View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is Jack Winthrop's new wife?

2. Whose controversial beliefs are causing division in Boston?

3. What kind of mood is evident in the interim period between governors?

4. What has Bess' cousin, Harry, sent from Barbados?

5. The local miller named Pond receives a letter from his son in New England who wants to return home because ____________________________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is John Winthrop so interested in going to the New World?

2. Why does Bess agree to marry the intellectual and boring Edward Howes?

3. What is the environment inside Groton Manor?

4. In what way does the Fones apothecary suffer because of their religious beliefs?

5. Why does Fitch, the Fones' family servant, tell Edward Howes that the Fones house is being run by the devil?

6. Why do Bess' neighbors think Bess' new maid, the Indian named Telaka, does the works of the devil?

7. Why is John Winthrop worried after his ship sets sail for New England?

8. Why is Harry not John Winthrop's favorite child?

9. What is the relationship of Elizabeth, the main character, to the powerful Winthrop family?

10. Explain the irony of the imposition of religious beliefs on people in New England.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the irony of Bess' boredom being married to a lively character like Harry Winthrop. How has the original excitement about Harry diminished? Does Harry even know how to be a good husband based on the father whose example he has had? Could the marriage between Bess and Harry be saved? What would it take to fix it?

Essay Topic 2

Bess does not believe in God ever since her flogging as a child yet she is the kindest character in the book. Does Bess have her own version of religion? Does Bess have an innate goodness and spirituality that does not need formality? How can Bess continue to live her life without the validation of a formal religion? Why doesn't she just give in and declare her profession of faith so that her life will be easier? What is Bess' internal code of conduct and why can't she be swayed in any other direction?

Essay Topic 3

Do you think the trial of Anne Hutchinson reflects more negatively on John Winthrop than it does on Anne? Explain. After some research on the transcripts of Anne's trials, what opinion do you have of her? Was Anne an agitator or someone with pure motives? Why could John Winthrop make no allowances for Anne and just let her lead her own life? Was John's behavior motivated by religion or male dominance?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,027 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample