First Reading: The Crucible, by Arthur Miller
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| The Crucible, by Arthur Miller |
Thursday, June 20, 2013
The Crucible
Act I Questions:
1.) Why is Rev. Parris really concerned about his daughter Betty’s involvement in witchcraft?
2.) Describe John Proctor and Abigail’s feelings for one another.
3.) What does Mrs. Putnam hope the existence of witchcraft in Salem can explain for her?
4.) What is Rev. Parris the first minister in the history of Salem to demand?
5.) How does Rebecca Nurse attempt to explain the strange behavior of Betty Parris and Ruth Putnam?
6.) What does Rev. Hale warn Parris and the inhabitants of Salem that they must be able to accept before he begins his investigation for witchcraft?
7.) How does Giles Corey accidentally make his wife, Martha, a suspect in the witch hunt?
8.) If you could use one word to describe Abigail, what would it be? Support your choice with examples from Act I.
9.) What makes Tituba an ideal scapegoat for the likes of Abigail and Parris?
10.) Why do all of the girls confess to witchcraft at the end of Act I, especially when they were innocent of it?
Native Son
Act II Questions
1. What type of women do Abigail and company first accuse of witchcraft?
2. What does Proctor mean when he says to Elizabeth that “It’s winter in here yet”? What does his metaphor imply about their relationship?
3. Why is Proctor hesitant to tell Elizabeth what Abigail confessed to him about there being no witchcraft among the girls, only foolish dancing in the woods?
4. Why does Mary Warren, who is timid and shy by nature, suddenly discover courage and tell the Proctors that they will not control her?
5. Why hasn’t Proctor had his third son baptized yet?
6. Why is Rebecca Nurse charged with witchcraft? Be specific.
7. Which commandment does John Proctor forget when Rev. Hale asks him to recite the Ten Commandments? Why is this an example of irony?
8. Explain how Abigail makes use of the poppet that Mary sewed in court.
9. Why does Mary say that Abigail will do to Proctor if he tries to defend Elizabeth?
10. What does Proctor mean when at the end of Act II when he says about Salem, “We only what we always were, but naked now”?
The Crucible
Act III Questions
1. What is ironic about the petition that Francis Nurse had 91 Salem villagers sign?
2. What does Giles Corey accuse Thomas Putnam of doing?
3. Which character repeatedly claims that anydefense offered by Proctor is “an attack upon the court”:
4. What does Judge Hathorne ask Mary Warren to do in order to prove her innocence? (Hint- she tries, but is unable to do it.)
5. What does Proctor mean when he says “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name—you will believe me, Mr. Danforth!
6. What causes Mary to snap at the end of Act III and accuse Proctor of being “The Devil’s Man”?
7. Rev. Hale denounces the proceedings and quits the court at the end of Act III. How is this foreshadowed in Act I?
8. How does Abigail once again control the court at the conclusion of Act III?
The Crucible
Act IV Analysis
Analysis:
Analyze Aristotle's definition of a Tragic Hero. Based on this definition, do you believe that John Proctor is an example of one? In 4-5 paragraphs, support your analysis with citations from the text.
Definition of a Tragic Hero:
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| Aristotle |
A tragic hero has the potential for greatness but is doomed to fail. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot win. He makes some sort of tragic flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness. Even though he is a fallen hero, he still wins a moral victory, and his spirit lives on.
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