ENGL 670: The Witch in Literature
Professor Michele Tarter
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday (05/21/2018 – 06/08/2018)
10:00am to 1:15pm
The witch has been a figure in literary history since the beginning of time. Who is she, and what does she embody? Who creates her, and to what end? This course will explore the socio-historical constructions of this figure and trace her through a wide spectrum of literary texts, including legal and historical treatises, fairy tales, short stories, drama, film, children’s literature, poetry and even cartoons. In addition to the Maymester course on-campus, students will have the enhanced learning opportunity of traveling to Salem, Massachusetts for 4 days (dates of trip to be determined), where they will conduct archival research of the 1692 witch hunt at the Peabody Essex Museum (in addition to visiting many museums and living history programs). Through in-depth and on-site study of witch hunts and literary recreations of this figure, students will analyze the cultures which have persisted in creating, recreating and reviving this timeless, powerful and equally feared character throughout the ages.