Caleb's Crossing

The treatment of the Wampanoag by the Mayfields and Merrys seems like an alternative to the hostility that we see elsewhere. Why do these settlers’ communicate and cooperate with Indigenous people so well? 

Reading this in the 21st century, we can see many things that Bethia herself does not realize—a form of a literary device called dramatic irony. What are some of the things that Bethia does not see that we can see? What is the effect on readers of knowing something she doesn’t know?

Compare gender, race, and class conflicts in this novel. Is it fair to compare Bethia and Caleb’s experiences, and to compare their experiences to class differences between rich and poor students or does this kind of comparison across groups devalue their individual experiences? Why or why not?