The Crucible.pdf

The Crucible
By: Arthur Miller
Notes and Study Guide

In Search of History: Salem Witch Trials Viewing Guide
1. Long before the Salem trials, how many people in Europe had
been put to death for witchcraft?
2. What was the Inquisition?
3. Name some methods of determining if someone was a witch.
4. What did the Puritans believe about women and their role in
society?
5. What did Tituba tell the young girls?
6. What did the girls begin to do?
7. What was the doctor's diagnosis of the girls?
8. What made Sarah Goode and Sarah Osborne easy targets?

9. What was Tituba's testimony?
10. Why were people afraid to stand up for the accused?
11. What happened to Bridgette Bishop?
12. What was the one sure way to survive the trials?
13. How many were burned at the stake?
14. How did Giles Corey die?
15. Who put a stop to the trials?
16. What are some of the theories about why the girls did what
they did?
17. What impact did these trials have on our system of justice?

DRAMA
DIALOGUE
STAGE DIRECTIONS
PROTAGONIST
ANTAGONIST
CONFLICT
TRAGEDY
COMEDY
MELODRAMA
MOOD
SETTING
PLOT
ACTS & SCENES
PURITANS
McCARTHYISM
THE BLACKLIST
DRAMA TERMS
Crucible Terms to know

Questions on Arthur Miller and General Introduction to The
Crucible from the Textbook pg 912
Directions: Read the biography on Miller (page 2) and pages 3, 6-
8 and answer the following questions. You will need this
information for your test.
Biography Questions (Miller):
1. Where was Miller born?
2. What was the name of the newspaper Miller edited?
3. What was the name of the college Miller attended?
4. What award did Miller win?
5. What charges were brought upon Miller?
6. What was the famous question asked by McCarthy?
From the section: Why I wrote The Crucible:
1. During the 1950’s as the play was being written, many people
were threatened by the thought of America becoming like
what?
2. It was said the there was a “hunt” for who in America?
3. What was Miller’s motivation for writing The Crucible?

4. What did Miller hope the play would demonstrate to
America and its top officials?
From the Introduction:
1. What is the setting?
2. Define hysteria.
3. Describe Reverend Parris.
4. Describe the “way of life” in Salem.
5. What was the difference(s) between the Mayflower
puritans and the puritans living in Salem?
6. Why did the “witch-hunt” represent a Pandora’s Box
problem?

Cast of Characters
When a character is introduced, write a brief description
of the character.
John Proctor
Elizabeth Proctor
Mary Warren
Giles Corey
Rev. Hale
Rev. Parris
Abigail Williams
Danforth
Putnam
Rebecca Nurse
Tituba
Sarah Good

ACT 1 Journal Topic
Choose one journal topic & write half page
response about a time when...
• You thought you might be in trouble & you lied to avoid
it.
• Rumors were flying…did someone try to dispel them?
• Your emotions prevented you from making a good/wise
choice.
• You found yourself “in over your head” because of a bad
choice you made.
• You made a good choice that played a role in who you
are today.

ACT 1 Questions and Vocabulary
1.Why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor as the play begins?
2.What does Parris question his niece Abigail about?
3.What did Parris see in the woods the previous night?
4.Why does Abigail say she was dismissed by the Proctors?
5.What does Betty Parris reveal about what happened in the woods?
6.What threat does Abigail make to the other girls?
7.What happened in the past between John Proctor and Abigail? How
do each of them feel about it now?
8.How does John Proctor feel about Reverend Parris?
9.What is the dispute between John Proctor and Thomas Putnam?
10.What does Giles Corey reveal to Reverend Hale?
11.When Abigail is questioned by Reverend Hale, who does she blame?
What proof does she offer?

