Reference no: EM133412747
1. Elaine Breslaw acknowledges that other historical works have cited a number of contributing factors as to why the Salem witchcraft trials may have occurred. What approach does Breslaw's study take in order to provide a new perspective to this historical event?
2. What ethnic background does Breslaw identify Tituba as being? Where does Breslaw indicate Tituba originated from? How does Breslaw's identification of Tituba compare with previous descriptions of the individual?
3. What was the Puritans' perception of Native Americans and their culture, particularly in terms of the occult?
4. Breslaw argues that Tituba's testimony of signing "a little book offered her by the tall man of Boston," contained several important components that helped to shape the Salem witch-hunts. How did this statement influence the witch-hunts, particularly when comparing these witch-hunts to pre-1692 witch-hunts?
5. During Tituba's testimony, she mentioned the presence of a hairy imp within her specters. What other cultural influences does Breslaw identify as possessing similar magical creatures?
6. What actions did Mary Sibley ask Tituba and John Indian to undertake to help Betty Parris and Abigail Williams? What was the intent of these actions? What reason or reasons does Breslaw suggest as to why Sibley made this request?
7. Tituba references several different animals during her confession. What types of animals appeared to Tituba in her specters? According to her testimony, what actions/transformations could these animals undertake?
8. Tituba included within her testimony several descriptions of witchcraft which derived from English folklore. What were some of these descriptions that Puritans would have been able to identify as being commonly associated with witches and witchcraft?
9. Tituba's testimony served as an important starting point within the Salem witchcraft trials. What significance did her confession represent, especially in legal terms?
10. Breslaw contends that Tituba weaved different ethnic and cultural aspects into her testimony. Does the author feel that Tituba confessed to her examiners what they wanted to hear or did she make factual statements? What factors might have influenced Tituba's confession?