The Crucible, Act 2, Scene 2
Was Miller correct in his decision to leave this
scene out of the play?
Hopefully…
You have already
Note: REVISE and
written a strong first
JUST TYPE THE
draft that explores this
SUCKER are not the
question. Your task
same!!!
today will be to
REVISE that rough
draft.
Two Main Factors
The quality of your
ideas:
The quality of your
writing?
• Thorough analysis
• Interesting ideas
• Makes larger point
connected to theme
of the play.
• Clear
• Well organized
• Good examples and
effective analysis?
• Academic tone
• Error free
Let’s start with your ideas.
What do we know about the character of
John Proctor based on earlier scenes in
the play? Talk about this with your
neighbor.
Okay, so what did you learn about
Proctor in other parts of the play?
Now back to your helpful
neighbor…
Look over scene 2.2 (pp. 148-152)
How is John Proctor portrayed in that
scene?
How does it compare with what you already
learned about him?
Notes on John Proctor’s character
development in Act 2, Scene 2
Let’s take a look at Abigail…
• How is Abigail portrayed in other parts of
the play? Again, discuss this with your
neighbor.
Notes on how Abigail is portrayed
in other parts of the play:
What do these quotes suggest
about Abigail?
“I cannot bear lewd looks no more, John.
My spirit’s changed entirely. I ought be
given Godly looks when I suffer for them
as I do.”
“Why, look at my leg. I’m holes all over from
their damned needles and pins. The jab
your wife gave me’s not healed yet,
y’know.”
What about this quote?
“Why, you taught me goodness, therefore you are
good. It were a fire you walked me through, and
all my ignorance was burned away. It were a
fire, John, we lay in fire…[used to feel ashamed
of herself] I And then you burned my ignorance
away.”
How does it relate to the metaphor of the crucible
(a vessel used to melt metal down to its
essential elements under extreme heat.)
One more Abigail quote…
(a continuation of the same quote on p. 150)
“…Oh, John, I will make you such a wife
when the world is white again…You will be
amazed to see me every day, a light of
heaven in your house…”
What does this quote show us?
Considering those quotes and
other evidence from Act 2.2
Discuss with your neighbor how Abigail is
portrayed in this scene. How is it similar
and/or different from how she is shown in
the other parts of the play?
Notes on your discussion: Abigail’s
portrayal in Act 2.2
Authorial Intrusion: Miller’s favorite
trick! How does he use it here?
Look over Act 2, Scene 2.
Reread the parts that are in italics.
While there is much less of this in other
parts of the play, you still gain some useful
information.
What do you learn about John and Abigail
through Miller’s comments?
Now that you have reviewed some
specifics…
Let’s think about the BIG picture.
• How does this scene CONTRIBUTE to our
understanding of characters and theme?
• How might if DETRACT from our
understanding of characters and theme?
• What is your response to the prompt?
Notes: Reasons why it SHOULD
be included:
NOTES: Reasons why it SHOULD
NOT be included.
By the way, the more effective
paper will touch on major themes
PART TWO: Your Writing
INTRODUCTION (at least 4 sentences)
1. Did you mention author and title (and
punctuate it correctly)?
2. Did you start generally and lead into the
specific idea of this paper?
3. Is your last sentence a thesis that states
your reason(s) why the scene should or
should not be deleted?
At least one body paragraph:
Do you have:
1. A clear topic sentences that states an
idea about the play?
2. At least 2 quotes that are integrated or
tucked into your sentence?
3. Two or 3 sentences of commentary
following each quote that explains how
this examples supports your thesis?
Speaking of quotes…which of
these works:
Abigail is becoming insane “Why you taught
me goodness, therefore you are good. It
were a fire you walked me through, and all
my ignorance was burned away” (150).
In their night time secret meeting in the
woods, Abigail explains to John that “It
were a fire you walked me through, and all
my ignorance was burned away” (150).
Your Conclusion (at least 5
sentences)
Since this is a SHORT paper (possibly only
one body paragraph) you do NOT need
to do very much summing up. Did you:
1. BRIEFLY sum up your ideas?
2. Leave the reader with something else to
think about, such as explaining more
about how the decision to exclude the
scene relates to larger themes of the
play.
SCARY GRADE WARNING:
You will get two grades:
1. For the quality of the
final draft writing.
2. For the quality of
your revision.
3. If you JUST
RETYPE your essay
that will be a
GRADE BOMB!
So, it’s time to put on your thinking
cap (as pictured below):
Does my paper express well developed
ideas on the topic? Is it well written?
REVISE until answer to each = YES!