield, there is no one to meet her.

Chapter 3

• Wethersfield disappoints Kit with how small it is.

• When Kit meets her relatives for the first time, she notices how somber and plainly dressed they all are.

• Kit's family in the Colony is made up of her uncle Matthew, her aunt Rachel and her cousins Mercy and Judith.

• Her cousin Mercy is lame due to a fever she had as a child.

• Her aunt is happy to see her until she learns that Kit has come to live with them.

• Kit explains that when her grandfather was ill, he was also embezzled, and now Kit has nothing.

• Wethersfield is a Puritan community.

Chapter 4

• Kit gives some of her fancy and brightly colored clothes to her cousins as gifts.

• Matthew gets angry when he sees the gifts his daughters have been given and makes them return the dresses.

• Kit is warned that she must abide by their rules if she is to stay there.

• Kit has to work and do chores for the first time in her life and does not like it.

• Mercy is patient with Kit, but Judith is annoyed with her.

Chapter 5

• Kit must attend prayer meeting but is not used to religion playing a role in her life.

• Kit finds the prayer meeting very long and boring

• While at the prayer meeting Kit sees her acquaintance from her journey, John. Holbrook.

• After the prayer meeting Kit is introduced to William Ashby, who seems to be somewhat taken by her.

Chapter 6

• Dr. Bulkeley and John Holbrook come to the Woods' house for dinner.

• Matthew and Dr. Bulkeley get into a bit of a spat over political differences.

• The reverend prays for Mercy's affliction, and this irritates Kit, who does not see Mercy as weak or afflicted but strong and caring.

• Matthew informs his family that William Ashby wants to court Kit.

• Judith's previous hopes of marrying William are dashed.

Chapter 7

• William comes to the Woods' house to court Kit, but Kit is uncomfortable and really has nothing to say to him.

• William announces in a conversation with the Wood family that he is building a house and preparing to settle down.

• Matthew and William get into a disagreement about England's involvement in the Colonies.

• Kit wrestles with not knowing if she wants to marry William and is annoyed that she does not seem to have too much of a say in this matter.

Reminders: Journals due on Fridays. Must be a whole page to get full credit.