The Crucible Anticipation Guide



The Crucible

By: Arthur Miller

Name____________Hour___

Due Date____

The Crucible Anticipation Guide

Carefully read and consider each of the following statements. Then mark whether you agree or disagree with each statement.

|Agree |Disagree |Statement |

| | |1. Age does not matter in a relationship between a man and a woman. |

| | |2. “All is fair in love and war.” |

| | |3. Adultery is acceptable in today’s society. |

| | |4. It is okay to lie or cheat as long as you don’t get caught. |

| | |5. Withholding the truth is the same thing as telling a lie. |

| | |6. There are times in life when you should lie. |

| | |7. Gossiping is a harmless but fun way to pass time. |

| | |8. If the majority of people believe a statement is true, then it must be true. |

| | |9. In the American judicial system, the accused is innocent until proven guilty. |

| | |10. I am willing to accept the consequences of my actions. |

| | |11. Going to church helps to make you a good person. |

| | |12. Most people have certain fundamental beliefs that they are not willing to compromise. |

Now choose one of the above statements with which you strongly agree or disagree. Explain your feelings about this statement in a brief paragraph that you write in the space below.

The Crucible Vocabulary

Keep track of each word and its definition on note cards. You will be quizzed over Acts I and II vocab. on Monday, 10/5 and Acts III and IV vocab. on Monday, 10/19. (

American Literature Notes

What makes American literature unique: 4 main reasons

1) Point of View- Authorial distance or attachment. The author makes very little difference or attempt to differentiate between the author and who is telling the story (the narrator).

2) The Move from Society- Most other literature has the protagonist engulfed in society, return to, or re-assimilate into society. American literature- the protagonist moves away from society, separating him/herself from the rest of the town.

British/

World Literature:

[pic]

American

Literature:

Protagonist:

• Keeps going further away from society, never reconciles with the town or its inhabitants. Returning to society would only make it worse. Starts the idea of American individuality.

o American individuality- Being away from the town meant the character was becoming his/her own person, a true individual. If you were apart of the town you were classified with the majority, you had no individuality.

3) Conflict between Good and Evil-

• British literature- wrote about love, social and economic class, culture, history, and who marries whom.

American literature- attempts to define what is good and evil. It surrounds the plot of the story, the struggles between the two, and focuses on the fact that it is at the core of every human being.

4) Differences between the Devil/woods and God/town (society, people)

• Devil/woods: Woods/darkness symbolizes evil.

o Puritans believed the Devil dwelt in the woods and in the darkness surrounding the town. Since the Indians tried to avoid the towns and lived in the woods, they believed the Devil had a pact with the Indians. Believed anyone living outside the town could be partners with the Devil or susceptible to his call.

God/town: Church/light/society symbolizes good.

Puritan towns- church was built first, the prison was built second, and the courthouse was built last.

• Believed God only dwelt in the village, not outside it. Center of town was the church (God) and the presence of God dwindled further and further from the center of town.

The Crucible – Overture

Each group is responsible for “teaching” their assigned paragraphs. The group will explain the meaning of their assigned selection and provide answers for their assigned questions. Each group will ALSO prepare a creative presentation (drawing on the board, short skit, etc.) that will illustrate (symbolically?) their assigned paragraphs.

|Group # | |Paragraphs |

|#1 |Setting |1 – 3 |

|#2 |Theocracy |4 – 5 |

|#3 |The wilderness |6 – 7 |

|#4 |“City on a hill” |8 – 10 |

|#5 |Next generation Puritans |11 – 13 |

|#6 |Withcraft |14 – 15 |

Group #1

1. Describe how the narrator/author sees Rev. Parris.

2. Explain, in detail, the “town” and describe how the Puritan’s viewed their “town.”

3. According to these paragraphs, what was the economic situation in Salem during this time?

4. How did the Europeans view the Puritans?

Group #2

5. What does the narrator/author mean when he says that “There was a good supply of ne’er-do-wells?”  Describe what you think a ne’er-do-well is and what their life might be like in Salem 1692.

