The Crucible Act I Movie Study Guide 1. Describe the opening scene of the film when the viewer meets the girls. What are the girls asking for? Who sees the girls in the woods? 2. Why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor? 3. Why does Abigail say she was dismissed from the Proctors? What does Parris indicate might be the reason, based on rumors he has heard? 4. Describe the first exchange between John and Elizabeth Proctor. What is their tone like toward each other? 5. Why has Parris invited Reverend John Hale to Salem? 6. As the girls gather around Betty at the Parris household…What is the “story” that they will have about the previous night in the woods? What threat does Abigail make? What happened to her parents? 7. What happened in the past between John Proctor and Abigail? How do each of them feel about it now? 8. What is Abigail’s attitude toward Elizabeth Proctor? 9. Based on what Hale says, what is Rebecca Nurse’s reputation? 10. As the “witch hunting crew” heads to the Putnams’, what does Giles Corey ask/tell about his wife? 11. Who is the first girl to accuse Tituba? What “proof” is provided? 12. Why did Tituba finally confess that she compacted with the devil? 13. Who does Tituba point to as being a witch? Why does Ann Putnam agree with Tituba? 14. How did the girls save themselves before Reverend Hale? Act II 15. What do John and Elizabeth argue about in their home? 16. Describe Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn in the trial. What kind of women were they? 17. Mary Warren, who works for the Proctors, arrives home while John is reading to his sons. According to Elizabeth, where was Mary? 18. What were John Proctor and Thomas Putnam arguing over? (Then, be watching for what Mary Warren does in court…watch closely!) 19. When Mary Warren returns from Salem, she talks with John and Elizabeth. What is ironic about the punishment that she speaks of? Why does Mary need to go to court every day? 20. Why does Elizabeth Proctor think she is being accused of being a witch? How is the accusation of Elizabeth different from those that have come before? 21. When they meet in the woods, what does John tell Abigail to do? 22. What does Abigail do when she runs into town after speaking with John? 23. Why does Hale make John recite the Ten Commandments? Which commandment does John forget? Why is it ironic? 24. What was found in the poppet that was given to Elizabeth Proctor? What problem does this present for Elizabeth? Does Abby have anything to do with this event? 25. What threat does John make to Mary at the end of the act? Act III 26. What news does the viewer learn about Rebecca Nurse? 27. When John arrives at court with Mary Warren, what does Reverend Parris accuse him of? 28. What news does Danforth tell John about Elizabeth? What will this mean for Elizabeth? What deal does Danforth try to make with John? 29. What is Giles Corey’s accusation against Thomas Putnam? What is his proof? Why do you think he won’t reveal his source? 30. What happens to Giles Corey? 31. When Mary Warren says that she pretended to faint in court, what is she asked to do? What is the result? 32. What does Abigail do when suspicion that she might be pretending falls on her? 33. What does John do to discredit Abigail? What does John tell Danforth about Elizabeth? 34. Who is called to back up John’s testimony? What happens? 35. What do you think John means when he says, “God is dead!”? Act IV Movie Study Guide 36. What happened to Giles Corey? 37. What did Reverend Hale want Elizabeth Proctor to get her husband to do? In general, what is he advising the condemned to do? 38. According to Proctor, what is his reason for NOT confessing? 39. Why does John Proctor tear up his confession? What will happen to him now? 40. How does Reverend Hale’s attitude change from the beginning to the end?
