Salem Witch Hunt Web Quest

Witch Hunt Web Quest

1. During the experience, I felt embarrassed, ashamed, scared, hopeful, and scared again. I felt embarrassed because I was accused because I had done nothing wrong. I thought that maybe something was wrong with me for them to single me out like that. I was ashamed because everyone in my town would look at me as if I were the most disgusting thing they had ever seen. I was scared for my life because if the town thought that I was truly a witch, they would put me to death. I felt hopeful during my trial because it seemed as if my friends and neighbors were sticking up for me, and we might actually win the judge over. Finally, I felt scared again as I was about to be hanged for something I did not even do, I didn't want to die; dying scared me. 

2)

3) I think Caporael's theories are correct. Her theories about the wheat being infected with ingredients for LSD would make the whole situation make sense. The doctors back then would not know the symptoms associated with taking/consuming LSD and would not be able to diagnose the girls having issues (they had never dealt with LSD before). Other forces could have been that the girls had found some sort of drug in the woods and kept consuming it even if they didn't know what it was; that would also explain the symptoms and hysteria. 

4) In both cases of the Salem witch trial and of McCarthyism, the accused are accused based on things that people have said, not actual proof. The witches were viewed as outcasts of society, as were Communists during the time of the red scare.  In both cases, the witches were accused by others without evidence, like McCarthy accused people working in the government of being Communists. I was very surprised with some of the facts that were in the article because I did not know about many of them. I have learned about McCarthyism in US History, but I did not know that Marilyn Monroe was involved in any of it.

5) The hysteria of both incidents of the Salem witch trial and the Red Scare caused citizens of affected areas to fear that their neighbor was a watch or Communist (depending on incident) and that they might turn against them. All the citizens of affected areas were more watchful of each other and if for some reason they would be investigated as a Communist or witch, they would quickly turn and tell any supporting evidence that might put their neighbor in danger of being persecuted, just to be able to get themselves and their family away from blame's finger. 

6) All of the victims of the Holocaust, American Interment Camps, and injustice around the world (the article I read was about a Russian Environmentalist who was imprisoned for political reasons regarding the Olympics and the environment) are in the same boat as those who were involved in the Salem witch trials and the Red Scare because all of the victims had done nothing wrong.  They did not do anything to deserve the punishment that they received. It is different because the victims of the Holocaust, American Interment Camps, and the Russian Environmentalist that was imprisoned were not persecuted due to their neighbors actions; it was the government persecuting and 'punishing' them; in the Red Scare and Salem witch trials, neighbors were throwing their friends under the bus so they would be free from being persecuted.

7) The quotes means that things that happened in the past will keep happening if we do not learn to correct the mistakes humans before us have made in the past, then we are bound to repeat the mistakes that they made. One way that history has been repeated is when Hitler invaded Russia. He made the same mistake that Napoleon had made decades earlier. Hitler's army, like Napoleon's, was destroyed while trying to invade Russia. I think the Crucible is very good at educating its readers about history. It brings the history to life in a way that people find a bit more enjoyable to read than a history textbook. I feel that people have a better understanding of the historical events that are portrayed in the Crucible.                     

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" Questions 

1) Edwards wants his congregation to be born again in their faith and turn from their wicked ways. 

2) "Natural men" refers to all people and their naturally sinful ways. 

3) Using context clues, "abate" means to be less intense. 

4) Edwards uses this structure to provide a stronger visual image and lasting effect for his audience.  Also, he used this structure to connect all of his like ideas in one paragraph. 

5) The clause serves to provide the audience with a visual image. Yes, more appositives can be found in the sermon.

6) The rhetorical effect is that what he is saying sounds like an infinitely long list. 

7) He uses semicolons to connect the clauses because they are all one big, giant idea and he wants it to go together with the same ideas. He repeats "not willingly" for effect and for his congregation to remember that part of the sermon (will be in their heads more if it is repeated more than once). 

8) Edwards develops the simile in paragraph 5 by adding the visual element of an arrow being attached to a bow and launched at a person's heart.  Imagery is powerful because it allows the audience to imagine what is happening while Edwards is saying it.  Therefore, it is an effective tool in order to reach your audience.

9) The figurative language used in the next three paragraphs include language of great detail such as "wrath towards you burns like an angry fire" and "loathsome insect over the fire."  The progression of this language becomes more and more hateful to humans from God and the point Edwards is making is that God hates you much like you hate other things in your daily life.

10) Edwards employs pathos because he uses imagery and similes that appeal to the audience's emotions.

11) Edwards tone is one of condemnation towards his congregation.  Words such as abhor and abominable help create that tone.  Towards the end, however, Edwards lets up a bit and does not use as strong of language.

