Readings
Christopher Mackay ed. The Hammer of Witches following selections:
- Introduction (pages 1-58)
- Part One: Question 1 (pages 91-105); Question 6 (pages 159-173)
- Part Two: Choose two questions that interest you.
- Part Three: Please all of part three as it focuses specifically on the structure of witch trials.
Preparation
Reading the Malleus Maleficarum (this is the Latin title of The Hammer of Witches) is challenging! There will be many terms and concepts with which you are unfamiliar. Plus the author, Heinrich Kramer, is very long-winded. Read what you can, but make sure you read the intro and as much as part three as possible.
- Write down any questions you have while reading this text. Post some of them in the “course questions” channel on the chatboard. If you know the answer to questions posted by fellow students, answer them!
- Think about the following questions:
Who does Kramer argue are most likely to be witches? Why?
What are the kinds of activities Kramer describes that witches engage in? Why are those activities criminal (in his eyes)?
What justifications does Kramer give for why witchcraft trials should be conducted differently from other trials?
See if you can figure out the stages of a witchcraft trial according to Kramer. He sketches this out in part three of the Malleus.
Chatboard Group Discussion
We’ll start our discussion of this week’s reading The Hammer of Witches on the chatboard. Below is a list of chatboard discussion leaders for this week. If you are signed up, please post 1-2 discussions in your group’s channel. These questions can ask about your group’s thoughts regarding the whole reading or aspects of it, highlight themes, or link the reading to other things going on. It is up to you! Just make sure your questions are open ended as the idea is to get your group chatting with one another.
Questions should be posted by Monday evening. For the rest of the group members, please respond before class on Thursday.
Discussion Leaders
Sanderson Sisters: Sarah M.
Witch Better Have My Money: Ethan B.
Rowdy Russos: Mateya T.
Titanic Swimming Team: Riley I.