Setting Context: The Salem Witch Trials

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What were the Salem Witch Trials?

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A series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693.

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Who was Abigail Williams?

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An 11-year-old girl who was one of the first to accuse others of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials.

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What is an allegory?

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A story that represents something beyond itself, often conveying moral or political meanings.

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How many people were accused during the Salem Witch Trials?

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Over 200 people were accused of witchcraft.

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Who was Bridget Bishop?

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The first person to be hanged during the Salem Witch Trials.

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What role did fear play in the Salem Witch Trials?

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Fear of the unknown and fear of witchcraft led to mass hysteria and wrongful accusations.

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What was the significance of the Salem Witch Trials?

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They highlighted the dangers of isolationism, religious extremism, and the consequences of mass hysteria.

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What was the outcome for most accused during the trials?

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Many were executed, while others were imprisoned or fled.

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What is the historical context of the Salem Witch Trials?

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The trials occurred in a Puritan society that valued strict religious adherence and had a fear of the supernatural.

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What was the role of the court in the Salem Witch Trials?

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The court was responsible for conducting trials and determining the guilt or innocence of the accused.