Name:
The Crucible ~ Background Notes and Study Questions
I. Character List
Below is a list of the major characters. As you fill this out, include physical descriptions if they
are given, ages if they are given, and identifying character traits or actions. The more
detailed you are, the more this will help you on the test.
Reverend Samuel Parris: The Reverend is
Betty Parris: Betty is
Tituba: Tituba is
Abigail Williams: Abby is
Susanna Walcott: Susanna is
Mrs. Ann Putnam: Ann Putnam is
Thomas Putnam: Thomas Putnam is
Mercy Lewis: Mercy is
Mary Warren: Mary is
John Proctor: John is
Rebecca Nurse: Rebecca is
Giles Corey: Giles is
Reverend John Hale: John Hale is
Elizabeth Proctor: Elizabeth is
Francis Nurse: Francis is
Ezekiel Cheever: Ezekiel is
Marshal Herrick: Marshal is
Judge Hathorne: Judge Hathorne is
Deputy Governor Danforth: Danforth is
Sarah Good: Sarah is
Hopkins: Hopkins is
II. The Crucible ~ Themes and Symbols
The following information will help you to understand the bigger themes in The
Crucible
Themes
Reputation
Reputation is tremendously important in theocratic Salem, where public and private moralities
are one and the same. In an environment where reputation plays such an important role, the
fear of guilt by association becomes particularly pernicious. Focused on maintaining public
reputation, the townsfolk of Salem must fear that the sins of their friends and associates will
taint their names. Various characters base their actions on the desire to protect their respective
reputations.
Hysteria
Another critical theme in The Crucible is the role that hysteria can play in tearing apart a
community. Hysteria supplants logic and enables people to believe that their neighbors, whom
they have always considered upstanding people, are committing absurd and unbelievable
crimes or communing with the devil, killing babies, and so on. In The Crucible, the townsfolk
accept and become active in the hysterical climate not only out of genuine religious piety but
also because it gives them a chance to express repressed sentiments and to act on long-held
grudges. The most obvious case is Abigail, who uses the situation to accuse Elizabeth Proctor
of witchcraft and have her sent to jail. But others thrive on the hysteria as well: Reverend
Parris strengthens his position within the village, albeit temporarily, by making scapegoats of
people like Proctor, who question his authority. The wealthy, ambitious Thomas Putnam gains
revenge on Francis Nurse by getting Rebecca, Francis’s virtuous wife, convicted of the
supernatural murders of Ann Putnam’s babies. In the end, hysteria can thrive only because
people benefit from it. It suspends the rules of daily life and allows the acting out of every dark
desire and hateful urge under the cover of righteousness.
Intolerance
The Crucible is set in a theocratic society, in which the church and the state are one, and the
religion is a strict, austere form of Protestantism known as Puritanism. Because of the
theocratic nature of the society, moral laws and state laws are one and the same: sin and the
status of an individual’s soul are matters of public concern. There is no room for deviation
from social norms, since any individual whose private life doesn’t conform to the established
moral laws represents a threat not only to the public good but also to the rule of God and true
religion. In Salem, everything and everyone belongs to either God or the devil; dissent is not
merely unlawful, it is associated with satanic activity. This dichotomy functions as the
underlying logic behind the witch trials. As Danforth says in Act III, “a person is either with
this court or he must be counted against it.” The witch trials are the ultimate expression of
intolerance (and hanging witches is the ultimate means of restoring the community’s purity);
the trials brand all social deviants with the taint of devil-worship and thus necessitate their
elimination from the community.
Symbols
Crucible, a noun defined as; a container of metal or refractory material employed for heating
substances to high temperatures, in the traditional sense but, it also means a severe, searching
test or trial. The latter of the two definitions is exactly what Arthur Miller had in mind when he
wrote the play, The Crucible. The play, set in Salem, Massachusetts during the start of the
infamous Salem Witch Trials, is about the struggle to discover truth within the twisted and
brutal lies flying about the little town, started mainly by a young girl by the name of Abigail
Williams. Abigail Williams, as we quickly come to know, is the past mistress of the prominent
Mr. John Proctor, a local farmer. As the tension rises in the little town, secrets are spilt and
accusations run rampant out of the mouth of the young girl and her, also young, cohorts. It
becomes easy to see the significance of the crucible within the story. The significance of the
title in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible is that the persecution towards the people who were
being accused of witchcraft were put through both literal and theoretical fires, just as metal
and ores are put into a crucible to melt.
