Threatening the American Dream: The Crucible
Reading Guide for pages 1250-1255 (12 points)
1. What is the difference between the previous drama and the drama of the 20th century?
2. List the 4 best American playwrights of the 20th century?
3. Who is America’s first great playwright? What did he experiment with?
4. What experience gave Miller the original idea for The Crucible ?
5. What aspects of this experience helped Miller connect the Salem of 1692 with the United States of the late 1940s and 1950s?
6. What specific similarities does Miller see between the Salem witch trials of 1692 and the anticommunist hearings of the 1950s?
7. In what ways do you think these similarities have contributed to the fact that The Crucible is Miller’s most-produced play?
8. Arthur Miller worked at a variety of jobs, what were they?
9. Miller used the Salem Witchcraft trials of ______(year) to attack the ______witch hunts in congress in the ______(years).
10. Why do you think Miller was investigated for possible associations with the Communist party after the publication and production of The Crucible?
11. Had Miller ever been a part of the Communist party?
12. Miller was found guilty of ______of ______for his refusal to ______.
Clip # 1 (4 points)
1. What evidence is presented to “prove” that the woman is a witch?
2. Would this evidence hold up in a court today?
3. What is the purpose of this clip?
4. What does the clip prove about “witch hunts”?
Salem Witch Trail Video (14 points)
1. What were the first settlers (the puritans) searching for when they first came to the new world?
2. How many people were accused of being witches? ______
3. How many people were executed for being found guilty of witchcraft? ______
4. What year did all this happen in? ______
5. What did the Thomas Putnum family resent and resist?
6. How did the newly elected Reverend Paris split the town further?
7. Who is Tituba?
8. What is spectral evidence of the Salem Witch Trials?
9. Why would someone confess to being a witch?
10. Why do people flock to Salem 300 years after the witch trails?
11. Why would some people change their stories after the trials were over?
AFTER VIEWING
12. Would you confess to witchcraft? Why or why not?
13. Why would the people of Salem refuse to talk about the witch trails until many years after the event occurred?
The Cast (60 points)
Cast Member / Direct Characterization (what the stage directions say) / Indirect Characterization (what you infer based on what you witness/read) / Side in the Witch TrialsReverend
Samuel
Parris
Abigail
Williams
Tituba
Thomas
Putnam
Mrs. Ann
Putnam
Mary
Warren
John
Proctor
Elizabeth
Proctor
John
Hale
Giles Corey
Rebecca
Nurse
Deputy
Governor Danforth
The Crucible: Act I Study Guide (Not graded, but highly recommended)
1. Describe Rev. Parris’s feelings and tell what seems to motivate him.
2. Explain the paradox (a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true) from which the Salem tragedy developed.
a. What was the duty of the two-man patrol?
b. List all the conflicts in the Salem community that feed into the suspicions of witchcraft.
c. What opportunity did the witch hunt give everyone?
3. ______and ______are sick:
a. Abigail first says…
b. Rev. Parris is concerned about…
c. The Putnams think…
d. Rebecca Nurse thinks…
e. Rev. Hale determines….
f. Abigail now says…
g. Tituba confesses…
h. The girl begin…
4. What really happened in the forest the night before the girls fell ill?
5. Abigail and the Proctors
a. What is her job?
b. Why is she fired?
c. How does she feel about John now?
d. How does she feel about Elizabeth now?
Act I: Reading Strategy: Question the Characters’ Motives (8 points)
Examining the behavior of characters in a story or play is always a good way to increase understanding of the plot. Specifically, to question the characters’ motives—their reasons for acting and speaking as they do—helps alert readers to important details and ideas that are not necessarily directly stated. In The Crucible, characters’ motives are revealed through their actions, words, and extensive stage directions. DIRECTIONS: Question the motives of Abigail, Mrs. Putnam, and Reverend Hale. Review each characters’ words, actions, and the stage directions as you complete the table with your answers to the questions in the first column.
Abigail / Parris / Mrs. Putnam / Rev. HaleWhat motivates the character’s behavior? How can you tell?
Is the character be unaware of true motives? Explain your response.
The Crucible Act 2 Study Guide (Not graded, but highly recommended)
1. What is the mood of the act?
a. Where has John been all day?
b. Where does Elizabeth think he has been
2. The trials in Salem
a. What does Elizabeth report?
b. What does she encourage John to do?
c. Why can’t John do as she asked?
d. What does Mary Warren report?
e. Who does Elizabeth has accused her?
f. What does she want John to do now?
3. Why does Mr. Hale come to visit?
a. Who does he address his questions?
b. What does this reveal about the culture?
c. What is ironic about the forgotten commandment?
4. A set up:
a. What does Mary Warren give Elizabeth?
b. What does Cheever come looking for?
c. Why is this item so special?
d. Why is Mary Warren afraid to tell the court the truth?
e. Was Mary Warren in on the plot?
The Crucible Act 3 study guide (Not graded, but highly recommended)
1. Giles and his wife
a. In what way does Giles feel responsible for the arrest of his wife?
b. What emotion is he struggling with as a result?
c. Why is Giles so good at writing depositions?
d. What were some of the strategies he tries to get her exonerated?
e. Why is he arrested?
2. Danforth
a. What is Danforth’s attitude toward the new evidence?
b. How many people signed the petition for Rebecca, Martha and Elizabeth?
c. Why is this significant?
d. Why are lawyers useless in a witch trail?
e. What crime has Mary Warren committed either in court or by writing the deposition?
f. What events had not been mentioned to Danforth until Mary Warren confessed?
3. Mary Warren Vs. Abigail
a. What is Mary Warren asked to do to prove that it was all pretend?
b. How does Abigail react to Danforth’s mistrust?
c. What does Proctor do to protect Mary Warren from the girls?
d. What is Elizabeth unable to do, according to Proctor?
e. What does Danforth ask Elizabeth?
f. How does she respond?
g. What does Abigail say she sees in the rafters?
h. How does Mary Warren react?
i. Who is condemned?
4. What does Hale do at the end of the act?
Acts I-III: Dramatic Irony: characters think one thing to be true, but the audience knows something else to be true (6 points)
Verbal Irony: words seem to say one thing but mean something quite different (a lot like sarcasm—used often in satire)
Situational Irony:
Dramatic Irony:
Explain the examples on your worksheet as either being situational, dramatic or verbal irony. Number one is done for you below, you need to add it to your worksheet.
1. Upon hearing Proctor’s and Mary’s statements, Danforth is shaken by the idea that Abigail and the girls could be frauds. Danforth challenges Proctor with this: “Now, Mr. Proctor, before I decide whether I shall hear you or not, it is my duty to tell you this. We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.”
This is a good example of dramatic irony. The character believes they have found the truth and are uncovering liars and witches, but the reader knows differently. The reader knows Abigail’s true motives and knows she is not telling the truth and that they are not melting any kind of concealment at all.
The Crucible Act 4 study guide (Not graded, but highly recommended)
1. Revelations:
a. What does Parris reveal about Mercy and Abigail?
b. What does Parris see that makes him afraid to leave his house at night?
2. Hale:
a. Why does Hale want Danforth to postpone the hangings?
b. How has Hale changed from the beginning of the play?
c. What do Hale and Parris ask Elizabeth Proctor to do?
3. Proctor:
a. Why does John Proctor refuse to give his signed name to Danforth?
b. What happens as a result of his refusal?
c. What type of man is Proctor, according to his wife, at the close of the play?
Theme Review: (5 points)
□ Write the definition of theme in your own words
□ Describe what a theme song is. Ex. The theme song for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles talks about “heroes in a half shell” and “turtle power.” Why? Explain.
