The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a historical fiction novel written by Elizabeth George Speare. Set in the late 1600s, the story follows a young girl named Kit Tyler who moves from Barbados to Connecticut to live with her aunt and uncle. However, she faces challenges as she struggles to adapt to the Puritan lifestyle and is accused of being a witch due to her unconventional behavior and friendship with an elderly Quaker woman. Kit is initially seen as a free-spirited and independent character, which clashes with the strict and conservative beliefs of the Puritan community in which she finds herself. She befriends a young sailor named Nat Eaton, who is considered by the Puritans to be a "dangerous influence". As their friendship develops, Kit is faced with the choice between conforming to the societal expectations or following true friendship.
Address: 5127 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108
I expect most people will come in here and have fun, he said, but there are also those people who will start businesses, and the point is, we have all the tools here to do that. Title 1 schools as well as schools with 50 percent or more students that qualify for free and reduced lunch are eligible to participate in this program free of charge.
As their friendship develops, Kit is faced with the choice between conforming to the societal expectations or following true friendship. The novel explores themes of intolerance, prejudice, and the search for identity. The Puritan community believes in strict adherence to their religious beliefs, leading to an unwelcoming and judgmental atmosphere.
The Magic House Teams Up On Makerspace For Kids In St. Louis
Alexandra Wessels (right) builds a rainbow Lego hotel with twins Sophie (middle) and Cecie (left) Goeller on the first day of a summer camp at The Magic House at MADE. Roughly 30,000 people are expected to visit the space by the end of the year.
Through the doors of the Magic House at MADE, kids are testing rocket launchers, designing video game characters and learning how to use 3D printers.
This new satellite location on Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis is a recent expansion from the children’s museum’s flagship in Kirkwood. What’s different is the focus on entrepreneurship.
“MADE stands for makers, artists, designers and entrepreneurs, so we’ve divided our space into those four areas,” says Beth Fitzgerald, president of The Magic House.
It’s a partnership between the children’s museum and some well-known innovators in St. Louis like entrepreneur Jim McKelvey and the Cortex Innovation Community. Their goal with this new space is to inspire the next wave of entrepreneurs and creatives, most especially in underserved neighborhoods in north St. Louis.
“We’re trying to reach young makers, and everybody is a maker in their heart. I believe every human, especially little humans, like building things,” McKelvey said.
The Making Of MADE
McKelvey always wanted to create a makerspace in St. Louis. The co-founder of Square and Third Degree Glass, among other ventures, was inspired by glassblowing and woodworking early on in life.
“When I was a kid we didn’t have makerspaces like this, but I was always jealous of the guy with a table saw in his garage or somebody’s father who had a welding machine or whose mother had some really cool equipment,” he said. “So as soon as I had the chance, opening a place like this was absolutely something I was going to do.”
McKelvey funded the MADE building, which his Third Degree Class co-founder Doug Auer renovated. The adult makerspace opened up in November, just a year after TechShop filed for bankruptcy. The national makerspace had operated in St. Louis in the Cortex Innovation Community, and CEO Dennis Lower was holding on to over $1 million in equipment — like a water jet, laser cutter and woodworking shop.
“The business model is that I paid for everything, and Dennis, the guys at Cortex got us equipment for basically a buck a year,” McKelvey said. “So we have this super sweetheart deal on the equipment, we have this super sweetheart deal on the space and we’re just trying to cover our costs. I’m hoping it breaks even.”
The Magic House came to MADE with a similar mission to offer a makerspace that’s affordable for all families. While its Kirkwood location charges $12 a day, a day admission to the St. Louis location is just $5. A yearlong family pass is $50, and scholarships are available for summer camps.
That’s thanks in part to a $500,000 donation from Cortex, specifically to cover entrance fees for kids from underserved neighborhoods.
Credit Corinne Ruff | St. Louis Public RadioNoah Speed (left) and Forrest Hart (right) crank a wheel to launch bottle rockets. This is one of many STEAM-focused activities at The Magic House's first permanent location in St. Louis.
Kids are allowed to play with whatever sparks their curiosity. Digital easels, pottery wheels and laser cutters are all designed to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, art and math. Lower says these kinds of experiences are essential, and making them available for kids of all backgrounds is one step toward making future tech jobs accessible, too.
