You are sleeping soundly in your bed when you
awake to a violent pounding on your door. In the
doorway stands the editor of The Inquisitor
Magazine. "Breaking news" he says. "There are
rumors of violent atrocities against the heretics
breaking out in Spain. We can only speculate why
or what is going to happen in the near future. We
desperately need the help of you and your
assistants...!!“
With the help of your faithful colleagues, your
task is to investigate these rumors and find out
what is really going on. There are three tasks,
one for each of you:
Webquest
 Task 1 – 5: the different purposes for writing
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1 – Researcher (10)
2 – Photographer (15)
3 – Journalist (20)
4 – Editorial (20)
5 – Essay (35)
 Process: detailed instructions how to complete
each task
 Vocabulary: throughout your tasks add your
assigned vocabulary words. Highlight within
text. (15)
 Resources: useful websites
Task 1 - RESEARCHER
 Research the provided resources listed under
your task below. These are your notes to help
you understand historical context and find
out what topics you want to focus on.
 Use the information you have found in your
research to complete your assigned tasks.
 Answer all questions in complete sentences.
THE SPANISH INQUISTION
Under whose monarchy did the Inquisition begin?
What groups were persecuted first during the
Inquisition?
What appears to be the purpose of the Spanish
Inquisition?
Who was the inquisitor-general of Spain and what role
did he play in the Inquisition?
How long did it take to stop the Spanish Inquisition?
What role did Queen Isabella and her husband
have in the Spanish Inquisition?
What is an "Auto de Fe"? What would happen to
prisoners after this event?
What tortures were applied during the trial of
the victims?
General Resources
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A brief history of the Inquisition
The Inquisition: Full Circle
Spanish Inquisition, 1478-1834
The 'Jewish Question' in 15th and 16th Century Spain
The Spanish Inquisition: Fact Versus Fiction
Were You Expecting It?
The Spanish Inquisition
Wikipedia: Spanish Inquisition
Search Results from Web: Spanish Inquisition
More useful links
 LINK #1: THE SPANISH INQUISITION
 LINK #2: QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN
 LINK #3: SEE SPANISH INQUISITION
HEADING - 2ND SUBSECTION FOR AUTO DE
FE
 LINK3: SEE "THE TRIAL" AND "AUTO DE FE"
 LINK #4A: BANNED BOOKS - AUTHORS
 LINK #4B: BANNED BOOKS
TASK 2 - PHOTOGRAPHER
The Inquisitor Magazine needs visuals! They
are looking for two excellent depictions of:
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People
Trials
Autos de fé
Prisons
Torturings
Photographer Guidelines
 After carefully researching the provided sites,
choose 2 scenes to depict. The 2 scenes need
to show different perspectives.
 Accompanying each depiction should be one
descriptive paragraph and one caption
explaining your picture.
Photographer Resources
 El Greco Art
 Map of Spain in 1400s
 Pictures of Spanish Inquisition
 Art during the Spanish Inquisition
 Search results for Spanish Inquisition
Images
 Spanish Inquisition Museum Artifacts
Task 3 - Journalist
The editor wants you to find out what's happening
and let them know. Some questions you should
include in your article are:
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What is going on?
Why is this happening?
How did this begin?
Where have these events taken place? Will other areas
be affected?
 When did this begin?
 Who is involved and who is responsible?
 What can you speculate will happen in the near future?
Journalist Guidelines
 After carefully researching the information in the
provided sites, you are to write an article
highlighting the main events of what occurred
during the Spanish Inquisition.
 You are to write this as though you were there
when it was taking place (i.e. present tense).
Refer to the suggested questions located in the
task section; however, you are not limited to only
these questions.
 The article should be no less than one typed
pages (double-spaced, 12pt font, 1 inch
margins).
Journalist Resources
 Inquisition
 Spanish Inquisition
 Catholic Educator's Resource Center
TASK 4 - Editorial
 What is your opinion on the Spanish
Inquisition? Was it right or wrong?
 What are the affects of religious persecution?
 Do you think religious persecution of this
magnitude could happen today or in the
future?
 How did Poe’s literary depiction convey the
feeling and turmoil felt during Spanish
Inquistion? Use textual evidence.
Literary Analysis Essay
 Write an essay of approximately one page in which you
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answer the following question:
How does Edgar Allan Poe use style devices to create the
element of fear and terror in the story “The Pit and the
Pendulum”?
Your essay must have the following:
1) An introduction in which you provide a thesis statement
answering the question as well as a mention of how you’ll
prove it (supporting details / evidence)
2) Body paragraphs (approximately three) that contain a
clear topic sentence and supporting details
3) Ample direct evidence (examples) from the story
4) A conclusion
FORMAT OPTION
 Essay – one page per task
 Typed, 12 font, double space
 Newspaper
 PowerPoint presentation
IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
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INQUISITION - An official investigation, esp. one of a political or religious nature, characterized by lack of regard
for individual rights, prejudice on the part of the examiners, and recklessly cruel punishments.
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HERESY - Opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, esp. of a church or religious
system. This person would be labeled a "heretic."
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APOSTATE OR HERETIC- One who has abandoned one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a
cause.
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DOCTRINE - Particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion or government.
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PENANCE - A sacrament, as in the Roman Catholic Church, consisting in a confession of sin, made with sorrow and
with the intention of amendment, followed by the forgiveness of the sin.
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AUTO DE FE - Refers to the ritual of public penance (confession of sins) of condemned heretics and apostates that
took place when the Spanish Inquisition or the Portuguese Inquisition had decided their punishment (that is, after
the trial ). Auto de fé in medieval Spanish means "act of faith."
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IRONY - An outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.
TASK 4 Interviewer This story calls for first hand knowledge and opinions.
The magazine wants comments from every perspective.
You are to locate and interview two different sources
concerning the events that are unfolding. Some possible
interviewees are:
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Tomás de Torquemada
Isaac Abarbanel
King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella
Pope Sixtus IV
Antonio Jose da Silva
Lucrecia de León
Alonso de Espina
Interviewer Guidelines
 After carefully researching the information in the
provided sites, choose which two people you
would like to interview, remembering that you
need to interview two different perspectives
from the events that took place (example: one
coverso, one inquisitor, one member of the
Cortes of Aragon).
 Allen Gilbert:
King Ferdinand:
Allen Gilbert:
King Ferdinand:
Interviewer Resources
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Alonso de Espina
Antonio Jose da Silva
Tomás de Torquemada
Unbiased Information on Tomás de Torquemada
Ferdinand V and Isabella
The Golden Age: Ferdinand V and Isabella
First Hand Account of Rabbi Isaac Abarbanel
Isaac Abarbanel, Judaism, Biographies
Pope Sixtus IV
Biography: Pope Sixtus IV
Lucrecia de León