6. What reason “more than the creed” does the author give for the people of Salem remaining so strongly united?  Will that reason remain valid (consider when the author says, “the time of the armed camp had almost passed” in your response)?

7. Explain the duty of the two-man patrols appointed by the Church-Govt. as police officers.  What exactly were they policing?

8. List the main tension of this section:  ____________ vs. ______________

Suggested Tension:  The stereotypical view of Puritans vs. the Real view flaws and all

Groups #3

9. How did the Puritans view the forest and why?

10. Explain why the Puritans viewed the Indians as heathens.

11. What is the main conflict/tension in this section?

Group #4

12. How did the Puritans view other sects of Christianity? According to the author why did they feel this way?

13. What does it mean to believe one holds the candle that lights the world?

14. Explain the concept of the New Jerusalem. 

15. List three character traits your peers should understand about the Puritans?

Group #5

16. Look up the word JUNTA in the dictionary, and write the definition here that makes the best sense with how it is used in this section.

17. What governmental change occurred that may have seemed frightening to the Puritan people?

18. How does Miller explain a THEOCRACY?  (And what might “material or ideological enemies” mean?)

19. Other than possible witches, what does Miller say made these Puritans feel panic?

20. Even though Miller’s play is about historical figures in Salem in the 1690s, the play is also known to be an expression of his feelings about his own period in the 1950s.  What does he say about repressions that could apply to the 1950s and even to our own time?

21. Prepare two BRIEF melodramas/skits.  The first should show us something to do with a likely situation in which the Puritans supported a theocracy.  The second should show a situation or scene in which Puritans may not see the need for a strong theocracy.

Group #6

22. Why does Miller feel pity for the people of his play (the people of 17th century Salem)?

23. What does Miller say are two or three reasons that people felt good about crying witch against their neighbors?

24. Based on the previous question:  In this section, what is Miller’s attitude about the strictness of the Puritans?

25. In a BRIEF skit or melodrama, demonstrate for the class a couple of the attitudes Miller suggests were behind crying witch on a neighbor.

|MAJOR |Act I |Act II |

|Name | | |

|Reverend Parris | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Abigail Williams | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|John Proctor | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Thomas Putnam | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Reverend | | |

|John Hale | | |

| | | |

|Judge Samuel | | |

|Danforth | | |

| | | |

|Elizabeth Proctor| | |

| | | |

| | | |

|MAJOR | | |

|Name |Act III |Act IV |

|Reverend Parris | | |

|Abigail Williams | | |

|John Proctor | | |

|Thomas Putnam | | |

|Reverend | | |

|John Hale | | |

|Judge Samuel | | |

|Danforth | | |

|Elizabeth Proctor| | |

|MINOR | | |

|Name |Act I |Act II |

| | | |

|Giles Corey | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Mary Warren | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Ann Putnam | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Rebecca Nurse | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Judge Hathorne | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Tituba | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Mercy Lewis | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|MINOR | | |

|Name |Act III |Act IV |

| | | |

|Giles Corey | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Mary Warren | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Ann Putnam | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Rebecca Nurse | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Judge Hathorne | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Tituba | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Mercy Lewis | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

The Crucible

Act I Questions

1. Why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor as the play begins?

2. What advice does the doctor send back?

3. What does Parris question his niece Abigail about?

4. What is Parris’ main concern?

5. What did Parris see in the woods the previous night?

6. What has Elizabeth Proctor said about Abigail?

7. Why does Abigail say she was dismissed by the Proctors?

8. What rumors have circulated the town about Betty Parris? What proof later occurs that "proves" that she is a witch?

9. Why did Mrs. Putnam contact Tituba?

10. Who does Abigail accuse of conjuring spirits at this point?

11. What does Betty Parris reveal about what happened in the woods?

12. What threat does Abigail make to the other girls?

13. What happened in the past between John Proctor and Abigail? How do each of them feel about it now?

14. What is the function of Rebecca Nurse in the play?

15. How does John Proctor feel about Reverend Parris?

16. What is the dispute between John Proctor and Thomas Putnam?

17. Why is Reverend Hale in Salem?

18. What does Giles Corey reveal to Reverend Hale?

19. When Abigail is questioned by Reverend Hale, who does she blame? What proof does she offer?

20. What ultimatum is Tituba given?

21. Who does Tituba accuse of being a witch?

22. Why does Abigail start accusing people at this point?

23. Why does Betty Parris start accusing people?

The Crucible

Act II Questions

1. At the beginning of this act, John Proctor says, "It is winter in here yet." Why is this pertinent to what is going on?

