Understanding what a Witch is
Were witches thought to be associated with the devil?
Yes
Which country was it especially dangerous to be called a witch?
Germany
Which gender was most likely to be accused of being a witch?
Women/females
Which monarch had a personal obsession with witchcraft?
King James I
Whose interests might have Shakespeare tailored Macbeth to suit?
King James I
How many people were nomally accused in a witch hunt?
2-3
How many suspected witches were put to death between 1500s and 1600s?
Roughly 80,000
How many male monarchs were executed for being suspected of witchcraft
How many people did the North Berwick witch trials charge for witchcraft?
At least 70 people were charged though not all were executed.
What is the number of 'weird sisters' in Macbeth who seemly possess witchlike qualities?
There are 3 weird sisters.
In a percentage, roughly how many of the accused were executed?
50%
Which time period was it most dangerous to be accused of being a witch?
Late 16th century to early 17th century. (or late 1500s to early 1600s)
What were the beliefs held on paganism? (Hint: relates to the church)
The belief of paganism was thought to oppose or defy Christian belief.
King James I was convinced that a group of witches were plotting to ...?
King James I was convinced that a group of witches were plotting to kill him.
Is this quote accurate?
'By the pricking of my thumbs, something evil this way comes.'
No, the correct quote is: 'By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.'
Why were Christans and the Church scared of witches?
The Church saw witches as a threat to their religion and thought they would overthrow Christan society.
Heinrich Kramer wrote the Malleus Maleficarum, a 'guide' to hunting and convicting 'witches'. Which year was it written?
1486
Witchcraft was seen as an act of ...? Provide one answer. (Hint: two options - one relates to religion and one to the crown)
Heresy, treason
The Witchcraft Act Laws were first passed in which year by King Henry VII?
Th Witchcraft Acts were first passed in 1542
Which themes (in general), did witchcraft amplify/symbolize in Macbeth?
Shakespeare uses witchcraft in Macbeth to reflect and amplify themes of ambition, disorder, and moral collapse.
List 2 misfortunate things (that were said the presentation) that 'non-christians' were blamed for.
Examples include: crop failure, disease, bad weather, ships sinking, burning villages or storms.
Approximately 42% of witchcraft trials ending in executions due to a handbook. What was this book called in english? (Hint: translated from Malleus Maleficarum)
The Hammer of Witches
Provide 3 traits that could make someone appear to be a witch. (That were listed in the presentation)
Examples inlcude: women over the age of 40, people with less wealth, being old or disabled, having birth or beauty marks, people who didn't follow Christian norms, people working with medicine, people with allergies, midwives, herbalists, women who are unable to conceive.
Which 2 main points (listed in the presentation) did King James I explore in the Daemonologie?
He explained the dangers of witchcraft and justified its prosecution.
How do the witches in Macbeth serve as agents of chaos, and what is the result of their actions?
The witches in Macbeth act as agents of chaos by planting the seed of ambition in Macbeth, leading to his downfall.