“Our horizons are determined by what we are exposed to. And so if we’re looking to bring the next gen into the STEM and STEAM professions, we have to start now, we have to captivate their imaginations,” Lower said. “We have to show them what they can do with their hands and their mind.”
A Makers Village
For McKelvey, Lower and others involved in the makers movement, it’s not just about creating one makerspace — but an entire village along Delmar Boulevard between Kingshighway Boulevard and Union Boulevard.
That would include more work shops and retail locations where entrepreneurs could sell their wares. At the end of June, MADE, The Magic House and Third Degree Glass will host the first Delmar Makers Fair for artists and designers to showcase their work.
“What we’re trying to do is make a makers genius cluster,” McKelvey said. “So if you look at the history of other parts of the world that have exceptional talent that’s really deep in an area, what you find is people with similar but not identical backgrounds clustering together. So, we’re hoping to do that with makers here,” he said.
Currently, about a half-dozen businesses operate out of the MADE space, and McKelvey hopes that number rises to 20 or 30 within a year.
He’s also hoping these makers serve as role models to the kids up on the second floor, as they develop their own entrepreneurial skills to market and sell their designs.
“We don’t expect everyone to come in here and build a business. I expect most people will come in here and have fun,” he said, “but there are also those people who will start businesses, and the point is, we have all the tools here to do that.”
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“Our horizons are determined by what we are exposed to. And so if we’re looking to bring the next gen into the STEM and STEAM professions, we have to start now, we have to captivate their imaginations,” Lower said. “We have to show them what they can do with their hands and their mind.”
Kit's friendship with Hannah Tupper, the elderly Quaker woman who lives by Blackbird Pond, draws suspicion from the community and she is accused of being a witch. This reflects the prevailing attitude of the time towards those with different beliefs or actions that do not align with the community's norms. While the novel explores the difficulties and challenges faced by Kit in the Puritan society, it also emphasizes the importance of acceptance and understanding. As Kit navigates her new life in Connecticut, she learns the value of true friendship, love, and the importance of staying true to oneself. She challenges the prejudices and stereotypes of the society and ultimately shows that being different does not make someone a witch or a threat. Overall, The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a compelling story that illuminates the struggles and triumphs of a young girl in a society defined by intolerance and judgment. Through the experiences of Kit Tyler, the novel highlights the importance of acceptance and staying true to oneself, even in the face of adversity..
Reviews for "Analyzing the Role of Women in The Witch of Blackbird Pond using Sparknotes"
1. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really disappointed with "The Witch of Blackbird Pond Sparknotes Guide." While I was expecting a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the novel, it felt like a shallow summary of the story rather than an in-depth guide. The analysis lacked any real depth or meaningful interpretation of the themes, characters, and plot. I was hoping for more critical insights and discussion points to help me better understand the book, but this guide fell short of my expectations. Overall, I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a thorough analysis of the novel.
2. Jason - ★★☆☆☆
"The Witch of Blackbird Pond Sparknotes Guide" didn't live up to its reputation for me. The guide provided a brief and simple summary of the story, but it lacked detail and analysis. I was hoping for more explanations of the historical context and the religious beliefs that shaped the characters' actions, but it barely scratched the surface. Additionally, the Sparknotes guide didn't include any thought-provoking discussion questions or critical analysis, which left me unsatisfied. I believe there are better study guides available for this novel that offer a more insightful and comprehensive examination.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
"The Witch of Blackbird Pond Sparknotes Guide" was a letdown for me. I was expecting a guide that would delve deeper into the major themes and motifs of the novel, but I found it lacking in substance. The analysis provided felt surface-level and didn't offer any new insights or interpretations of the story. I also felt that the guide missed opportunities to explore the complex relationships between the characters and the societal issues they faced. Overall, I was left wanting more from this guide, and I would recommend seeking alternative study materials for a deeper understanding of the novel.
4. Michael - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "The Witch of Blackbird Pond Sparknotes Guide" to be a disappointment. The guide provided a basic summary of the story but lacked the depth and analysis that I was hoping for. It failed to provide meaningful insights into the historical context and the impact of the characters' actions. The guide seemed more focused on providing basic information rather than engaging readers in deeper discussions or critical thinking. Overall, I felt that this Sparknotes guide fell short and did not enhance my understanding or enjoyment of the novel.