The Crucible Study Guide



The Crucible Study Guide

Theme and character

1. What is a crucible? How is the title symbolic?

2. Know characters.

3. Indirect characterization: How is a character developed indirectly though appearance, action, thoughts and words, and the comments of other characters?

4. Be able to paraphrase and interpret quotes.

5. Know the parallels to the McCarthy hearings. How were the witch trials analogous to the hearings?

6. How does Arthur Miller’s attitude toward John Proctor and the witch trials reveal Miller’s values?

7. What do you think the theme is?

Dramatic techniques and plot

1. Identify exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion.

2. What is the conflict between the following people: Elizabeth and John; the Proctors and Abigail; Judge Danforth and Proctor; Danforth and Rev. Hale; Putnam and Corey? What does the conflict tell about the characters and the values of the two people? How does this conflict move the plot forward or help you to understand the theme?

Vocabulary

1. “pseudo-Puritan “ language (like “sporting in the woods”)

2. types of Puritan roles and social terms

indentured servant, constable, theocracy, how are judges selected and how do they view evidence, Goody (for Goodwoman), poppit (a doll, a puppet)

3. legal terms

deposition

4. religious terms

blasphemy

covenanted

-------------------Group project. Do research on the Salem Witch Trials or Joseph McCarthy’s House Hearings on UnAmerican Activities in the 1950s or another “witch hunt”. Write as a letter to the editor or present in a panel discussion or present as a power point. See web site below.

Miller wrote The Crucible in response to one of those "witch hunts" that took place in his time period--McCarthyism. The Question: What should be done to keep the innocent from being accused and presumed guilty? You will be given 2 days of class time for research and part of a period to present.

Your job, in a group of 4 (or 5) students, is to research the background of the Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism, and other "witch hunts" throughout history (perhaps against Muslims) to find their causes, evaluate their consequences, and develop a solution that would help avoid and/or prevent such "witch hunts" in the future. You will be creating a letter to the editor of a newspaper telling what society should do to prevent innocent people from being accused and presumed guilty in the future.

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The Process

 1. Choose one of the following roles:

o Expert on the The Salem Witch Trials (context of The Crucible)

o Expert on McCarthyism

o Expert on related persecutions of innocent people

o Expert on PowerPoint (you must know the PowerPoint software and have permission from the teacher in order to choose this role; click to see the responsibilities for this role)  

1. Do summaries of at least 2 articles.

A.  SUMMARY OPTION:  Once you have picked a role, you must begin researching your topic and summarizing/journaling (responding to)  the information you read and learn.

Documentation—for more info see handouts. (Someone should be able to find the site or work from your documentation.) Do a Works Cited (bibliography) which includes the following for websites:

Last name of author, first name. “Title.” Website authors (what organization?) http://... Date of access.

(see rubric)

2. For your role, chart out the following: (click here to get role chart, see rubric)

o the problem behind the situation (what is the issue?)

o the causes of the "witch hunt"

o the consequences of the "witch hunt"

o a possible way for that society to have avoided it  

3. Compile the information (charts and summaries/journals) your group has collected; 

o compare causes

o consequences

o solutions

Create Venn Diagrams to show similarities of each point.  You should have at least three Venn Diagrams; one for each point.  (click here to get Venn Diagram, see rubric)  

Begin your letter to the editor.  To start, use the thesis builder and outline builder to generate your thesis and your outline.  Be sure to print your work.  (click here for thesis and outline builder)  

4. Write the letter to the editor--each member contributing information on which she/he is an expert.  Discuss the issues, causes, consequences, and the main solution.  Write as if to a newspaper. (see rubric)

See the complete directions at .

See some historic facts at httm//www3.salem

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