Name:
III. Act
I Questions
1. In what year does the play take place?
2. Why is Reverend Parris praying at the beginning of Act One? Might he have more than
one reason?
3. According to Dr. Griggs, what is a possible cause of the illness?
4. What did Reverend Parris do before coming to Salem?
5. What were Betty and Abigail doing in the forest when Rev. Paris frightened them? Why
would this be an especially upsetting sight for a Puritan minister?
6. Who is Tituba?
7. Where is Tituba from and what her relationship to Rev. Paris?
8. Why does Paris suggest calling Rev. Hale?
9. What is the relationship between Abigail and Reverend Parris? Why does she live with
him?
10.
What rumors are circulating in the village?
11.
What happened to Abigail seven months before Act One?
12.
What mission did Abigail have concerning the wife of John Proctor?
13.
What reason does Abigail give for being dismissed from the Proctor residence?
14.
What similarity exists between Ruth Putnam and Betty Parris? What difference do
the Putnams notice?
15.
Who are Ann and Thomas Putnam? What do they do? What do they suggest is
Betty’s problem? Why do you think they suggest this?
16.
Who is Ruth? What is wrong with her? How do the Putnam’s tie her problems to
Betty’s?
17.
Who is Mercy Lewis?
18.
What tragedy occurred in Mrs. Putnamís life?
19.
Why did Mrs. Putnam send her daughter to Tituba?
20.
In what way does Abigail’s behavior change when she is alone with the girls? What
does this reveal about her character?
21.
In what way does Abigail’s behavior change when she is alone with Proctor? What
do we learn about Abigail and Proctor in this scene?
22.
Who did Betty call for when she awakened? What did she try to do?
23.
Who is Rebecca Nurse? What effect does her presence have on Betty?
24.
How does Mrs. Putnam feel about Rebecca? Why?
25.
Who is Giles Corey? How does John Proctor seem to feel about Giles?
26.
What does Corey’s wife do that disturbs him?
27.
Proctor is not a fan of Parris’ preaching. What reasons does he give for his dislike?
28.
Explain the argument regarding Rev. Parris’ salary. What does this reveal about
Reverend Parris?
29.
Explain the land dispute between Putnam and Proctor. What does Proctor tell us
about Putnam?
30.
What do the Putnams think about books other then the bible? How do you
know?
31.
Who is Reverend Hale? For what reason is he called to Salem?
32.
What question does Giles Corey have for Reverend Hale?
33.
When Rev. Hale questions Tituba, what is her response?
34.
Why does Abigail blame Tituba for the incident in the woods? What effect does this
accusation have on Reverend Hale’s questioning of Abigail?
35.
Why does Tituba confess to seeing the devil? Which women does she claim to
have seen with the devil? What effect do these accusations have on Reverend
Hale’s questioning of Tituba?
36.
Why does Abigail join Tituba in the calling of names? What effect does this have on
the other girls in the room?
37.
What four individuals do they name?
38.
What is significant about these women?
39.
Act One ends with the following stage direction: “On their ecstatic cries.” What does
this stage direction imply?
Act One
Reading Summary:
IV.
Act II Questions
As you read, answer the questions below. The more detail you use, the more helpful these
questions are in helping you understand the play and pass the test.
1. How much time has elapsed between Acts One and Two?
2. What has happened in this time period? What role does Abigail play in the proceedings?
3. Describe the relationship between John and Elizabeth.
4. What does Proctor mean when he says, “It is winter in here yet”?
5. Why does John hesitate in exposing Abigail as a fraud?
6. Why is Proctor reluctant to tell Cheever about what Abigail told him? Is he justified in
holding back? What does Elizabeth attribute this to?
7. Why does Proctor become upset with his wife?
8. Upon returning from town, Mary Warren is visibly upset. What, in the day’s events, may
have caused such distress in Mary?