12) Texts meant to be heard normally include more stories, emotion, and imagery than texts meant to be read.  Written works tend to contain more facts and analysis.

13) Edwards' text is persuasive because it uses fear to encourage a change from his congregation.  It is effective.  A persuasive text is any text that uses language in order to change a person's opinion one way.  In this case, Edwards wants to persuade his congregation that they are still not doing enough to please their angry God.

14) I believe parts that may have evoked such responses are when Edwards gives images of hell.  These images such as fire and death scare the congregation because, despite all of their good works, they are being told they will still not enter the paradise of heaven.

15) (Bow and arrow going through heart)

Reading Questions

First, I'd like to say that I was absent yesterday, so I'm finishing this now. 

Navajo Origin:

1. The words were very descriptive. They allowed me to paint a picture in my head of what everything looked like; I felt like I could imagine what it would be like to be there while the story was happening. 

4. a) It starts out by the people washing themselves on the twelfth day, they then dry off with cornmeal (men with white, women with yellow). Four calls are then made to the four gods with each call being louder than the one before it. The gods appeared and brought with them buckskins and corn (one yellow and one white). The laid the corn inside the buckskins and put feathers (one yellow and one white) with the corn. The wind then blew and from it life was created from the corn. 

b) It tells me that the Navajo people participate in this ritual in order to remember the story of their creation. 

5. a) In the ceremony, the wind represents life and creates humans. Without the wind, they die. 

b) The wind's role contrasts to the roles of the other rituals by being necessary. The wind was necessary for life to happen while other parts, like the buckskins, were just for show. 

Iroquois Constitution

1. If I were a chief, I would be persuaded to join because this would give me and my tribe protection from war with any of these Indian tribes.

2. a) The lords plant 'the tree of the great peace' to commemorate their meeting.

b) the roots represent peace and strength. 

3. a) They must greet each other and express their gratitude.

b) the Iroquois are nice people and want to have peace and be friends with the other tribes. 

4. a) He uses a tree, an eagle, and deer antlers in the Constitution. 

b) It tells me that the Iroquois cultures as linked to nature and they, as a people, valued nature.

5. a) The qualities of conduct for a lord are obedient, good disposition, honest, and his actions shall be made with calm deliberation. The lord must also be filled with peace and want on,y good things for his tribe.

b) We want leaders like this to represent and rule us, but it is very hard to find people like this today. 

6. I believe in the ideas presented because I think that they are ideals that not only the leader should shar, but the people should share also. The ideas will only make for better tribes, it will not provide anything negative for the tribes, so I agree with it. 

Yellow Wallpaper Symbolism

The symbolism in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' relates to the women's rights movement that was going on during the time period this story was written in. Women were wanting to have freedom from being the 'domesticated housewife' they thought they had to be for their husbands and children. In the story, the narrator becomes fascinated (at first in a terrified way, but later it became something more) by the wallpaper in the room where she spends most of her time. The pattern on the wallpaper symbolizes bars keeping the woman behind them locked up. The bars keep the woman behind the wallpaper from being free, like the narrator's husband (or even men in general) does to her (and men do to the whole woman population). The woman behind the pattern or 'bars' is symbolizing the narrator (the narrator states later in the story that she is the woman after she has gone insane). She is trapped in the role of being a 'domesticated housewife' that just does things for the good of her husband and family, not for herself; her happiness is placed on the back burner. When the woman behind the bars is jailed, she is viewed to be in her rightful place, just as the narrator of the story is also viewed to be sane by society (or semi sane, depending on how you look at it) and in her rightful place (as a domesticated housewife). Her husband could tell that she (the narrator) was heading down the path of social insanity (becoming free as a woman with rights), so he took her away from all the ruckus of women's rights hoping that she would return to her 'normal' state of being a 'domestic housewife'. His plan backfired though. While she was kept locked in her room, she had plenty of time to think and study the wallpaper. She realized that she would rather be free than to be a prisoner to the bars of the wallpaper pattern, so she ripped them away and set herself free. When the woman behind the bars is freed and out of her rightful place, the narrator becomes insane, symbolizing that women who break free of the 'domesticated housewife' role are viewed by society as 'insane' and out of their niché. The story was written against women's rights. The main purpose of the author writing this short story was to show that women gaining rights turned them insane, that they should not be freed; women should be forever enslaved to the role of being a 'domesticated wife' in order to serve man because men provide and take care of the women. Basically, the author is trying to make a point that women will be crazy if given rights and women should not even want rights because they should want to just please the men for being so caring and such (the narrator's husband gave her medicine and 'took care' of her, so she should be grateful, right?); that should be enough to fulfill their lives.