12.What ultimatum is Tituba given?
13.Who does Tituba accuse of being a witch?
14.Why does Abigail start accusing people at this point?
Vocabulary
Each of these words was used in Act 1. Find the word and
write down what your think it means based on the context
clues in the text.
Abominations
Contention
Pretense
Defamation
Prodigious
Licentious

Quotation Identification:
Below are quotes from the first act ofThe Crucible. Use the
example as your guide.
“Your name in the town—it is entirely white, is it not?”
Parris said to Abigail concerning her reputation.
So basically, you tell who said it and briefly explain it.
1. “How high did she fly?”
2. “I have seen you since she put me out; I have seen you nights… I
have a sense for heat, John, and yours has drawn me to my
window.”
3. “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time, but I will cut
off my hand before I ever reach for you again.
4. “There is a prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits.”
5. I like not the smell of authority.”
6. “Thomas, Thomas, I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that
you—least of all, Thomas, would ever wish so disastrous a charge
laid upon me.”
7. “My books are weighted with authority.”
8. “It is the best the Devil wants, and who is better than the
minister?”

ACT 2 Journal Topic
Choose one journal topic & write half page
response about a time when...
• You or someone you know was judged unfairly.
• You asked to be forgiven for a wrong you’d done but
weren’t.
• Jealousy (your own or someone else’s) caused a problem
for you.
• Honesty (yours or someone else’s) played a role in a
conflict in your life.
• Your emotions in a particular situation clouded your
judgment.

ACT 2 Questions and Vocabulary
1.Why has Mary Warren disobeyed her employers and gone to Salem?
2.What did Abigail Williams reveal to John Proctor? Elizabeth
reminds him of this.
3.What lie did John Proctor tell to Elizabeth which makes her more
suspicious of him?
4.What news does Mary Warren reveal to John and Elizabeth about
the trials?
5.What does Mary Warren mean when she says, "I saved her life
today!"?
6.What does Elizabeth realize when she finds out that she has been
accused?
7.What does Elizabeth ask John to do?
8.Why does Reverend Hale visit the Proctors?
9.What does Reverend Hale ask Proctor to do?
10.Discuss the meaning of "Adultery, John."
11.What information does John Proctor reveal to Reverend Hale?

12.What news does Giles Corey reveal to the Proctors and Reverend
Hale?
13.What has Rebecca Nurse been accused of?
14.Why do Ezekial Cheever and Marshal Herrick arrive at the Proctor
home?
15.Explain why Cheever is both astonished and afraid when he finds
the poppet with the needle in it?
16.What does John ask Mary Warren to do?
17.Why is Mary so afraid to do as he asks?
18.Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against
Abigail?
19.What does John decide to do?
Vocabulary
Each of these words was used in Act 2. Find the word and write
down what your think it means based on the context clues in the
text.
Covet
Ameliorate

Quotation Identification:
Below are quotes from the second act The Crucible. Use the
example as your guide.
“Your name in the town—it is entirely white, is it not?”
Parris said to Abigail concerning her reputation.
So basically, you tell who said it and briefly explain it.
1. “Oh it is black mischief!”
2. “John if it were not Abigail you must go and hurt, would you falter now? I
think not.”
3. “If you think that I am one, then I say there are none.”
4. “She sat beside me when I made the poppet in court.”
5. “You are a coward! Though you be ordained in God’s own tears, you are a
coward now!”
6. “Oh Elizabeth your justice would freeze beer!”
7. “No, no I come on my own, without the court’s authority. Hear me… I
know not if you are aware, but your wife’s name was mentioned in court.”
8. “I never kept no poppets, not since I were a girl.”
9. “And thinks to kill me, and take my place.”
10. “And he goes to save her, and stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly,
he draw a needle out… and she testify it were your wife’s familiar spirit
that pushed it in.”

ACT 3 Journal Topic
Choose one journal topic & write half page
response about a time when...
• You (or someone you observed) was on a “power trip.”
• You were frustrated by the blatant lies someone was
telling & everyone was believing.
• You sacrificed a principle that is important to you for a
person that is important to you.
• You (or someone you know) was asked to “name names” or
implicate others in a problematic situation.

ACT 3 Questions
1.As this act opens, what accusation does Giles Corey make?
2.What news do we learn about Rebecca Nurse?
3.What two pieces of evidence are brought out against Proctor in regard to
his Christian nature?
4.What news does Danforth tell John Proctor about Elizabeth? What deal
does he try to make with him?
5.What is going to happen to the 91 people who signed the testament
stating a good opinion of Elizabeth, Martha Corey, and Rebecca Nurse?
6.What happens to Giles Corey?
7.What is Reverend Hale’s advice to John Proctor as he is about to read
his disposition before the court?
8.When Mary Warren says that she pretended to faint in court, what is she
asked to do? What is the result?
9.What does Abigail do when suspicion that she might be pretending falls
on her?
10.What does John Proctor do to discredit her?

11.Who is called to back up John’s testimony? What happens?
12.What happens when Reverend Hale states that Abigail has always
seemed false to him?
13.What is Mary Warren’s reaction to Abigail’s performance?
14.What does Hale do when Proctor is arrested?
Quotation Identification:
Below are quotes from the third act ofThe Crucible. Use the
example as your guide.
“Your name in the town—it is entirely white, is it not?”
Parris said to Abigail concerning her reputation.
So basically, you tell who said it and briefly explain it.
1. “He’s come to over throw this court, your Honor!”
2. “I—I know not. A wind, a cold wind, has come!”

3. “A person is either with this court or he must be counted
against it, there be no road between.”
4. “Private vengeance is working through testimony.”
5. “She spoke nothing of lechery, and this man has lied!”
6. “I say—I say; God is dead!”
7. “You are pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore!”
8. “Mr. Hale, surely you do not doubt my justice.”
9. “Then you tell me that you sat in my court, callously lying,
when you knew that people would hang by your evidence?”
10. “Do you not know that God dams all liars?”

ACT 4 Journal Topic
Choose one journal topic & write half page
response about a time when...
• You pretended to be something or someone you are not.
• You became totally disillusioned with someone or
something that you believed in.
• You were afraid to admit that you were wrong.
• You gave up something or someone important to you for a
principle.

ACT 4 Questions
1.What is Reverend Hale advising the condemned to do?
2.What does Reverend Parris reveal about his niece Abigail?
3.What is the condition of Salem at this point?
4.How does Andover differ from Salem?
5.What does Reverend Parris want Danforth to do?
6.What does Reverend Hale want Danforth to do?
7.What does Reverend Hale mean when he says,"there is blood on my
head!"?
8. Why does Danforth refuse to postpone the hangings?
9.What do Hale and Danforth request of Elizabeth Proctor?

10.What happened to Giles Corey?
11.What is John’s excuse for confessing?
12.What is Elizabeth’s proof that John is a good man?
13.How has Elizabeth changed since we first met her?
14.After John confesses, what does Danforth want him to do?
15.Explain the following: "I am John Proctor! You will not use me!"
Quotation Identification:
Below are quotes from the fourth act of The Crucible. Use
the example as your guide.
“Your name in the town—it is entirely white, is it not?”
Parris said to Abigail concerning her reputation.
So basically, you tell who said it and briefly explain it.
1. “Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to
house; abandoned cattle bellow on highroads, the stink of
rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the
harlots’ cry will end his life.”

2. “Let him give his lie. Quail not before God’s judgment in this,
for it may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws
his life away for pride.”
3. “So he stand mute, and died a Christian under the law.”
4. “I have three children—how may I teach them to walk like
men in the world, and I sold my friends?”
5. “How may I live without my name? I given you my soul; leave
me my name!”
6. “My niece sir I believe has vanished.”
7. “Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house—a dagger
clattered to the ground… There is danger for me.”
8. “Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve
or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that dies
till now.”
9. “I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. I have no
tongue for it.”
10. “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!”