READING GUIDE:
1610: The Starving Tine at Jamestown and Entertaining Satan
This assignment comprises two different types of documents. The first, 1610: The
Starving Time at Jamestown is a compilation of personal accounts on the practice of
cannibalism in the first English settlement in America. It is not an article per se, but
rather a series of primary source material that, taken as a whole, delivers a strong
message about people and desperation. The second reading, Entertaining Satan, is an
article by Dr. John Demos on the presence, whether real or imagined, of witchcraft in
Puritan New England. While Demos refers to primary source material, the reading itself
is a secondary source.
The guiding idea behind these readings is:
Jamestown and New England were founded by English settlers
for two totally different reasons. What do these two readings tell
you about those reasons, as well as the character of the settlers?
The keys to comprehending these readings vary, but the primary thing to consider before
beginning and during the reading is the main idea of each. In the Jamestown reading, the
shock of such an abomination to our society as cannibalism is obviously important to the
theme; read each segment, lettered A-G, with the following in mind:
 What is the main idea?
 Why was it important to record such horrible events?
 Why did the people who practices cannibalism do so?
 Punishment?
 Did the reason for Jamestown’s founding have any effect on the people’s decision
to resort to cannibalism?
In Entertaining Satan you can employ an easy reading strategy: read like you write. For
example, if you read the topic sentence of each paragraph you will get a good idea of
what the author is trying to get across. Next look through the paragraph to find his
evidence, or the proof that defines his topic sentence. If you learn to read in this manner
you can read faster and comprehend more because you are focusing on the guts of the
paragraph: the topic and proof.
 What is Demos’ main idea?
 Why does the Thomas Allen accident end up as the subject of witchcraft?
 Why did Puritans embrace the supernatural and witchcraft?
 What was distinctive about Salem?
 Demos writes that, regarding the Salem trials, “The context for the other widescale outbreak is much clearer.” To which context does he refer in backing this
contention?
 What extraordinary scene did Cotton Mather witness at John Goodwin’s home?
 What is a “poppet?”

Demos writes the “We have no way now to answer such questions . . .” Why
would the evidence mentioned by Demos be biased?
 Regarding witchcraft ion Early New England: What did the victims of
witchcraft have in common? What does this tell you about the power of Puritan
religion (Calvinism)?
 Why is Goodwife Glover’s case “relatively rare” in New England?

What were the “preferred” methods of treating witchcraft as opposed to the use
of counter magic?
 Regarding the legality of witchcraft, for what reason does Demos give for the
large amount of acquittals?
 In summation, what was the status of legal action against witchcraft in 18th
century New England?