Salem Witch Trials in History and Literature
An Undergraduate Course, University of
Virginia
Spring Semester 2001
Class Photo April 2001
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Salem Witch Trials in History and Literature
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These essays were all completed by students participating in the "Salem Witch Trials in Literature and History" course taught by Professor Benjamin Ray at the University of Virginia during the spring of 2001. All of the following articles were composed with a high school or first year college audience in mind using a combination of actual trial documents and secondary scholarship. We hope that our work will be useful to you in your studies.
Each student has produced a biographical profile for two key participants in the Salem Witch Trials. These profiles include basic facts, including some genealogy (parents, spouse or spouses, children) when relevant, family relationships, some quotes taken from original documents, and the key interpretive issues involved about each person's role in the trials.
Analysis of courtroom examination.
Every student was also responsible for an analysis of a particularly dramatic courtroom scene taken from the actual 17th century pre-trial examination transcripts. These examination transcripts humanize all of the participants, providing great insight into the motives and behaviors of the judges, the accused and the accusers.