A witch hunt journey refers to the exploration and persecution of individuals accused of practicing witchcraft. Witch hunts have a long history, spanning various time periods and regions around the world. These journeys were characterized by mass hysteria, fear, and a belief in supernatural forces. The concept of witch hunts can be traced back to ancient times, with references to witches and witchcraft in different cultures. However, it was during the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period that witch hunts reached their peak. In Europe, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries, thousands of people, mostly women, were accused, interrogated, tortured, and executed for allegedly consorting with the Devil and practicing witchcraft.
Get Yourself Sorted Into a House in the American Version of Hogwarts
J.K. Rowling published a new story on Pottermore Tuesday, detailing the origins of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry — the American version of Hogwarts. Just as fans of the Harry Potter series have been able to sort themselves into a Hogwarts house, now they can sort themselves into an Ilvermorny house.
Like Hogwarts, the school has four houses: Horned Serpent, Wampus, Pukwudgie and Thunderbird. Instead of placing a hat on students’ heads, teachers at Ilvermorny bring the students to a hall with four carvings representing the houses. Whichever one reacts is the one the student is sorted into.
As Rowling pointed out on Twitter, there are no equivalents between Ilvermorny and Hogwarts houses.
“It is sometimes said of the Ilvermorny houses that they represent the whole witch or wizard: the mind is represented by Horned Serpent; the body, Wampus; the heart, Pukwudgie and the soul, Thunderbird,” Rowling explained on Pottermore. “Others say that Horned Serpent favours scholars, Wampus, warriors, Pukwudgie, healers and Thunderbird, adventurers.”
The Ilvermorny story is part of a series ramping up for the movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which features Newt Scamander, the author of a textbook which Harry Potter later studies, in New York City in the 1920s.
With a Pottermore account, fans can sort themselves into the new houses here.
In Europe, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries, thousands of people, mostly women, were accused, interrogated, tortured, and executed for allegedly consorting with the Devil and practicing witchcraft. The journey of a witch hunt typically started with the identification of suspected witches through gossip, rumors, or personal grudges. Accusations were often based on superstitions and a deep-rooted fear of the unknown.
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Where is Ilvermorny, the North American wizarding school?
Last month, the world of Harry Potter expanded globally after Pottermore released the names and some information on four of the world’s 11 wizarding schools, bringing the known total to seven. But the one with the least amount of information has given fans plenty to speculate about.
Unlike Castelbruxo, Uagadou, or Mahoutokoro, the only thing we learned about Ilvermorny, the North American wizarding school, is its name and general location, as indicated by a map.
Fans first noticed the name when they saw that Warner Bros. filed a trademark on it along with some other words associated with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them last year. Some of them guessed it might be the name of the North American wizarding school. The name, according to J.K. Rowling, is “immigrant” in origin and the school has ties to indigenous magic. We also know that Newt Scamander will encounter witches and wizards who attended Ilvermorny, although he wouldn’t necessarily be visiting the school in the first Fantastic Beasts movie. (He possibly could in future films.)
The map on the Pottermore site placed Ilvermorny in a vague area in the northeastern part of North America, somewhere between New England and southern Canada. Many people are already assuming that it’s an American school. Fans are offering evidence for the school being in Vermont or Detroit, but as many have pointed out, the school isn’t necessarily in the U.S.
The case for Ilvermorny being a Canadian school comes from a few places. For one, Pottermore uses “North American” when giving a general location to Ilvermorny, not “American,” which doesn’t rule out Canada.
And when asked about the Canadian wizarding school, Rowling offered this hint for fans.
According to Pottermore, “magical schools tend to be situated in landlocked, mountainous areas” (although that might not always be the case), so it’s likely that Ilvermorny is located near a mountain. But if it isn’t? Anywhere is possible—even including somewhere hidden in plain sight like underneath Niagara Falls.
Ilvermorny is set on what appears to be the 50th parallel, which might place it somewhere near Ontario or Lake Nipigon, which is sometimes referred to as the “Sixth Great Lake” due to its size. The lake would also offer a unique setting for Ilvermorny because of the cliffs near it and green-black sand beaches,
Quebec may be another option—one that has the language to back it up.
One breakdown of Ilvermorny is that it comes from the Anglicized version of the French Île Vert Morne, and while some have took it to mean “Green Hill Island,” it actually translates to “Dreary Green Island.” Another version breaks down slightly differently in French.
