KULH1003 – Witchcraft and Magic
Course description
Course content
Lectures and seminars are given in English. All parts of the exam may be taken either in English or a Scandinavian language. For the spring semester 2023: The course comes in a hybrid format, it is possible to attend digitally.
In this course we will study aspects of the cultural history of magic, focusing on the period of the witch hunts in early modern Europe. The course explores how conceptions of magic, witchcraft and ‘trolldom’ changed over time; how they were put to use in philosophical reflections, demonological manuals, legislative texts, literature, as well as oral traditions; and how these ideas became social realities.
From the 1500’s, combating witchcraft with legislation and judicial prosecution became an important concern for authorities all over Europe. Witchcraft trials became a nexus between law, theology and the culture of common people. In this course, students will study the cultural and social basis of this development, and get to know a selection of Norwegian witchcraft trials. The students will also be introduced to the later redefinitions of magic expressed in modern occultism and neopaganism.
Learning outcome
Upon successful completion of the course, students are able to
- demonstrate an orientational knowledge in the history of magic and witchcraft in Europe.
- discuss historical implications of critical terms like magic, witchcraft, trolldom, esotericism, and occultism.
- identify different approaches to historiography and interpretation in the academic study of magic and witchcraft.
- perform a critical contextualisation of a historical source
- carry out team work and give presentations.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with KULH1050 – Witchcraft and Magic (discontinued).
Teaching
Lectures and seminars are given in English.
Supervision is offered in both English and Norwegian. The curriculum is in English with an optional choice of Norwegian source material that can be used in the exam.
The lectures have a mixture of physical and digital formats, such as video-lectures and physical, streamed lectures. Seminars are conducted in both physical groups and a digital group on zoom. It is possible to follow the course digitally throughout the semester. The teaching format has the goal of activating the students in the learning process, to facilitate both plenary and digital discussions and group work, and to encourage the students to take responsibility for their own learning and progress.
Obligatory coursework
- Submission of one qualifying assignment
The course assumes active participation in seminars. The qualifying assignment is conducted in a group work and consists of a written group presentation. Deadlines and content will be provided at the start of the teaching term.
All obligatory coursework must be approved in order to qualify for the exam. It is the student’s responsibility to check whether or not the obligatory coursework have been approved. This is how you apply for valid absence from obligatory activities/obligatory attendance.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Home exam.
The exam is a three-day home exam consisting of two written assignments with a total of 10 pages (2300 characters per page). The deadline and a detailed requirement for the assignments will be announced at the beginning of the three-day period.
The obligatory coursework has to be approved for admission to the examination.
The assessment is integrated in the teaching, therefore it is not possible to take the exam without admission to the teaching.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.