named in the story) is located in the country, separate from London, but near other villages. This is important because the other villages are the ones in danger of being infected with the plague because of their proximity to Eyam. Eyam is a small village where everyone knows everyone's business.

The rising action of the story begins when George Viccars dies of the plague and then Anna Frith, the main character of the story, loses both her sons to the plague. These are apparently separate incidents, but we surmise that materials that Viccars owned and used carried the fatal "plague seeds" in the form of fleas from London. Viccars was a tailor and he had ordered material to make dresses for the women in the village. It is important to note that the rising action builds suspense because of the fact that no one knows what is happening and why people are dying.

The climax of the story would be near the end when Elinor Mompellion, the rector's wife is killed by Aphra Bont at the outdoor chapel that Rector Mompellion had established. The story seemed to have come to a happy conclusion and then this happens to take away the happy feelings of triumph for the village.

The falling action would be when Anna goes to help the Bradford women deliver the bastard child of the Colonel's wife. This sets up the resolution in which Anna escapes to safety with the child that she adopts and calls her own.

The central theme can be expressed in a few different ways. One can be the resilience of the human spirit. In her book, Brooks particularly focuses on female courage.

This central theme is mainly conveyed through the character of Anna Frith. You may wish to discuss the events that describe how she manages to save her own child and Mrs. Bradford's illegitimate child.

The setting of the story definitely highlights Anna's courage in the face of adversity. Year of Wonders is set in the village of Eyam in Derbyshire, England, in the year 1666. History tells us that the Black Plague assaulted London society in the summer of 1665. More than 15% of the population died during that terrible summer. For more on the plague, please refer to the link below.

The dark, sinister setting of the story serves as the backdrop for many of Anna's courageous exploits. An example of this type of setting can be found in Part Two, Chapters Four and Five, which describe Anys' murder and the aftermath, when the villagers find themselves increasingly circumscribed by their ordeal.

An important symbol in the story are the herbs used by Mem and Anys Gowdie (and later Anna and Elinor Mompellion). In this novel, women wield the power of herbs to bring about comfort and healing to the stricken.

After the deaths of Mem and Anys Gowdie (the novel's female faith healers), Anna and Elinor are able to utilize the information from one of Avicenna's five-volume medical treatises to benefit their fellow villagers. For more on how Anna and Elinor utilize herbs like wolf's bane, please refer to this excellent link— Anna's Herbal: An Education In The Healing Power of Herbs. Also, in Part Two, Chapter Four, you may be interested in how Anys uses a special salve to bring Jamie temporary relief as he lays dying of the plague.

The novel's focus on how women are able to transcend affliction with courage is certainly supported by its reliance on important symbols, forbidding settings, and compelling characters.

As mentioned, the central theme of the novel is definitive female courage in the midst of adversity/tribulation.

In a literary work, the setting often includes descriptions of the weather, central locations, details about social culture, and descriptions about pertinent surroundings. In the novel, Brooks uses all of these elements to highlight the courage of the novel's female characters.

In Part Two Chapter 3, Brooks describes how Edward Cooper and Jamie Frith are caught playing with dead rats. It is Edward's mother, Mary, who catches the boys and alerts Jamie's mother (Anna) to the boys' exploits.

In the same chapter, the barber-surgeon (who tends to Edward) indirectly confirms Anna's suspicions that Edward is suffering from symptoms of the Black Plague. Meanwhile, the damp weather, which provides the right conditions for a flea infestation in the village, directly confirms the presence of the Black Plague.

History tells us that the plague was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which infected the Oriental rat flea. The rat flea began its murderous work by first infecting rodents such as mice and rats. Then, when the animals perished, the infected rat fleas sought their new home in the bodies of humans. This is how the Plague came to London in 1665. Note that the story is set in the fall of 1666: this period constituted the height of the Plague's domination in London.

The novel's dark setting is further reinforced in Part 2 Chapter 4, when the people's fears lead them to viciously target the female faith healers Mem and Anys Gowdie. Grieving villagers throw the brutally tortured Mem into the flooded mine and declare that she will be designated a witch unless she floats. Of course, Mem sinks straightaway. Despite the murderous throng surrounding the hapless Mem and the dangers the watery mine posed, Anna (our heroine) courageously works to save her friend.

The only one who steps in to assist Anna is Anys Gowdie, Mem's niece. The two eventually manage to pull Mem out, and the older woman revives after Anys performs CPR on her. However, the superstitious villagers now think that Anys used witchcraft to save Mem, and they turn on her. To protect Anys, Anna wards off blows from violently angry male villagers who are intent upon lynching the beleaguered faith healer. In the end, despite her best efforts, Anna is no match for the attackers. Anys is hanged and dies from her wounds.

The dark setting definitely reinforces Anna's courage. For more about the setting, you may want to discuss how the villagers feel circumscribed by the "wide green prison" of their existence (Part 2 Chapter 6). For more examples about Anna's courage, please refer to Part 2 Chapter 7, which discusses how Anna takes Maggie Cantwell (the Bradfords' servant) in, despite the fact that she now suffers from symptoms of the Plague. Meanwhile, in Part 3 Chapter 1, Anna saves Mrs. Elizabeth Bradford's illegitimate baby, by agreeing to raise the child as her own in another town. For their part, the Bradfords hide their evil intentions from Anna. Fortunately, Mr. Mompellion warns Anna (just in time) that the couple may be planning to kill her. Essentially, Anna puts her life in danger for the sake of an innocent child.

One of the strongest symbols that highlights the central theme is the medicinal herbs utilized by Mem, Anys, and Anna. You can find more information about this at Anna's Herbal: An Education In The Healing Power of Herbs.

Wormwood and feverfew: In Part 2 Chapter 4, Anys uses these herbs to try to bring Jamie's fever down. Despite the obvious risk to their lives, both Anys and Mem practice their herbal craft to benefit and comfort their fellow villagers. Their actions reinforce the central theme of the novel.

Comfrey: In Part 2 Chapter 5, this is the herb Elinor Mompellion and Anna use on Mem's wounded face. The herb is known to greatly aid the healing of wounds and is also beneficial as a skin tonic. Both Anna and Elinor willingly place their lives at risk in order to nurse Mem during the last days of her life. Again, the actions of these women reinforce the main theme of the novel.

The herbs that the women wield for the benefit of their fellow villagers symbolize the power of women as healers. For more, please refer to the links I have provided.