□ What would you say would be a good theme song for The Crucible? If you can’t think of a good song, describe what kind of things the theme song could talk about. Ex. The theme of guilt is present throughout so you may talk about how the theme song would describe characters who do something they regretted later, but go into detail about which characters etc. This requires you to think outside the box. Make sure you use your creativity. As usual, this is individual work and so you should not talk to your neighbor about what you might choose.
DIRECTIONS: Use the following chart to help you identify themes in The Crucible. In the first column are subjects or topics that Miller addresses in the play. In the second column, write a sentence that states a theme about each topic that the events in the play express. In the third column, list the events or evidence in the play that points to the theme you’ve identified.
Topic / Theme / Events in Play1. Guilt
2. Revenge
3. Pride
4. Intolerance
5. Authority
6. Integrity
Analyzing the Legal System in The Crucible (6 points)
Common Courtroom Terms
Appeal—a review of your trial by a higher court to see if any mistakes were made that had an effect on the verdict.
Arraignment—You first visit to the court in your case. The purpose of the arraignment is for you to tell the court whether you want to fight the charges against you at trial, or you don’t want to fight the charges against you. You appear before a judge and enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Bailiff—the Judge’s assistant in the courtroom who takes care of the paperwork and security.
Bench trial—a trial without a jury. The judge hears the case and passes judgment.
Closing Argument—the last opportunity you have to address the court in your case. You need to argue the strengths of your case and the weaknesses of the prosecutor’s case.
Cross-Examination—the opportunity for you and the prosecutor to ask questions of each other’s witnesses.
Defendant—the person charged with the crime(s). In this case, it is you.
Direct Examination—the opportunity to ask questions of your witness. You may not ask leading questions
Hearsay—a that you or someone else said not made during the trial. Hearsay statements are not allowed to be used in court, however there are some exceptions.
Jury selection—the first part of the jury trial in which the prosecutor and defendant choose six people from a large group to serve as jurors for the trial.
Jury trial—a trial in which a group of six jurors decide whether the defendant is guilty or innocent. The judge decides the sentence.
Leading Questions —questions that either have the answer in the question or suggest the answer in the question. Asking leading questions during direct examination is not allowed.
Objection—a way to keep the other side from asking improper questions and giving improper answers.
Opening Statement—your first opportunity to speak to the court. You should tell the jury or the Judge what you think the case is about.
Overruled—1) The judge’s denial of any motion or objection. 2) To overturn or void a decision in a prior case.
Physical evidence— Any form of proof presented by a party for the purpose of supporting its arguments before the court.
Pretrial Hearing—the step between the arraignment and the trial. You may change your plea to “guilty” or have your case set for trial.
Prosecutor—the lawyer who works for the Prosecutor’s Office as the representative for the State. Her job in criminal cases is to use evidence and witness testimony to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that you, the defendant, committed the crime(s) you are charged with committing.
Reasonable Doubt—this means something important
Rebuttal Evidence—evidence that the prosecutor may introduce after you have finished presenting your case.
Redirect Examination (“redirect”)—further questioning that takes place after the cross-examination of a witness. You may only ask questions about subjects brought up during cross-examination.
Sentence—your punishment if you are found to be guilty of the charges. In City Court, sentences usually include a fine. Other punishments are jail time, probation, community service, and counseling.
Subpoena—a court document that orders a witness show up to court on the date of your trial. If a witness is subpoenaed but does not show up, the witness is subject to criminal charges.
Sustain—When the Judge allows an objection to testimony or evidence.
Testimony—what the witnesses say when answer questions under oath.
Transcript—The official record of proceedings in a trial, prepared by the court reporter.
Verdict—the guilty or not guilty judgment passed by the judge (or the jury in jury trial) after all of the evidence in the case has been presented.
On June 13, 1966, the outcome of Miranda v. Arizona provided that suspects must be informed of their specific legal rights when they are placed under arrest. This decision was based on a case in which a defendant, Ernesto Miranda, was accused of robbery, kidnapping, and rape. During police interrogation, he confessed to the crimes.