The Heretic's Daughter

Sarah’s opinion of her mother transforms over the course of the novel. Describe her attitude as a nine-year-old. How does it change by the time she’s in her fifties? Use textual evidence to illustrate this transformation.

Compare the written history that Sarah maintains about the Salem witch trials with the written history that the town itself maintains. How do they differ? What attitude toward the trials motivates the actions of each?

Discuss the various external threats that affect the Puritan colony in the novel. How do people react to these challenges? Explain their reaction(s), using textual and historical evidence to provide perspective.

What distinguishes Thomas Carrier from the other men in his village? Why isn’t he arrested for witchcraft? Why doesn’t he try to stop his wife from confronting the judges in Salem?

How does the novel present gossip? Using textual evidence, examine the author’s opinion toward it and what role it plays in the Salem trials in the novel.

Give a character sketch of Roger Toothaker. Why does Sarah like him? Using textual evidence, argue for whether her opinion of him is valid.

Describe the various functions of the meetinghouse. How does its role relate to the connection of church and state in Puritan society? What other informal role does it play in the community?

The community’s leaders are also its clergy. Give examples from the novel that illustrate how combining these two functions is a bad idea.