Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived an enchantress named Elara. Elara was a powerful and beautiful sorceress, capable of performing incredible feats of magic. She could summon storms, change her appearance, and even control the minds of others. However, despite her immense power, Elara had a deep fear of witches. Witches were known for their dark magic and often used their powers for evil. They were seen as wicked and dangerous beings, and Elara had witnessed firsthand the destruction they could cause.
In some ways, it’s easier to mention three significant groups that didn’t take issue with practicing witches:
This 30 minute talk, which features some of the documents within this collection, was delivered online on Friday 23 October 2020 by Dr Jessica Nelson. This 30 minute talk, which features some of the documents within this collection, was delivered online on Friday 23 October 2020 by Dr Jessica Nelson.
They were seen as wicked and dangerous beings, and Elara had witnessed firsthand the destruction they could cause. As a child, Elara had been raised by her mother, who was also an enchantress. Her mother taught her to be wary of witches and to always protect herself from their spells.
Early Modern witch trials
This document collection includes various documents relating to the witch craze in 17th century England. It allows students and teachers to develop their own questions and lines of historical enquiry on the nature of beliefs and behaviours, the role of the authorities and legal restraint, attitudes of communities or the role of women in society.
Through the documents students could explore questions such as how the persecution of witches was instigated, encouraged or enabled by the authorities or communities. How was the church involved? What type of people experienced persecution? Were some people pretending to be witches and why? Were both men and women involved? What was the possible impact of printed material on the witch craze? What general conclusions can students draw from considering this group of documents as a whole? How could study of the topic be extended?
It is hoped that these documents will offer students a chance to develop their powers of evaluation and analysis concerning aspects of popular culture and the witch craze in the 17th century and beyond. They might consider how these aspects have been interpreted in debates between historians and social scientists.
Taking it further students could be encouraged to find out more about the legacy of medieval and 15 th century attitudes, beliefs and reactions to heresy, demonology and witches (e.g. Nider’s Formicarius) and what ultimately prompted decriminalisation.
Finally teachers could also use the collection to develop their own resources or encourage students to ‘curate’ their own ‘exhibition’ of the most significant sources on the topic. Please note that some sources contain sensitive material so use with care. Transcripts have been modernised in terms of spelling, with some additional punctuation added, some words have been defined within the text using square brackets. The lines in the transcripts are numbered to help users find their place when using to the original document.
Connections to curriculum
Edexcel: A Level History:
The witch craze in Britain Europe and North America, 1580-1750
OCR History A H505 Y312 Unit:
The witch craze of the 16th and 17th Centuries
The young Elara took these lessons to heart and grew up with a strong aversion to witches. But as Elara grew older, her fear began to consume her. She became paranoid, constantly looking over her shoulder and suspecting every stranger she came across to be a witch. She isolated herself from others, afraid that anyone could be hiding a dark secret. This fear affected her magic as well. Elara was capable of performing incredible feats, but she found herself holding back, afraid of attracting the attention of witches. She refused to tap into her full potential, limiting herself in order to remain hidden from those she feared the most. One day, as Elara was wandering through the enchanted forest near her home, she came across a young witch named Amara. Amara was unlike any witch Elara had ever encountered before. She was kind and gentle, using her magic to heal and help others rather than cause harm. Elara's initial fear turned to curiosity as she watched Amara perform acts of kindness. She couldn't understand how a witch could be so different from the ones she had known before. She approached Amara cautiously, but soon discovered that Amara shared her fear of witches as well. Amara explained that she too had witnessed the destruction caused by her fellow witches and had chosen to use her powers for good instead. She believed that there was good in every being, even witches, and that they could be redeemed. Elara was deeply moved by Amara's words. She realized that her fear had been holding her back, preventing her from fully embracing her powers and using them for the greater good. She decided to overcome her fear and join forces with Amara to fight against the darkness that witches had brought upon their world. The two enchantresses worked together, using their combined powers to protect their land from evil. They became renowned for their bravery and kindness, earning the respect of both humans and magical beings alike. In the end, Elara learned that not all witches were wicked, just as not all enchantresses were good. It was the choices and actions of an individual that defined them, not their magical abilities or label. She had overcome her fear and found strength in unity and understanding..
Reviews for "Beyond Fear: The Enchantress's Evolution in Her Perception of Witches"
1. Sarah - 2/5
I found "The Enchantress that was Scared of Witches" to be quite disappointing. The story lacked depth and the characters felt hollow. The enchantress, who was supposed to be the main focus, felt more like a side character with no real development or growth. The plot also felt disjointed and rushed, leaving me feeling disconnected from the story as a whole. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. Mark - 1/5
"The Enchantress that was Scared of Witches" was a complete waste of time. The writing was amateurish and the dialogue felt forced. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any substance. The story itself was predictable and unoriginal. I expected so much more from this book, but it ultimately fell flat. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written fantasy novel.
3. Amanda - 2/5
I struggled to get through "The Enchantress that was Scared of Witches." The pacing was slow, and the plot seemed to go in circles without actually going anywhere. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with any of them. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me feeling disoriented and detached from the story. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations.
4. Michael - 3/5
While "The Enchantress that was Scared of Witches" had some potential, it ultimately fell short for me. The writing was decent, but the story lacked originality and felt too cliché. The main character's fear of witches could have been explored in a more intriguing way, but it ended up feeling repetitive and predictable. I did appreciate some of the magical elements and descriptive imagery, but overall, I found this book to be just average.