2. Why has Mary Warren disobeyed her employers and gone to Salem?

3. What did Abigail Williams reveal to John Proctor? Elizabeth reminds him of this.

4. Why hasn’t John told the court what he knows? What does Elizabeth attribute his not telling to?

5. What lie did John Proctor tell to Elizabeth which makes her more suspicious of him?

6. What news does Mary Warren reveal to John and Elizabeth about the trials?

7. How does Mary Warren behave towards her employers?

8. What does Mary Warren mean when she says, "I saved her life today!"?

9. What does Elizabeth realize when she finds out that she has been accused?

10. What does Elizabeth ask John to do?

11. Why does Reverend Hale visit the Proctors?

12. How does John Proctor respond to questions about why he has not been to church?

13. What does Reverend Hale ask Proctor to do?

14. Discuss the meaning of "Adultery, John." (page 67)

15. What information does John Proctor reveal to Reverend Hale?

16. What does Reverend Hale want John to do with this information?

17. Why does Elizabeth say that she doesn’t believe in witches at this point?

18. What news does Giles Corey reveal to the Proctors and Reverend Hale?

19. What has Rebecca Nurse been accused of?

20. Why has Martha Corey been accused?

21. Why do Ezekial Cheever and Marshal Herrick arrive at the Proctor home?

22. Explain why Cheever is both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it?

23. What does John ask Mary Warren to do?

24. Why is Mary so afraid to do as he asks?

25. Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail?

26. What does John decide to do?

The Crucible

Act III Questions

1. As this act opens, what accusation does Giles Corey make?

2. What news do we learn about Rebecca Nurse?

3. When John Proctor arrives at court with Mary Warren, what does Reverend Prris accuse him of?

4. What two pieces of evidence are brought out against Proctor in regard to his Christian nature?

5. What news does Danforth tell John Proctor about Elizabeth? What deal does he try to make with him?

6. What is going to happen to the 91 people who signed the testament stating a good opinion of Elizabeth, Martha Corey, and Rebecca Nurse?

7. Discuss "Do that which is good , and no harm shall come to thee." (pg 95)

8. What is Giles Corey’s proof that Thomas Putnam is "reaching out for land."? Why won’t he reveal his source?

9. What happens to Giles Corey?

10. What is Reverend Hale’s advice to John Proctor as he is about to read his disposition before the court?

11. What does Danforth think Mary Warren’s appearance in the court might be?

12. When Mary Warren says that she pretended to faint in court, what is she asked to do? What is the result?

13. What does Abigail do when suspicion that she might be pretending falls on her?

14. What does John Proctor do to discredit her?

15. Who is called to back up John’s testimony? What happens?

16. What happens when Reverend Hale states that Abigail has always seemed false to him?

17. What is Mary Warren’s reaction to Abigail’s performance?

18. What does John Proctor mean when he says, "God is dead!"?

19. What does Hale do when Proctor is arrested?

The Crucible

Act IV Questions

1. Why has Reverend Hale returned to Salem?

2. What is Reverend Hale advising the condemned to do?

3. What does Reverend Parris reveal about his niece Abigail?

4. What is the condition of Salem at this point?

5. How does Andover differ from Salem?

6. How do the proposed hangings of Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor differ from the past executions?

