Introduction:

1. What are the different ways in which scholars have tried to understand/define "ritual"?

2. How does Muir understand "ritual"? How does his conception differ from other conceptions of "ritual"?

3. What themes does he propose to examine in his book? Why are the significant?

4. What do you expect to learn from reading the book?

5. What is the "ritual moment"?

6. Why are the rituals devised by Giovanni Morelli and Margherita Datini significant? In other words, why does Muir mention these people and their rituals?