9. How has Mary Warren changed since the first act? What do you think caused this change?
10. What does Mary means when she says, “I saved her life today!”? What does Elizabeth
realize?
11. What does Mary give to Elizabeth? Why?
12. Why does the court decide to hang Goody Osburn but not Sarah Good?
13.On what evidence does the court convict Goody Osburn?
14.Describe Mary’s reaction when Proctor forbids her to return to court. What news does she
share?
15.Who accused Elizabeth of witchcraft?
16.What does Abigail stand to gain if Elizabeth is found guilty of witchcraft?
17.Why does Reverend Hale visit the Proctor household? What significant event happens
while he is there?
18.What “softness” does Reverend Hale find in the church records regarding the Proctors?
What explanation does John give?
19.When asked to recite the commandments, John remembers all but one. What is the
20.significance of the forgotten commandment?
21.What are John and Elizabeth’s feelings on the existence of witches? How does
22.Reverend Hale react to this?
23.Elizabeth says, “She wants me dead, John, you know it!” Who is “she”? What is Proctor’s
response and why doesn’t he deny what Elizabeth says?
24.Elizabeth mentions, “a promise made in any bed”. What is she referring to and what does
she want Proctor to do?
25. Why do Giles Corey and Francis Nurse arrive at the Proctor house?
26.What charge has been brought against Rebecca Nurse?
27.On what charge is Martha Corey arrested?
28.Who is Ezekiel Cheever? For what reason does he arrive at the Proctor household?
29.Why is the presence of a poppet in the Proctor house an important piece of “evidence”?
30.Who watched Mary sew the poppet? What does this reveal?
31.Describe Reverend Hale’s reaction to the evening’s arrests.
32.What are some of the things that “prove” Proctor is not an upright Christian?
33.Why doesn’t Mary willingly go to court and tell what she knows?
34.Does Mary know about the affair between Proctor and Abigail? How do we know?
35.How does Proctor plan to bring Elizabeth home? Does he think this will be easy? Explain
your inference.
36.How is accusing Elizabeth more dangerous that accusing Goody Good or Osburn?
37. Summarize Act 2:
V.
Act 2: Countless Conflicts
A conflict is a struggle between two forces. In literature, several different types of
conflicts often serve to enhance a story’s plot. Certainly, conflicts abound in The
Crucible.
Directions: Fill in the blanks below to identify the different types of conflicts
within this drama.
Person vs. Person
These conflicts refer to the struggle between two people. Keep in mind that
this doesn’t have to be a physical struggle.
1. Person vs. Person in The Crucible
1.
2.
3.
Person vs. Self
These conflicts highlight struggles within characters. Often the struggle
revolves around a crucial decision or shameful secret.
2. Person vs. Self in The Crucible
1.
2.
3.
Person vs. Society
These conflicts represent struggles between an individual and a larger group. In
this novel, Puritan society is viewed as the church. A group of people such as
the accusing girls is also considered society.
3. Person vs. Society in The Crucible
1.
2.
3.
In the space provided below draw an object that you feel best represents everything
that has happened in “The Crucible” so far. It can only be a single object!
The best, most creative representation gets 20 extra credit points on their lowest
grade!
VI.
Act III Questions
1. Describe the questioning of Martha Corey. Does this seem like a fair process? Explain.
2. Why do Giles and Francis interrupt the court?
3. Explain the reactions of each of the following people to the interruption: Danforth,
Hathorne, Parris, and Hale.
4. What does Danforth tell Proctor about Elizabeth? Why does he choose this point to
share this piece of information? How does John react to the news?
5. What document does Proctor present to Danforth? Why?
6. What about Danforth’s reaction to the document upsets Francis?
7. What claim does Giles present through his deposition?
8. How does Mr. Putnam react to Giles’ claim?
9. Why won’t Giles give the name of the person referred to in the deposition? What does this
show about Giles’ character?
10. Describe Reverend Hale’s reaction to these events. In what ways has his opinion changed
since Act Two? How do we know?
11. In your opinion, why is Mary unable to “faint” on command?
12. How does Danforth react to the news of Abigail’s dancing? Does his opinion of her seem
changed? How can we tell?
13. Why does Abigail claim a cold wind has struck her? What is she trying to achieve by this
diversion?