7. What does Reverend Parris want Danforth to do?

8. What does Reverend Hale want Danforth to do?

9. What does Reverend Hale mean when he says,"there is blood on my head!"?

10. Why does Danforth refuse to postpone the hangings?

11. What do Hale and Danforth request of Elizabeth Proctor?

12. What happened to Giles Corey?

13. What is John’s excuse for confessing?

14. What is Elizabeth’s proof that John is a good man?

15. How has Elizabeth changed since we first met her?

16. After John confesses, what does Danforth want him to do?

17. Discuss,"I am John Proctor! You will not use me!"

18. What does Hale attribute Proctor’s willingness to hang to?

19. What does Elizabeth attribute it to?

Conflicting Values in The Crucible English III

Much of The Crucible is about the conflicting values the characters have and/or how those values change. For the following assignment, write down the character’s original value and an example of how we see this, what it changed to, an example, and why it changed.

Abigail Williams:

Reverend Parris:

Reverend Hale:

Elizabeth Proctor:

John Proctor:

Mary Warren:

Irony in The Crucible

| |Occurs when someone states one thing and means another; often recognized as sarcasm (i.e. narrator refers to honesty as an |

|Verbal irony |“incumbrance” or “burden”) |

| |A contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen (i.e. gentleman who is admired and envied |

|Situational irony |commits suicide) |

| |Occurs when a reader knows more about a situation or a character in the story than the characters do |

|Dramatic irony | |

Directions: Complete the following statements and identify whether it is an example of verbal, situational, or dramatic irony.

1. Proctor is known for his “good name,” yet:

Type of Irony:

2. The Puritans believed that “children should be seen, not heard,” yet the girls:

Type of Irony:

3. Giles Corey was a talkative man, yet:

Type of Irony:

4. One of the accusers is named Mercy Lewis, yet:

Type of Irony:

5. Elizabeth is portrayed as an honest woman, yet when questioned by Judge Danforth:

Type of Irony:

6. Danforth says, “…the entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children,” yet:

Type of Irony:

7. In Act IV, Sarah Good and Tituba are considered insane, yet Salem:

Type of Irony:

8. Proctor says, “Good! Then her saintliness is done with” in reference to Abigail, yet:

Type of Irony:

9. Abigail and the girls are motivated by evil intentions, yet the court:

Type of Irony:

10. Judge Danforth accuses Elizabeth of being hard-hearted toward her husband’s impending death, yet:

Type of Irony:

11. Proctor recites his Ten Commandments, yet:

Type of Irony:

12. John Proctor says, “There might also be a dragon with five legs in my house, but no one has ever seen it,” yet:

Type of Irony:

13. In Act II, Giles and Francis seem shocked by Hale’s suggestion that a “secret blasphemy” may exist in Salem, yet:

Type of irony:

14. According to the stage directions at the end of Act III, “Abigail, out of her infinite charity, reaches out and draws the sobbing Mary to her;” yet:

Type of Irony:

-----------------------

Act II:

indignant

flail

crone

blasphemy

avid

pallor

poppet

vengeance

wily

pious

daft

ameliorate

Act IV:

gaunt

embodiment

flounder

reprieve

cleave

quail

conciliatory

Act III:

contentious

probity

prodigious

effrontery

immaculate

qualm

guild

incredulous

lechery

denounce

Act I:

fanatic

predilection

maraud

paradox

dissemble

abomination

vindictive

smirch

disproportionate

trepidation

subservient

calumny

arbitrate

iniquity

ascertain

Puritan Words/Legal Jargon

aye – yes

draught – a large and hurried swallow of a drink

poppet – a doll sewn out of fabric

trafficked – to deal with or make an exchange with

quail – to lose heart or courage; to shrink with fear

affidavit– a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official

deposition– a statement under oath, taken down in writing, to be used in court in place of the spoken testimony of the witness

perjury – the deliberate giving of false, misleading, or incomplete testimony under oath

ipso facto (Latin) – by that very fact

Conflict/move from society

Resolution

Protagonist

Move back to society

Conflict

Protagonist moves away from society/ becomes an individual

Protagonist

Woods

Edge of town

Evil

Wilderness

Church/

Light

Darkness

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