# Coven explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Manly Wade Wellman.

## What happens

The chapter explores the historical concept of the coven, drawing from Montague Summers' 'History of Witchcraft and Demonology' to describe witches' midnight assemblies and their structured, disciplined companies of men and women under an officer.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Power of Belief and Ritual

The coven's structured midnight assemblies and discipline under an officer highlight the ritualistic and belief-driven nature of witchcraft.

### Supernatural Evil and Occultism

The coven is presented as a band of witches, directly invoking supernatural evil and occult practices.

## Key lines

> They pledge themselves to frequent the midnight assemblies. These conventicles or covens were bands or companies of witches, composed of men and women, apparently under the discipline of an officer.

Witches commit to attending secret nighttime gatherings, which are organized groups of both genders led by a designated officer.

_This defines the coven as a disciplined, hierarchical assembly central to witch lore._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/coven
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters