Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. The novel is set in 17th-century New England. List 6-8 facts or suppositions about the colonial history of New England in overview form (e.g., notable places, figures, events; conflicts; daily life). What are some social, cultural, and religious movements readers typically associate with this period?

Teaching Suggestion: The colonial history of New England is marked by Europeans’ struggles for independence and religious freedom but also by conflicts with Indigenous populations. Some areas, such as Martha’s Vineyard, were distinguished by relative peace and prosperity, but conflicts arose as the settlers clashed with other Europeans, with Indigenous populations, or with themselves. A review of key events in New England’s colonial history, perhaps by means of a basic timeline, will be beneficial for students before starting the novel. It also may be helpful to touch on how the conflicts and tensions that marked the colonial period eventually boiled over into the Revolutionary War and the birth of the United States.

• This article provides a brief overview of the history of Martha’s Vineyard.