Name______

Arthur Miller’sThe Crucible

A) Background

1. Definitions of crucible:

2. Arthur Miller background:

3. Context of the times: Communist Scare of 1940’s – 50’s:

4. Definition of allegory:

B) The Puritans-Basic Tenets:

C) Scientific theories to account for behavior:

D) Probable social causes of witch hunt:

Act I: 1692 Salem, Massachusetts

  1. Literary devices in Act I
  1. Important Characters and Relationships (Refer to the following pages and note each character’s personality traits as well as possible grudges/motivations for their involvement in the witch hunts. Be on the lookout for examples of direct characterization.)

•Reverend Parris p. 3

•Putnams p. 14-15

•Proctor p. 20

•Abigail p. 19-20 & 23-24

•Nurses (Rebecca & Francis) p. 25

•Reverend Hale p. 33

•Giles Corey p. 40

  1. What is the primary conflict in Act I?
  1. Summarize Miller’s main ideas in the passage of authorial intrusion from pages 33-36.
  1. What does Abigail do to deflect suspicions when Parris continues to question her about compacting with the Devil?
  1. Why does Tituba confess? (p. 44-48) –What is an added “bonus” of being able to publicly confess being under control of the devil?
  1. How does the language in these scenes resemble that of a trial? How could Putnam be seen as “leading the witness”?
  1. What are the main narrative purposes of this act?

Act IIComprehension Questions:

  1. Describe John and Elizabeth’s marriage. What kind of imagery is used to convey their relationship?
  1. What evidence is there that the mass hysteria is spreading through Salem?
  1. Find several lines that support the “crucible” or trial motif.
  1. How has the trial empowered Mary Warren?
  1. What evidence does Hale use to cast Proctor and Elizabeth’s virtue in doubt? How does Abby strengthen Hale’s suspicions?
  1. What evidence has led to the arrest of Elizabeth? Be specific.
  1. What is the danger for Mary Warren testifying at court? What about Proctor?
  1. What is the significance of Proctor’s “Is the accuser always holy?” monologue on p. 77? What connection can you make between his statement and the atmosphere of the Communist witch hunts?
  1. Analyze the language used by Proctor on. p. 80-81. What Biblical story is he alluding to? Why?
  1. What are the literary purposes of Act II? Themes?

Act III Comprehension Questions

  1. What is Danforth’s role in the proceedings? How would you characterize Danforth’s personality and manner of presiding over the court? What is his philosophy about the rights of the accused?
  1. What signs are there that the hysteria has escalated? What seems to be motivating Danforth’s zeal to question and condemn more people?
  1. Describe what is happening to Hale during the course of Act III. Provide specific examples of his behavior or dialogue.
  1. What connections can you make between Danforth’s explanation of the crime of witchcraft and the McCarthy trials of suspected Communists?
  1. Activity—Please complete on a separate piece of paper: Re-read Danforth’s lines on pp. 91-102 and analyze the rhetorical strategies he uses to try to achieve his aims.Remember, a rhetorical strategy is any spoken or written technique used to persuade or connect with an audience. Consider: appeals to fear/emotion (pathos), appeals to logic (logos), appeals to authority/character/experience (ethos), and stylistic flourishes such asloaded words, rhetorical questions, parallelism, allusions, etc.
  1. What weakens Mary Warren’s resolve to testify against Abby?
  1. How would you describe the encounter between Danforth and Abigail? Who “wins”? Why? P. 108
  1. Describe the irony in this Act.
  1. The end of Act III is often a climax or turning point in a play. Do you perceive the end of Act III as a “turning point”? Explain your conclusion with textual evidence.

Act IV Comprehension Questions

  1. How would you describe the opening of Act IV? What does Miller achieve dramatically with such an opening?
  1. What has happened in Andover that has Parris so agitated?
  1. What is Reverend Hale doing that brings “hope”?
  1. What, in your perception, has contributed to Parris’s apparent “softening” in attitude?
  1. What "law" is Danforth referring to in his assertion: "I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolutions of the statutes”?
  1. What is the implication in Elizabeth’s statement that Giles "died Christian under the law"?
  1. What is it that Proctor refuses to do to help his sons "walk like men in the world"?
  1. Explain the significance of Proctor’s speech on p. 143 about his name.
  1. What dramatic statement, in your perception, does Miller punctuate with his closing simile "the drums rattle like bones in the morning air"?

BIG IDEAS:

Tragic hero:What is a tragic hero? What characteristics are required?

Which of the traits does Proctor exhibit? Give a specific example for each.

Motifs and themes: