GERMAN 363: WITCHES. MYTH & HISTORICAL REALITY. FALL 09
PROFESSOR SUSAN COCALIS

REVIEW SHEET FOR IN-CLASS TEST I: (100 points) Thurs. Oct. 22, 2009: 4-5.30 pm. A-L = ECSC II, 119 ; M-Z Thompson 102.

[MAKE-UP TEST: Tuesday, October 27: 6-7:30, Fernald 11]

I. IDENTIFICATIONS: 50 points
This will be a multiple-choice part of the examination. Bring a #2 pencil for the scantron forms. The IDs will include dates of certain major works + know centuries which marked transitions in concept of witches/ persecutions.

Biblical/Pre-Christian:
Witch of Endor, Divination
Eve
Exodus & Leviticus passages
Translations of the Old Testament (St. James Version, Martin Luther & when, what context)
Circe, Medea, Oracle of Delphi
Diana

Scandinavian Witches:
Freya
Eddas & Sagas
voluspá
Odin, Loki
Geirrid + Katla (Eyrbyggia Saga)
Gulveig the Witch
Seidr + Galdr
Wild Hunt
Thorbjorg & Gudrid (Eirik’s Saga)

Christianity:
Cathars & Waldensians (in Cohn)
Early Christian Legal Codes
Canon episcopi
Innocent VIII/Summis desiderantes affectibus
Malleus Maleficarum, Heinrich Kramer & Jakob Sprenger
Inquisition (beginnings + Inquisition of witches), Dominican Order
Strappado & Squassation
Pricking
Who is present at trial?
Burning v. Hanging
Letters of Julius Junius & Rebecca Lemp
Reformation
Martin Luther, St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, Sermon on 1 Peter 34-6
Hans Sachs, The Devil Married an Old Woman
3 Pillars of Protestant Society
Idolatry
Heresy, crimen exceptum
Subsidiarity v. Complementarity (Women's Roles)
Fertility
Battle for the Pants
Midwives
"Early Modern" Period
Medieval
Swedish Trials
9,000,000 victims
100,00-200,000 victims

Artists
Albrecht Dürer
Hans Baldung Grien
Guazzo & Molitor

Readings:
Norman Cohn
Sigrid Brauner
Diane Purkiss, "Myth of the Burning Times"
Starhawk
The Burning Times (Film)

II. 5 Essay Questions (choice): 50 points
Please answer 5 of the following questions to the best of your ability within the general framework of the course. In giving examples, please refer to any relevant sources in the reader by the author and an abbreviated title: e.g., Brauner (Concept,Wanton Women, Luther), Starhawk, (Burning Times), Cohn (Myth of Satan), etc. Try to organize your thoughts into coherent arguments. Do not choose two topics that overlap.

Potential Topics:

1. What is the “Myth of Satan” in Norman Cohn’s essay of that name? In general terms what does it consist of and how has it been used by various groups in history?

2. What were some of the early Christian laws applying to witchcraft (4th-10th centuries) and what do they tell us about witches in society at that time?

3. What changes had to be initiated in the legal system (Inquisition) and how did the public's attitude toward "witches" have to change for a wide-spread witchhunt to occur?

4. What is the canon episcopi and what is its importance for the Inquisition of witches?

5. What role do the papal bull and the Malleus play in the Inquisition of Witches? How do they define a "witch"?

6. How does Luther define the Protestant witch (as many attributes as possible)? Name 5 major differences from the Catholic witch?

7. Describe a typical profile, arrest, trial, and punishment of a German witch. Refer to examples from the assigned readings.

8. What is the "Myth of the Burning Times"? Who is associated with arguments pro & contra?

9. What role did "witches" play in Norse society? Give examples of contrasting functions.