61 pages • 2 hours read
Mary Beth NortonIn the Devil's Snare
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2002A 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
Norton claims that the Salem witch crisis would not have happened if King William’s War hadn’t taken place. How does this thesis challenge previous academic literature on the crisis? Are you convinced by her claim? Using specific examples from the text, explain why or why not.
What errors did the English make in their dealings with the Wabanakis? What, in your opinion, is one thing they could have done to avert King William’s War?
What does the book reveal about the legal system and justice in colonial America? How does it compare with the contemporary justice system?
Why do you think there was little to no skepticism expressed about the claims of the accused, especially when allegations were made against well-respected citizens?
What might account for the magistrates’ decision to conduct examinations of the accused in public? How did that one decision influence the course of events?
Why was the conviction of George Burroughs so important to the credibility of the trials? Why was he such a significant figure to bolster Norton’s thesis?
Discuss the significance of community dynamics and interpersonal relationships on the witch crisis, using at least three examples from the text.
How influential were Mercy Lewis, who led the accusers, and Abigail Hobbs, who confessed to witchcraft? Would the crisis have reached the unprecedented levels that it did without them? Explain, using examples from the text.
Why did public opinion change so quickly against the trials in the fall of 1692?
How should responsibility for the crisis, including the execution and incarceration of suspected witches, be apportioned between the accusers, confessors, and male authorities? Explain.
