Name _____________________________________ Date _______________ Period ________
English 9 Honors
The Crucible
Task #1:
Throughout Acts I, II, and III of The Crucible, the reader observes the workings of the judicial
system of Salem in 1692. With a neighbor, look back at the text and, using a Venn Diagram,
compare and contrast the judicial system of 1692 to the current American judicial system.
Focus on pages 83-101 of Act III, but you may and should also refer back to details from Acts I
and II. When thinking about the current American judicial system, use your knowledge from past
history classes, and refer to other pieces of literature you may have read (this year or other years),
or movies and television shows you may have seen dealing with this topic.
Task #2:
With a neighbor, look back at Acts I, II, and III of the text and create a list of evidence that is
being used to prove that the accused are guilty of witchcraft. Make a judgment about this evidence.
Use the back of the Venn Diagram for this list.
Task #3:
Individually, looking back at your Venn Diagram and your list of evidence, write a one to two page
response comparing and contrasting the judicial system in the play to the current American judicial
system. Cite at least three examples from the text and explain how these examples compare to or
contrast to our system today. You must have at least one example comparing and at least one
example contrasting, and you should also comment on the evidence being used in the Salem witch
trials.