33 pages • 1 hour read
Paul S. BoyerSalem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1974A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Discuss the geography of Salem Village. How did its characteristics play into the conflict among its residents?
Samuel Parris had a career before he became pastor of the Village church. How did his past impact his behavior as a spiritual leader?
What sort of evidence was admitted in the witch trials? Why is witchcraft a difficult charge to prove legally?
Discuss the fortunes of the Putnam family, its leaders, and why the Putnam home became a nexus for accusations of witchcraft.
Some believe that ergot poisoning is a probable cause of the aberrant behavior in Salem. Why did the adults in the Village immediately jump to the conclusion of witchcraft as a cause? How else might they have interpreted the strange behavior of their children?
Explain the factions that existed in Salem Village in 1692. Why did they oppose one another?
Why did the Porter family align itself with the anti-Parris faction? Describe how Israel Porter’s behavior might have contributed to friction with the Putnams.
Why was a changing world a threat to Salem Village? To Puritanism itself?
What role did the local church play in the controversy between Village and Town?
Discuss the ideal Puritan community as envisioned by the founders of Massachusetts colony. Did Salem fit this model?