14. Why does Danforth have Elizabeth brought into the courtroom?
15. Why does Elizabeth lie?
16. What is Hale’s reaction to these events? Why does he believe Proctor?
17. Abigail claims that Mary is threatening her in the form of a bird. Why does Abigail make
this claim? What does she hope to achieve by such a scene? Does she succeed? Explain.
18. Why does Mary change her story and accuse Proctor?
19. At what point does Proctor give up? How can we tell?
20. What is Reverend Hale’s reaction?
21. With which character do you most sympathize in this Act? Why?
22. Do you think Parris really believes the girls’ accusations? Explain your answer with
support from the text.
23. Do you think Giles Corey will eventually give the name of his deposition informant?
Explain your answer with support from the text.
24. Why might Danforth and Hathorne be reluctant to accept that the girls are frauds?
25. If you were Reverend Hale, would you have quit the court? Does it matter if Hale quits or
stays? Explain.
VII. Character
Flaws
Characterization is the method used by a writer to develop how the character looks, acts,
and thinks. Many of the characters in this play blame their problems on external forces. The
true source of their troubles, however, lies within themselves. Itís human nature to have
personal strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes those weaknesses wield too much
power, as is the case with many of the townspeople in Salem.
Directions: For each character, select two weaknesses from the following list. Demonstrate
how each character displays the chosen weaknesses by using examples from the text. Some
of the same weaknesses apply to more than one character, while some may not be used at
all.
Envy
Lust
Dishonesty
Immaturity
Guilt
Greed
Suspicion
Grief
Quick Tempered BehaviorSelf-Doubt
Character
1.
John Proctor
2.
1.
2.
1.
Williams
2.
1.
2.
1.
Parris
2.
1.
Reverend
Ann
1.
2.
1.
Proctor
Elizabeth
Abigail
Flaw
2.
1.
Putnam
2.
2.
1.
2.
Example
VIII. Act
IV (4) Questions
1. In the beginning of Act Four, how does the author indicate the passage of time?
2. Summarize the conversation between Herrick, Good, and Tituba. What does this show
about the mental state of the prisoners?
3. For what purpose does Reverend Hale return?
4. How do Danforth and Hathorne feel about Hale’s return?
5. What explanation does Cheever give for Parris’ nervous behavior? Do you think this is the
cause? What else could cause Parris to act nervous?
6. What news of Abigail does Parris share with Danforth?
7. Why is the news regarding Abigail of particular concern to the court?
8. Rumors of rebellion in nearby Andover have worried Parris. Why? Of what is he afraid? In
your opinion, are his fears well founded?
9. Compare the previously executed prisoners with those remaining to be executed. How do
they differ?
10. Does Parris care about the souls of Rebecca, Martha, and John? Why does he want
them spared?
11. It has been said that Danforth is more concerned with upholding the court than
uncovering the truth. What evidence supports that statement?
12. Describe Salem as it exists in Act Four. What impact have the executions had on this
village?
13. For what reason is Elizabeth brought in to talk to John?
14. What news of Giles does Elizabeth share with John?
15. In addition to integrity, what other purpose did Giles have in not revealing his source of
information?
16. Proctor tells Elizabeth that he is considering confessing because, “Nothingís spoiled by
giving them this lie that were not rotten before.” To what is he referring? Do you agree with
his logic? Explain.
17. For what does Elizabeth apologize?
18. Why does Proctor decide to confess?
19. At first, Danforth is not satisfied with Proctor’s confession. What other information does
he want Proctor to give? Why does Proctor refuse to cooperate with this wish?
20. Describe Rebecca’s reaction to John’s confession. What keeps Rebecca from
confessing? What does this reveal about her character?
21. John doesn’t want his confession posted on the church door. Why?
22. Why does Proctor tear the confession? What does this act signify?
23. Why is Parris frantic in the end of the play? What does he fear?
24. Elizabeth closes the play with the following line: “He have his goodness now. God forbid I
take it from him.” What does she mean? Do you agree with her?
25. Hale, like Parris, is visibly upset in the closing scene. In what way does his sadness differ
with that of Parris?
26. Summarize Act 4: