Magic from "The Golden Bough" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Homoeopathic/Imitative and Contagious

Imitative magic works on the principle that "like produces like"; imitating a process will bring that process about. Contageous magic, on the other hand, posits that objects that have been in contact with a person are still "telepathically" connected with that person and that by doing something to such an object, a magician can cause the same effect on the person to whom it belonged. According to Frazer, all magic is "atheistic"--there are no deities involved.

When a superior being is invoked, he terms the process religious, not magical.

He also makes no real distinction between "black" or "white" magic. Finally, one of his central theses is that all cultures--regardless of Eastern, Western, or other regional orientations--pass through very similar phases of development, and thus magic and other practices cannot be classified ethnically or geographically.

Answer: By putting dirt from his footprint in a pot and planting a marigold in it

The theory here is that, since the marigold never fades, so will the young man's love never fade. Frazer lists many rituals involving footprints, including the injuring of a man by pricking his print with the sting of a stingray among the folk of New Britain.

Answer: Drinking water mixed with the hair of a red bull

The ritual, which was designed to tranfer the "yellow" of the jaundice to red animals, concluded with the patient being swabbed with yellow paste, then being ceremonially bathed while three red birds were tied to the bed, presumptively so they could absorb the poisonous yellow.

Answer: All of these

Devices resembling voodoo dolls are also found among the Cora of Mexico, the Aino of Japan, and in rural China. Voodoo dolls may, in fact, be one of the most widespread of all magical practices.

Answer: Cutting living men's hands with boomerangs and letting the blood drip into the open grave

This may be a gesture to assuage the corpse's predeliction for returning as a vampire. Frazer is unclear on the motivations for this blood sacrifice, though he does include more detailed information on cultures who use blood as fertilizer. Your milage may vary.

Answer: Success in battle

The incantation calls for bullets to bounce from the women's husbands just as water bounces from the baskets once they are covered with oil. Generally speaking, Frazer isn't concerned with spiritual enlightenment.

Answer: He sprinkles dirt from a grave on the roof of their house

This is supposed to mimic the sleep of the dead. The essential oils might actually work, though.

Answer: It renders the hunter invisible

The hunter is believed to become invisible just as the dead are invisible.

Answer: It renders the husband blind to the wife's indiscretions

Frazer makes a note that putting coins on a dead person's eyes is a common ritual in many cultures.

Answer: Saint Sécaire

Saint Cassian would be an appropriate choice here, since he is ascribed many malevolent and curious aspects in Russian folklore. Frazer does not mention him, however.

The Mass of Saint Sécaire seems to be a collection of various blasphemies that is known by only a few priests, and only the worst of these will ever perform this ritual. According to Frazer's informants, only the Pope can give absolution to a priest who has performed this mass.