A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812

Nature imagery is prominent throughout Ulrich’s book. Examine how the imagery functions to connect Martha and her work to the natural world and the rhetorical effect of this connection.

Compare and contrast Arminianism and Calvinism. What are their similarities and differences? How is each religious sect depicted in the text?

Conduct research into other notable historical diaries. How do diaries help researchers understand the world in which the diarists live? How do diaries differ from other first-hand historical sources?

Examine the gender dichotomy between men and women in A Midwife’s Tale. How do the public versus private spheres inform gender dynamics? Does Martha’s role outside the home allow her to rise above this gender dichotomy in any way? Why or why not?

Court proceedings play an important role throughout Martha’s life. Explore the different court proceedings that Martha attended and wrote about. What does her role in the courtroom suggest about her larger role in the community?

Martha was deeply religious yet did not attend church services as regularly as her husband Ephraim. What does this suggest about the difference between public and private faith in Hallowell?

The Purrington Massacre comes as a violent “scene,” or interruption, to regular life in Hallowell. How does Martha’s depiction of the murders compare to the public perception of the event? How is her depiction informed by her faith and her proximity to the family affected?

Compare and contrast the role of the midwife and the role of the physician in Martha’s time and the present. How are/were they perceived socially? Where does/did their work overlap? How did perceptions of each profession change over the time period contained in Martha’s diary?