Motivation, Themes, and
Language of the drama
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Mrs. Nelson’s 11th grade on level American Literature English
Using Socratic Seminar to discuss and analyze the motives, themes, and
language of Arthur Miller’s drama The Crucible.
Materials: None
Summary (and Rationale): Examine the historical context of a consciously historical work
of literature. Compare facts with the fictional or dramatic treatments of the facts. Ponder
the differences between history and literature. Recognize the close ties between a nation's
history and culture and the literature it produces
Focus and Review (Establish Prior Knowledge): [time] None. This lesson will
proceed directly after watching a recorded performance of the play.
Objective and Assessment: 2 min.
Objective: When given a work of literature
with historical context, a student will be able
to:
•Examine the historical context of a
consciously historical work of literature
•Compare facts with the fictional or dramatic
treatments of the facts
•Ponder the differences between history and
literature.
•Recognize the close ties between a nation's
history and culture and the literature it
produces
Assessments:
• Students who participate in the discussion
will be given a 2 point participation grade
for each time they add to the discussion
• Closure (Plan for maintenance): [time] 5 min.
Students will continue to be involved in group discussions and analyzing historically
relevant text throughout the semester.
• VI. Independent Practice: [time] Throughout the semester to gain proficiency in
analyzing texts, reasoning and group discussions
• NC StandardsRL.11-12.1 , RL.11-12.2 , RL.11-12.7 , RL.11-12.10 ,
RI.11-12.3 , RI.4, RI.6, RI.10
SL. 1, SL.1a, SL.1c, SL.1d, SL.3
L.1a, L.1b, L.3, L.3a, L.4,L.4a, L4b, L.4c, L.4d, L.5
• Differentiation-Multiple level of questions.
• References•
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Coia. "Character Recipe Mr. Coia English 5-6." Web English Teacher. Mr. Coia, n.d. Web. 23 Apr.
2013. <http://www.mrcoia.com/school/pdf/11/cruc
Miller, Arthur. "The Crucible: Literature Guide (Page 5) - TeacherVision.com." Teacher Lesson
Plans, Printables & Worksheets by Grade or Subject - TeacherVision.com. TeacherVision, n.d.
Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://www.teachervision.fen.com/historical-fiction/literatureguide/3498.html?page=5&detoured=1>.
"Salem Witch Trials | Free Lesson Plans | Teachers | Digital textbooks and standards-aligned
educational resources ." Welcome to Discovery Education | Digital textbooks and standardsaligned educational resources . Discovery Education, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/salem-witch-trials.cfm>.
"SparkNotes: The Crucible: Themes, Motifs & Symbols." SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular
Study Guides. Sparknotes, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crucible/th
Motivation
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People have motives for their
actions. In this drama, different
motives drive characters to act or
react.
Objective: You will demonstrate
your understanding of a character
by “creating” them in a recipe
form.
Preparation Tips:
Prewriting & Writing
Select a character from The Crucible.
• List character traits and descriptions as they appear in the
novel.
• Determine and list events or forces that they believe helped
shape the character.
• Look at a few recipes from magazines to see how they are
written.
• Create a recipe that the author might have used to develop
the character they have selected. Baste themselves in creative
juices every so often.
Revising & Proofreading
• Stir. Add ingredients. Check to make sure preparation
instructions are clear and in logical order.
• Check spelling, abbreviations for measurements, and that
preparation instructions are delivered using imperative
sentences (if you don’t know what one is, find out!).
Reverend Hale’s Puritan Turnovers
Ingredients:
3 cups Religious Fervor (Puritan flavor) 1 cup Fear of Authorities
1 bunch Books Weighted with Authority 3 heaping tablespoons Pride
2 cups Faulty Logic
3 drops Yellow food coloring
pinch of Truth
1 pint Compassion
sprinkle Guilt
1 piece Rope
Directions:
Start with Religious Fervor and Books Weighted with Authorities.
Knead until thoroughly mixed. Slowly fold in Faulty Logic, one chunk
at a time. Sprinkle Pride over mixture and blend until thoroughly
combined. Place in a hot Salem kettle. When mixture is in the heat, the
backbone will be exposed. Carefully remove and discard. Add Yellow
food coloring. During cooking, mixture will slowly turn colors.
Carefully add Truth. The yellow color will fade, giving way to a
vibrant color. The Pride in the mixture will shrink, giving way to a
healthier formation. Add Compassion. The Turnovers will remove
themselves from the heat. Serve on a plain dish, garnished with a
portion of Rope .
Preparation Time: Three months
Serves: Two people: Elizabeth and John
Let’s Discuss the Language of the
Play
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 Dramatic irony is the contradiction between the
situation developed in a drama and the words or
actions of the characters that is understood by the
audience but not by the characters themselves. What
examples of irony do you see in the play?
 A paradox is a person, situation, or action having
seemingly contradictory qualities or phases. What
events in Salem can be viewed as paradox?
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Themes
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 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.
Themes
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 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.
 Which characters are concerned with their reputation
in society?
Themes
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 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—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.
 Which characters gain something by inciting and
maintaining hysteria? What do they gain and why?
What do you think?
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 Which scenes/characters affected you most strongly
and why?
 Before reading The Crucible, we researched the Salem
witch trails. Let’s talk about the value of literature
written in the 20th century about a period 300 years
earlier-in trying to understand the historical period
dramatized. There are no right and wrong answers
to this question, but it’s important to think about
how a literary version can help you as well as
mislead you.