Analysis Questions for Act II of The Crucible
After reading and annotating Act II, answer the following questions. (TYPED OR IN INK. NO MORE
PENCIL! No, I don’t mind if you cross out words.). SKIP LINES AND LABEL YOUR ANSWERS.
1. Find an example where Miller employs a metaphor or simile in a character’s dialogue. Explain the
metaphor/simile and what idea Miller is attempting to communicate (the effect of his choice). I
recommend p. 52 in the Penguin Classics “bonnet cover” edition (John and Elizabeth’s exchange right
before Mary Warren shows up).
Present the metaphor in D&E (with quote weaving and contextual elaboration) and then provide C
(commentary where you explain the effect of Miller’s choice.) *Use 3rd person POV and present tense.
Example with a simile: (Elaboration is underlined, Detail is bolded, Commentary is italicized)
In Act I when Parris is interrogating Abigail about what happened in the forest, he recalls how he “heard a
screeching and gibberish coming from [Tituba’s] mouth,” and in a simile, describes her as “swaying like a
dumb beast over the fire!” (10). Miller’s choice to have Parris refer to her native language as nonsense and
to compare her to a brainless creature or animal reveals Parris’s ignorance of Tituba’s culture and his racist
belief that she is less than human.
2. When attempting to answer Rev. Hale’s suspicions about Proctor’s Christian character, Miller has Proctor
offer a defense in the form of an anecdote. (If you feel shaky on the term anecdote, look it up.)
A) Paraphrase the anecdote in your own words. When effectively paraphrasing, remember the following:
 Capture the main ideas and details rather than paraphrasing word by word.
 Except for common nouns, use synonyms; don’t plagiarize the author’s word choices.
 Change up the order of ideas; don’t simply copy the author’s sentence structure.
 Use third person POV
B) Explain the argument Proctor is advancing by offering this anecdote to Hale.
3. Both John and Elizabeth attempt to point out to Hale what is flawed, unjust, or irrational about the witch
hunt process.
A) Paraphrase the main argument Proctor advances.
B) Paraphrase the main argument Elizabeth advances.
(*Again, remember to communicate the main ideas but use synonyms, your own sentence structure,
and write in third person POV using present tense.)
4. Find TWO examples of SUBTEXT in Act II. In particular, read Miller’s stage directions closely and find two
examples where Miller’s description outlines an intention or emotion beneath the dialogue that the actor
might communicate to the audience. Answer the question using D&E (with quote weaving and contextual
elaboration) and C (explaining why the example is subtext and Miller’s purpose in creating it.) *Write in
third person POV in the present tense.
Example: In Act I, probing for more details about why Abigail was fired by Goody Proctor, Parris begins by
questioning whether or not her reputation around town is “entirely white” (11). While Abigail insists that she
is certain “it is” and that “[t]here be no blush about [her] name,” and even respectfully refers to Parris as
“sir,” in the stage description, Miller indicates that, the actor should reveal “an edge of resentment” (11).
Though the dialogue suggests Abigail’s compliance and willingness to appease Parris’s suspicions, the stage
direction’s subtext reveals her bitterness and contempt for Parris, and perhaps even her “resentment” with a
society that expects her to feel ashamed and guilty for feeling desire.
5. We need more practice paraphrasing and quote weaving rhetorical questions. Writers and speakers
use this technique to advance an argument, intending to persuade the reader or audience. When
paraphrasing rhetorical questions, our goal is not to simply rewrite the questions in our own words.
Rather, we want to paraphrase (in statements, not questions) the argument the speaker advances
through his or her rhetorical questions.
Give Hale’s argument on p.75 in the “bonnet cover” edition a full D&E. (“Proctor, I cannot think God be
provoked so grandly... to …open up our eyes.”) However, try to paraphrase most of it. Somewhere in
your E, select what you think is an essential word or phrase direct quote detail and weave it into one of
your sentences. Make sure to end that sentence with a citation.
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Use 3rd person POV.
Write in the present tense.
Chunk the ideas and arguments rather than paraphrasing word by word.
Include the contextual E in your setup. (To whom does Hale say this? Why? When? Where?)
6. Look at Proctor’s final chunk of dialogue at the end of Act II. (p. 76 in the “bonnet cover” edition. It
starts with “Make your peace with it!...”)
Identify all the figurative language (not poetic devices such as alliteration, etc.) Miller utilizes in
crafting Proctor’s dialogue. Take it sentence by sentence. Explain the ideas Miller is expressing through
his choices.
Example Sentence Starters:
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By having Proctor compare ______ to ______, Miller expresses the character’s…
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Personifying ____ by giving it the ability to _____, Miller reveals Proctor’s…
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Proctor exaggerates _________. Through this hyperbole, Miller demonstrates …