Act II Answers
1. At the beginning of this act, John Proctor says, "It is winter in here yet." Why is this pertinent to what is
going on?
Elizabeth is giving John the “cold shoulder” after the affair.
2. Why has Mary Warren disobeyed her employers and gone to Salem?
She is now an official of the court.
3.What did Abigail Williams reveal to John Proctor? Elizabeth reminds him of this.
Abigail tells Proctor this has nothing to do with witchcraft.
4.Why hasn’t John told the court what he knows? What does Elizabeth attribute his not telling to?
He doesn’t want to turn Abigail in—she may turn on him. Elizabeth says there are promises
made in every bed.
5.What lie did John Proctor tell to Elizabeth which makes her more suspicious of him?
Says others were in the room—they weren’t and that it was only a minute
6.What news does Mary Warren reveal to John and Elizabeth about the trials?
39 women arrested in 8 days—Goody Osburn and Rebecca Nurse were accused
7.How does Mary Warren behave towards her employers?
Empowered, indignant
8.What does Mary Warren mean when she says, "I saved her life today!"?
She stuck up for Elizabeth when Abigail accused her in court.
9.What does Elizabeth realize when she finds out that she has been accused?
Abigail wants her dead so she can have John.
10.What does Elizabeth ask John to do?
To go to court and say that Abigail is doing this out of sport.
11.Why does Reverend Hale visit the Proctors?
He is investigating the stories. He checks to see if they are good Christians.
12.How does John Proctor respond to questions about why he has not been to church?
He says his wife was sick and he doesn’t like Parris (he sees no light of God in that man)
13.What does Reverend Hale ask Proctor to do?
He is asked to recite Commandments. He forgets the one about adultery. IRONY
14.Discuss the meaning of "Adultery, John."
Elizabeth delivers this line—he forgets the Commandment he committed.
15.What information does John Proctor reveal to Reverend Hale?
The girls were just sporting in the woods—had nothing to do with witchcraft
16.What does Reverend Hale want John to do with this information?
Asks why did you keep this from the court.
17.Why does Elizabeth say that she doesn’t believe in witches at this point?
If you think I am one, then I say there are none—meaning I don’t believe in witches. (If she
doesn’t believe in witches that goes against the Bible.)
18.What news does Giles Corey reveal to the Proctors and Reverend Hale?
Martha was arrested!
19.What has Rebecca Nurse been accused of?
Murdering the Putnam’s babies
20.Why has Martha Corey been accused?
Walcott accused her of killing his pigs
21.Why do Ezekiel Cheever and Marshal Herrick arrive at the Proctor home?
-find the poppet
-arrest Elizabeth
22.Explain why Cheever is both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in
it?
-poppet has a needle in the belly and Abigail had one in the belly—seems like a sure sign of
witchcraft
23.What does John ask Mary Warren to do?
Testify against Abigail
24.Why is Mary so afraid to do as he asks?
She is afraid Abigail will retaliate
25.Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail?
He will be charged with lechery (adultery—cheating on his wife)
26.What does John decide to do?
He will testify against Abigail in court