THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS

By Maggie Scott

Reading Ladder

11th Grade ELA The Crucible Reading Ladder

“No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in the monstrous attack up on this village. There is too much evidence now to deny it.”

-Arthur Miller, The Crucible (61)

This reading ladder provides texts and materials related to the play The Crucible. A wide range of materials ensures that students will make at least one connection with a piece of the ladder to the play. The modern day comparisons will encourage students to apply what is learned throughout the process to their daily life, while the videos and background information inform the students on crucial facts and tellings of what happened in Salem in the 1600s. The combination and layering of multimodal pieces allows room for each student to connect all the pieces of the ladder together, and find interest in at least one, if not more, aspect of the ladder.

Themes: power and sexism

Texts

Genre

Summary

Justification

Hytner, N. (Director). (n.d.). The crucible [Video file]. Retrieved September 17, 2018, from https://www.amazon.com/CrucibleDaniel-LewisWinonaRyder/dp/B0093CP9VQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537207127&sr=81&keywords=thecrucible

Film

This film is a visual way for students to see and understand The Crucible.

Following the conclusion of each section, the students will watch the 1996 movie made of the play. This film is really helpful for students that have a hard time following an auditory lesson and need to see the story in action.

School apologizes for 'sexist' dress code video - CNN Video. (2018, August 20). Retrieved September 17, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2018/08/20/apology-after-texas-high-school-dress-code-video-features-girls-only-orig-tc.cnn

Video

This video discusses the dress code issue at a high school in Texas. It show blatant sexism just like what happens in 1600s Salem.

I would want to revisit the article for a little bit after reading The Crucible to see if students have developed a different stance or opinion about the issue of sexism than they did prior to the reading of the play.

Wisecrack. (2013, November 19). The Crucible - Thug Notes Summary and Analysis. Retrieved December 04, 2018, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CjMRooWaQU

Video

This Thug Notes video is a fun recap and analysis of The Crucible, making it easier for students to understand what was just read.

I would show this video after the reading of the play to sum up or tie up any loose ends that the students may have had trouble understanding or missed.

Miller, A. (2016). The Crucible: A play in four acts. New York: Penguin Books.

Canonical Text

This play follow the journey of a small Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts as they struggle through a massive Witch Hunt in the 1600s.

After the steps prior, we will get into the actual play, having students read some of it in parts, and listening to the other parts of it, to not get confused because of the changing dialogue. Watching scenes from the movie is chunks following the paralleling scenes in the play.

Mather, C. (n.d.). The Trial of Martha Carrier. Retrieved December 02, 2018, from http://static.dpsk12.org/gems/montbello/SB2Historicpathways.pdf

Short Story

Appendix B

I would read this short story with the hope of students being interested in the upcoming Canonical Text. This story tells of a specific witch trial, providing students will more background information before the reading of The Crucible.

Salem Witch Trials. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2018, from http://www.salemwitchtrials.com/timeline.html

Timeline

This timeline shows the event that occurred in 1600 Salem.

This timeline will be printed out and handed to the students prior to reading the play, to use as a reference in case they get confused or lost in any way.

Epstein, L. (2013, March 01). Quiz: Could You Survive The Salem Witch Trials? Retrieved September 17, 2018, from https://www.buzzfeed.com/leonoraepstein/quiz-could-you-survive-the-salem-witch-trials

Quiz

This is a simple quiz I found on Buzzfeed that will allow students to see if they would survive the Trials or not.

After learning about the crazy witch tests, this is a fun activity that is used to provide a bit of relief for the students, as well as to open the discussion of what classified someone as a witch.

7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2018, from https://www.history.com/news/7-bizarre-witch-trial-tests

Article

Following this, I will share the link of this article about the test used to determine if someone was a witch, and allow the student’s time to look over it. The article lists seven of the many tests used to determine if someone was a witch, explaining the test and where they were used/ why they were used

Then have them split into groups (assigning groups or letting the students pick depending on the class), and have a discussion about what the read, and how they feel about it. Then coming back to a whole class discussion, talking about how bizarre the tests are and why they are completely unreasonable.

School apologizes for 'sexist' dress code video - CNN Video. (2018, August 20). Retrieved September 17, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2018/08/20/apology-after-texas-high-school-dress-code-video-features-girls-only-orig-tc.cnn

Video

This video discusses the dress code issue at a high school in Texas. It show blatant sexism just like what happens in 1600s Salem

Students will see this as a modern day parallel to The Crucible, and will be able to draw similarities from the time of the Trials and modern day sexism.

Yasmin, S. (2018, January 11). Witch Hunts Today: Abuse of Women, Superstition and Murder Collide in India. Retrieved September 17, 2018, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/witch-hunts-today-abuse-of-women-superstition-and-murder-collide-in-india/

Article

This article discusses the modern day witch trials that are currently happening in India. It tells the story of three girls and their struggles of dealing with life after their attack.

I think this article will greatly interest students because it is applying an older situation and offering a modern day example. This article tells of the witch trials that are currently happening in India, and uses the story of three girls to explain the tragedy. Following the students reading of this, we will have a class discussion regarding it, and relate it back to the text we will be reading, finding parallels between the two stories while we are reading The Crucible. (This is probably a good read to send home with students, instead of taking class time to do it, and discussing it the following day in class)

The Salem Witch Trials (1692) Cartoon. (2016, October 29). Retrieved September 17, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJJLy5_DlqY

Video

This video would offer a brief background on the Trials, paired with fun visuals, keeping students interested while offering valuable information needed to understand the materials

I would use this video to effortlessly inform the students of the basic storyline of the time of the Trials.

Myvoinar. (2013, March 26). Ding Dong the Witch is Dead. Retrieved December 03, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPIdRJlzEro

Music

This song is played after Dorothy kills the wicked witch. All the munchkins are celebrating the death of the witch by singing this song.

I would use this song to bring some fun into the classroom before we dive into the heavy material of the witch trials

Salem Witch Trials: Images. (2002). Retrieved September 17, 2018, from http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/generic.html

Art

Appendix A

I would start the lesson off with this painting, starting a class discussion, asking the students what they think is occurring in this painting. This is a good starting point for the introduction to The Salem Witch Trials, as it gets the students thinking and wondering about image and what it has to do with text we are about to read. This is also a good starting point to see where the students are in their knowledge of the Trials.

Appendix A

Appendix B

“The Trial of Martha Carrier”

by Cotton Mather

I. Martha Carrier was indicted for bewitching certain persons, according to the form usual in

such cases, pleading not guilty to her indictment. There were first brought in a considerable

number of the bewitched persons, who not only made the Court sensible of an horrid witchcraft

committed upon them, but also deposed that it was Martha Carrier, or her shape, that grievously

tormented them by biting, pricking, pinching, and choking of them. It was further deposed that

while this Carrier was on her examination before the Magistrates, the poor people were so

tortured that every one expected their death upon the very spot, but that upon the binding of

Carrier they were eased. Moreover, the look of Carrier then laid the afflicted people for dead,

and her touch, if her eye at the same time were off them, raised them again: which things were

also now seen upon her trial. And it was testified that upon the mention of some having their

necks twisted almost round, by the shape of this Carrier, she replied, It’s no matter though their

necks had been twisted quite off.

II. Before the trial of this prisoner, several of her own children had frankly and fully confessed

not only that they were witches themselves, but that this their mother had made them so. This

confession they made with great shows of repentance, and with much demonstration of truth.

They related place, time, occasion; they gave an account of journeys, meetings, and mischiefs by

them performed and were very credible in what they said. Nevertheless, this evidence was not

produced against the prisoner at the bar, inasmuch as there was other evidence enough to proceed

upon.

III. Benjamin Abbot gave his testimony that last March was a twelvemonth, this Carrier was very

angry with him, upon laying out some land near her husband’s. Her expressions in this anger

were that she would stick as close to Abbot as the bark stuck to the tree, and that he should

repent of it afore seven years came to an end, so as Doctor Prescot should never cure him. These

words were heard by others besides Abbot himself, who also heard her say she would hold his

nose as close to the grindstone as ever it was held since his name was Abbot. Presently after this

he was taken with a swelling in his foot, and then with a pain in his side, and exceedingly

tormented. It bred into a sore, which was lanced by Doctor Prescot, and several gallons of

corruption ran out of it. For six weeks it continued very bad, and then another sore bred in the

groin, which was also lanced by Doctor Prescot. Another sore then bred in his groin, which was

likewise cut and put him to very great misery. He was brought until death’s door and so

remained until Carrier was taken and carried away by the Constable, from which very day he

began to mend and so grew better every day and is well ever since.

Sarah Abbot, his wife, also testified that her husband was not only all this while afflicted in

his body, but also that strange, extraordinary, and unaccountable calamities befell his cattle, their

death being such as they could guess at no natural reason for.

IV. Allin Toothaker testified that Richard, the son of Martha Carrier, having some difference

with him, pulled him down by the hair of the head. When he rose again, he was going to strike at

Richard Carrier, but fell down flat on his back to the ground and had not power to stir hand or

foot until he told Carrier he yielded: and then he saw the shape of Martha Carrier go off his

breast.

This Toothaker had received a wound in the wars and now testified that Martha Carrier told

him he should never be cured. Just afore the apprehending of Carrier, he could thrust a knitting

needle into his wound, four inches deep; but presently, after her being seized, he was thoroughly

healed.

He further testified that when Carrier and he sometimes were at variance, she would clap her

hands at him, and say he should get nothing by it; whereupon he several times lost his cattle by

strange deaths, whereof no natural causes could be given.

V. John Rogger also testified that upon the threatening words of this malicious Carrier, his cattle

would be strangely bewitched, as was more particularly then described.

VI. Samuel Preston testified that about two years ago, having some difference with Martha

Carrier, he lost a cow in a strange preternatural, unusual matter: and about a month after this, the

said Carrier, having again some difference with him, she told him he had lately lost a cow and it

should not be long before he lost another, which accordingly came to pass: for he had a thriving

and well-kept cow, which without any known cause quickly fell down and died.

VII. Phebe Chandler testified that about a fortnight before the apprehension of Martha Carrier,

on a Lordsday, while the Psalm was singing in the Church, this Carrier then took her by the

shoulder and, shaking her, asked her where she lived. She made her no answer, although as

Carrier, who lived next door to her father’s house, could not in reason but know who she was.

Quickly after this, as she was at several times crossing the fields, she heard a voice that she took

to be Martha Carrier’s, and it seemed as if it was over her head. The voice told her she should

within two or three days be poisoned. Accordingly, within such a little time, one-half of her right

hand became greatly swollen and very painful, as also part of her face: where of she can give no

account how it came. It continued very bad for some days; and several times since, she has had a

great pain in her breast and been so seized on her legs that she has hardly been able to go. She

added that lately, going well to the House of God, Richard, the son of Martha Carrier, looked

very earnestly upon her and immediately her hand, which had formerly been poisoned as is

abovesaid, began to pain her greatly, and she had a strange burning at her stomach, but then was

struck deaf, so that she could not hear any of the prayer or singing till the two or three last words

of the Psalm.

VIII. One Foster, who confessed her own share in the witchcraft for which the prisoner stood

indicted, affirmed that she had seen the prisoner at some of their witch meetings and that it was

this Carrier who persuaded her to be a witch. She confessed that the devil carried them on a pole

to a witch meeting, but the pole broke and she hanging about Carrier’s neck, they both fell down,

and she then received an hurt by the fall, whereof she was not at this very time recovered.

IX. One Lacy, who likewise confessed her share in this witchcraft, now testified that she and the

prisoner were once bodily present at a witch meeting in Salem Village; and that she knew the

prisoner to be a witch and to have been at a diabolical sacrament and that the prisoner was the

undoing of her and her children by enticing them into the snare of the devil.

X. Another Lacy, who also confessed her share in this witchcraft, now testified that the prisoner

was at the witch-meeting in Salem Village, where they had bread and wine administered unto

them.

XI. In the time of this prisoner’s trial, one Susanna Sheldon, in open court, had her hands

unaccountably tied together with a wheel-band, so fast that without cutting, it could not be

loosened. It was done by a specter, and the sufferer affirmed it was the prisoner’s.

Memorandum. This rampant hag, Martha Carrier, was the person of whom the confessions of the

witches and of her own children, among the rest, agreed that the devil had promised her she

should be Queen of Heb.

This piece was an assignment Dr. Witte had her class do in order to scaffold their future classes up to a canonical text. In the classroom, this piece would be very beneficial not only to the teacher, but for the students as well. By slowly working up to the canonical text, The Crucible in this case, students are more likely to understand the text as they are filled with knowledge of background information and real world examples relating to the events that occurred in 1600 Salem.

Obituary

John Proctor was born on the 30th of March, 1632 in Suffolk, England to

John Proctor and Martha Harper. After moving to America in 1635, his

family settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. John died on the 19th of

August, 1962 at 60 years old. He is survived by 9 children: Benjamin,

Elizabeth, John, Thorndike, John, Joseph, Samuel, Sarah, and William, and

his wife, Elizabeth (Bassett) Proctor. He is preceded in death by his first

two wives, Martha Giddens and Elizabeth Thorndike, as well as 9 children: John, Martha, Mary,

Martha, Mary, Martha, Mary, Abigail, and Elisha. He was a successful business man and, according

to his neighbors, lived a good Christian life in his family and was ready to help such as they stood in

need.

This assignment was inspired by Kittle. It would be fascinating for students to do research on specific persons who were victims of what happened in 1600 Salem. Writing an obituary is like a highlight reel of one’s life, demanding that their life is well known before the writing can begin. This would be a great way for students to practice their research skills along with their writing skills.

Checklist: What Makes a Witch?

· Are you a female?

· Are you poor?

· Are you wealthy?

· Do you have one or more female friends?

· Have you ever had an argument with a female friend?

· Have you ever had an argument or disagreed with someone?

· Are you very old?

· Are you very young?

· Are you a healer (a doctor)?

· Are you married with few children?

· Are you married with no children?

· Are your neighbors having troubles conceiving?

· Are you stubborn?

· Would someone describe you as “strange”? or “straight forward”?

· Do you have a mole or birthmark?

· Has dairy ever spoiled in your fridge?

· Do you have/ have you had sex out of wedlock?

· Have you ever broken a rule in the bible?

This checklist was inspired by some research I did on certain things that could make someone be targeted as a witch. This list would be fascinating to introduce to students as a more casual way of writing, and would especially be a fun activity to do as a class during a study of the witch trials.

Definitions

Witch (n) - 1. An ugly or mean old woman. 2. A woman who is supposed to have evil or wicked magical powers

Hysteria (n) - an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, weeping, etc.

Woman (n) – a strong person, equipped to love well, to bear children, and to serve their husbands

This piece was inspired by Kittle as well as a dictionary.com entry. Students should be in the habit of looking up words they are unsure of in a certain context, especially the role of women in the 1600s. Students should do adequate research before fully exploring and forming opinions on topics and situations such as the Salem witch trials.

Witch Test Infographic

This infographic was inspired by a list found on History.com. Infographics are an easy way to present information to students without them feeling too overwhelmed. This infographic would be used to inform students on the multiple bizarre tests used to test if the accused was indeed a witch.

Diary Entry of Anne Putnam

Dear diary,

This evening I was wondering around before making dinner, and I was visiting with some friends. Their slave, Tituba was fetched to entertain us, and something seems off about her, something bad. My friend Abigail said that Tituba had some fascinating stories and fun games but that we must not tell anyone of them or Tituba could get in trouble. Tituba taught us to tell fortunes by using eggs and a glass. All we had to do was crack egg whites into the glass of water and the fortune would be floating around. Mine resulting with a coffin! Tituba had to have been the one to make that happen, I knew there was something off about her, and now my assumptions are confirmed. I must tell my father, the whole town!

Anne

This diary entry was inspired by the writings of Kittle as well as my own knowledge of the Salem Witch Trials. I thought it would be interesting to wonder about the inside thought process of those girls who began the plague of accusations. In the classroom, this would be an interesting activity for students to do, as it would require them to look further than what the author gives about the character, to look more deeply into who they truly are.

Mind Dump

This is a mind dumb that I did before beginning my MGRP Process. I drew five circles and filled them with the first information that came to mind. This would be of great use in the classroom before beginning a new unit.

References

Andrews, E. (2014, March 18). 7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/news/7-bizarre-witch-trial-tests

John Proctor (Salem witch trials). (2019, April 24). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Proctor_(Salem_witch_trials)

Kittle, P. (2008). Write beside them: Risk, voice, and clarity in high school writing. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Timeline - The Salem Witch Trials. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/a/email.cpcc.edu/the-salem-witch-trials/timeline

17 Signs That You'd Qualify as a Witch in 1692. (2015, October 22). Retrieved from http://mentalfloss.com/article/55276/17-signs-youd-qualify-witch-1692