Even if the school is run in English, Quebec has major French influences to this day. A redditor on r/harrypotter points out you can even look to the shape of the castle and history to suggest that Ilvermorny is located in Quebec. It’s reminiscent of the forts built in the French and Indian War, which had support from many Native American tribes on both sides of the conflict.
“With that connection I wouldn’t be surprised if it[‘]s located in the AdirondackGreen mountain areas,” ftlftlftl wrote.
We’re due to learn more about Ilvermorny in the near future from Rowling and Pottermore, but the small snippet of information does give fans another perspective—one that suggests the center of magical education in the U.S. is not actually in the U.S.
Photo via Pottermore | Remix by Fernando Alfonso III
Share this article *First Published: Feb 18, 2016, 8:07 pm CSTMichelle Jaworski
Michelle Jaworski is a staff writer and TV/film critic at the Daily Dot. She covers entertainment, geek culture, and pop culture and has covered everything from the Sundance Film Festival, NYFF, and Tribeca to New York Comic Con and Con of Thrones. She is based in Brooklyn.
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Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the American wizarding school, located at the summit of Mount Greylock in Massachusetts. It accepts students from the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada.
The castle is located atop Mount Greylock, shrouded from the view of No-Majs by various spells and enchantments which make the summit appear to be empty or shrouded in mist. Like its British sister school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the school has been rendered Unplottable, making its exact location unknown to the wizarding community and the No-Maj community alike.
Established during the early 17th century, Ilvermorny is considered to be one of the greatest magical schools in the world, rivaling Hogwarts itself. Like Hogwarts, children with magical abilities are enrolled at birth. They then receive their official enrollment letters around the age of twelve, whereupon they will conduct at least seven years of study at the magical institution.
Once accused, the journey of the accused witch was one of persecution, as they were subjected to intense interrogations aimed at extracting confessions, often obtained through coercion or torture. The witch hunt journey also involved the role of witch finders, individuals tasked with uncovering witches and bringing them to justice. Witch finders would employ various methods, such as searching for physical marks or signs believed to be indicators of witchcraft. They would often travel from village to village, stirring up fears and suspicions among the local population. Public trials were a significant aspect of the witch hunt journey, where accusations were examined, evidence presented, and judgments passed. These trials, often biased and unfair, often led to convictions and subsequent executions. The accused witches faced various forms of punishment, including burning at the stake, drowning, or hanging. Witch hunts eventually started to decline as skepticism and rational thinking gained ground. People began to question the legitimacy of accusations and the reliability of testimonies. Additionally, Enlightenment ideals stressing the importance of reason and evidence contributed to the decline of witch hunts. In modern times, the term "witch hunt" has expanded beyond its original meaning and is now used metaphorically to describe a fervent and unwarranted campaign against individuals or groups, often driven by prejudice or personal vendettas, rather than actual evidence or wrongdoing. In conclusion, the witch hunt journey represents a dark and troubling chapter in human history, characterized by fear, persecution, and the unchecked power of superstition. Though largely a thing of the past, witch hunts serve as a reminder of the dangers of groupthink, intolerance, and the erosion of individual rights in the face of mass hysteria..
Reviews for "Witch Hunts in Literature: From The Crucible to Macbeth"
1. Jane - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with Witch Hunt Journey. The story was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were underdeveloped. The plot seemed to jump around without much explanation, and I found it hard to stay engaged. Overall, I feel like the book was poorly executed and could have used some more editing and refinement.
2. Mike - 1/5 stars - Witch Hunt Journey was a waste of my time. The writing was sloppy and full of errors, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The author seemed more focused on trying to be mysterious and unpredictable than actually telling a coherent story. I found myself rolling my eyes at many of the plot twists, and by the end, I was just relieved it was over.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for Witch Hunt Journey, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with long stretches of boring exposition followed by rushed action scenes. The main character was supposed to be a strong female protagonist, but she came across as naive and lacking agency. The romance subplot felt forced and unnecessary, and overall, the story didn't live up to its potential.
4. John - 3/5 stars - While Witch Hunt Journey had an interesting concept, it failed to deliver a satisfying read. The writing style was clunky and confusing, making it hard to understand what was happening at times. The world-building was also lacking, leaving several unanswered questions. While there were some intriguing moments, they were overshadowed by the book's flaws, making it difficult for me to fully enjoy the story.