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

Short Answer Questions

1. What really concerns Edward Howes about what is going on in the Fones household?

2. Who is the youngest child in the Fones family?

3. Who is the eldest of the Fones children?

4. What vision has Peyto revealed to Bess?

5. What does Bess do to lift the spirits of the Groton villagers?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has Bess become a controversial and suspicious character among the villagers in Watertown where she lives?

2. What is the status of John Winthrop's colony in Chapter 10?

3. Why is Groton Manor a wonderland to the Fones children?

4. What is it about Anne Hutchinson's beliefs that is so appealing to Bess?

5. What is Bess' state of mind in Chapter 4?

6. Who is William Coddington and what is Bess' opinion of him?

7. Explain the irony in the relationships between Bess and her Winthrop cousins, Harry and Jack, who are brothers.

8. What happens at Anne Hutchinson's trial for heresy?

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

10. What would lead to the accusations that Harry's Egyptian servant, Peyto, is a witch?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain John Winthrop's position regarding the deaths of Daniel Patrick and Anne Hutchinson. Is it ironic that such a religious man could validate the deaths of these two people? What is his reasoning behind his position? Do you think that instills fear or comfort in the others in the colony?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

What is the purpose of the Robert Feake character in the novel? Why does the author introduce him shortly after Bess' marriage to Harry? Discuss the literary device of foreshadowing and whether Feake's appearance can be classified as foreshadowing or just an accident in the plot. Why does the author craft the story so that Bess will be anchored to the insane Feakes later on in the story? What does Feakes represent in Bess' life each time he appears?

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