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Who is the speaker in this letter, and how does that shape the way the letter is written and recieved?

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Who is the audience for this letter, and how would that shape the letter and how it was written?

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The author’s primary purpose is to -

1. condemn Richards for convicting the accused without sufficient evidence and suggest that he, and the other judges, lack authority to pursue such actions.

2. embolden Richards’ resolve to pursue convictions using any means possible and instruct him in the deeper methods for obtaining justice.

3. encourage Richards in his quest to expose witchcraft and warn him against accepting ill-perceived evidence.

4. support Richards in his quest for spiritual truth and offer to personally oversee future proceedings.

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The opening paragraph serves as -

1. an apologetic acknowledgment

2. a critical evaluation

3. a preliminary argument

4. a laudatory accolade

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Mather’s diction in the opening paragraph sets a ______________ tone.

1. dumbfounded and conciliatory

2. modest and gravely concerned

3. condemnatory and imperious

4. pretentious and admonishing

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In paragraph 2, Mather uses _________________in order to ____________________.

1. allusion - reinforce his stance that the witch trials in Salem are a worthy and holy mission.

2. metaphor - compare previous witch trials to the current situation in Salem.

3. biblical reference - underscore the sinful nature of the court in Salem.

4. parallelism - emphasize the belief that witchcraft is an abomination in the sight of God.

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Which of the following BEST describes the function of the 3rd paragraph in relation to that which precedes it?

1. The 3rd paragraph expands Mather’s good opinion of the letter’s recipient.

2. The 3rd paragraphs exemplifies the holy mission mentioned in paragraph 2.

3. The 3rd paragraph transitions from a supportive tone to a cautionary one.

4. The 3rd paragraph elaborates on Mather’s dissent.

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Which of the following word combinations would best match the meaning of the underlined words in the sentence below?

“... I cannot for once forbear minding of the famous accidents at Mohra in Swedeland, where a fast was kept among the people of God because of a stupendous witchcraft, much like ours, making havoc of the kingdom, was immediately [followed] with a remarkable smile of God upon the endeavors of the judges to discover and extirpate the authors of that execrable witchcraft.”

1. excommunicate - loathsome

2. remove - disgusting

3. deport - unholy

4. eradicate - abominable

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In paragraph 3, Mather manages to do all of the following EXCEPT -

1. imply that the evidence in some Salem cases may be misconstrued.

2. warn against haste in casting judgement on the accused.

3. suggest that an individual’s sinful lifestyle is symptomatic of black magic and devil worship.

4. caution against setting a dangerous precedent.

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Cotton Mather was a very influential presence in the Puritan community. Do you think he used that influence sufficiently in this letter to the judges involved in the Salem Witch Trials? What more could he have done to discourage the injustice that occurred?

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What would your thesis look like for an FRQ 2 essay on this letter?