A cultural history of English witches and magicians

elective courses

Classroom

The aim of the course is to examine selected aspects of the medieval and early modern history of magic and witchcraft in Europe and in the British Isles. As magic was never purely abstract concepts, they should be analysed in reference to particular people who either practised it or were considered its victims. The analysis of selected (fictional or historical) cases of how magic was used by witches and magicians makes it possible to reconstruct the contemporary mindset embedded in the supernatural worldview being a key element of the traditional culture. At the same time, examples of historical magic will serve as a launchpad for examining the way similar magical motifs still function in the modern popular culture.

The course intended for MA students.

Duty hours: Tuesdays, 11:30-13:30, Room 232.

The aim of the course is to examine selected aspects of the medieval and early modern history of magic and witchcraft in Europe and in the British Isles. As magic was never purely abstract concepts, they should be analysed in reference to particular people who either practised it or were considered its victims. The analysis of selected (fictional or historical) cases of how magic was used by witches and magicians makes it possible to reconstruct the contemporary mindset embedded in the supernatural worldview being a key element of the traditional culture. At the same time, examples of historical magic will serve as a launchpad for examining the way similar magical motifs still function in the modern popular culture.

Issues discussed in particular include:

- general theory and definition of magic and distinction between magic and witchcraft

- a review of methodological approaches to the study of magic (e.g. anthropology, social history, religious studies)

- (ancient) cultural archetype and stereotype of a witch and magician

- magic and witchcraft in medieval and renaissance literature

- history of witch hunts and witch trials (16th-17th c.) – causes and consequences

- specificity of British magical tradition

- decline of the European magical paradigm

- magic and witchcraft motifs, including the figure of a witch and that of a magician, in modern popular culture (especially in film and literature)

Bailey, Michael D. Battling Demons. Witchcraft, Heresy, and Reform in the Late Middle Ages. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2003.

Bailey, Michael D. Historical Dictionary of Witchcraft. Lanham, Maryland–Oxford: The Scarecrow Press, 2003.

Bostridge, Ian. Witchcraft and its Transformations c. 1650-c. 1750. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1997.

Briggs, Robin. „‘Many reasons why’: Witchcraft and the Problem of Multiple Explanation”. W: Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe. Studies in Culture and Beliefs, red. Jonathan Barry, Marianne Hester, Gareth Roberts, s. 49-63. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.

Briggs, Robin. Witches and Neighbours. The Social and Cultural Context of European Witchcraft. Bury St. Edmunds: Fontana Press, 1997.

Burke, Peter. What is Cultural History?. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2008.

Burns, William E. Witch Hunts in Europe and America. An Encyclopedia. Westport, Connecticut–London: Greenwood Press, 2003.

Cohn, Norman. Europe’s Inner Demons: The Demonisation of Christians in Medieval Christendom. London: Pimlico, 2005.

Collins, Derek. Magic in the Ancient Greek World. Malden: Blackwell, 2008.

Gibson, Marion (red.). Early Modern Witches. Witchcraft Cases in Contemporary Writing. London–New York: Routledge, 2000.

Gibson, Marion (red.). Witchcraft and Society in England and America, 1550–1750. London: Continuum, 2003.

Golden, Richard M. (red.). Encyclopedia of Witchcraft. The Western Tradition. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2006.

Levack, Brian P. The Witchcraft Sourcebook. London: Routledge, 2005.

Mauss, Marcel. A General Theory of Magic. Przeł. Robert Brain. London–New York: Routledge, 2007.

Rosen, Barbara (red.). Witchcraft in England, 1558–1618. Amherst: The University of Massachusetts Press, 1991.

Sharpe, James. Instruments of Darkness: Witchcraft in Early Modern England. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1997.

Knowledge

- a students has basic knowledge of basic issues in the history of mentality

- a student acquires a greater awareness of the complexity and plurality of the systems of culture

- a student extends his knowledge of the codes of culture which determine the contacts between representatives of different cultures, especially in the context of English-speaking countries

Skills

- a student has a basic ability to analyse and understand medieval and early modern sources

- a student acquires the ability to use the discourse and the methodologies necessary to analyse cultural texts

- a student can interpret, analyze and synthesize the linguistic, cultural, social, historical and economic dimensions of selected phenomena

- a student can recognize cultural symbols and use the codes of culture in contacts with representatives of English-speaking countries and in interpersonal communication in general

Social competences

- a student consciously participates in his/her national culture, respects the cultural heritage of Europe, and understands the diversity of world cultures

- a student assumes an attitude of tolerance toward others, understands the specificity of culturally conditioned behaviors, respects individual opinions.

Education at language level B2+. In class discussions students acquire skills of expressing their thoughts in a clear, coherent, logical and precise manner, with the use of language which is correct grammatically, lexically and phonetically.

The final grade depends on:

- attendance (three absences are allowed),

- active participation in class discussions throughout the course,

- quality of the term paper on the subject chosen by students.

The form and criteria of obtaining the final grade may be changed depending on current pandemic conditions.