The Crucible
Act I - Study Guide
Part I: Character Identification – Be able to explain the role the following characters play
in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. Also, provide a character trait and the most
important action associated with each character.
a. Reverend Samuel Parris
g. Thomas Putnam
b. Betty Parris
h. Giles Corey
c. Tituba
i. Mary Warren
d. Abigail Williams
j. Rebecca Nurse
e. John Proctor
k. Reverend John Hale
f. Mrs. Ann Putnam
l. Mercy Lewis
Part II: Multiple Choice – Use the following questions to organize your thinking for this
section.
1. How does Reverend Parris discover that the girls were performing inappropriate
rituals in the forest?
2. What is Reverend Parris’s real reason for being so upset with the girls’ behavior?
3. Explain the relationship between Abigail Williams and John Proctor?
4. What is John Proctor’s response when Abigail speaks of her love for him?
5. Why did Mrs. Putnam send her daughter Ruth to talk with Tituba?
6. Why do Thomas Putnam and his wife, Ann, quickly accept the idea that the devil is
loose in the town of Salem?
7. How does Abigail respond to Mary Warren’s suggestion that the girls should tell the
truth about what was happening in the woods?
8. How does John Proctor feel about the accusations of witchcraft? How does he know
they are false?
9. What explanation does Rebecca Nurse offer for the girls strange behavior?
10. Describe Reverend Hale’s attitude concerning the accusations of witchcraft when he
first arrives in Salem?
11. What circumstances suggest that Giles Corey’s wife might be involved in witchcraft?
Are these allegations true?
12. Discuss the various allegations Abigail brings against Tituba (list at least three)?
13. According to Tituba’s story, what does the devil want her to do to Reverend Parris?
14. Explain Tituba’s reasons for proclaiming that she saw Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn
with the devil?
15. How do Abigail and Betty Parris respond to Tituba’s accusation of Sarah Good and
Sarah Osburn?
Part III: Vocabulary – Review the vocabulary exercises that go with the vocabulary
words from Act I.
a. arbitrate
e. iniquity
b. ascertain
f. predilection
c. Disproportionate
g. subservient
d. fanatic
The Crucible
Act II - Study Guide
Part I: Chronological Order – Put the following list of events in chronological order.
Number the events 1-10 with the earliest event in Act II labeled 1 and the last event
labeled 10.
Mary Warren gives Elizabeth Proctor a poppet.
Elizabeth Proctor is chained and taken away with the others that are accused.
Reverend Hale asks John Proctor to recite the Ten Commandments.
Mary Warren tells the Proctor’s that Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft.
John Proctor tells Mary Warren that she will testify against Abigail in court.
Abigail stabs herself with a needle and blames it on Elizabeth Proctor’s spirit.
John Proctor screams at Elizabeth for being cold-hearted and unforgiving.
Reverend Hale says that the witchcraft is caused by a secret sin against God.
Sarah Osburn is condemned to hang; Sarah Good confesses and is sent to jail.
Giles Corey and Francis Nurse announce that their wives have been arrested.
Part II: Multiple Choice – Use the following questions to organize your thinking for this
section.
1. Why is their tension between John and Elizabeth Proctor at the beginning of Act II?
2. Why does Elizabeth want John to go to Salem at the beginning of Act II?
3. Describe the way in which the townspeople behave when Abigail Williams enters the
courtroom.
4. Why is Sarah Good forced to confess to witchcraft?
5. How can the accused persons avoid being put to death by hanging?
6. Why does Elizabeth think Abigail would like to get rid of her?
7. What two things does Hale ask about when questioning John and Elizabeth’s
Christianity?
8. When Proctor recites the Ten Commandments which one does he forget?
9. Why is Rebecca Nurse accused and arrested? Who is her accuser?
10. Why is Martha Corey accused and arrested (hint: use page 201)?
11. What is a “poppet”? Why is it such an important part of the story?
12. Why does Reverend Hale’s speech about the witchery being a punishment from God
strike such a chord in John Proctor?
13. What does John Proctor mean at the end of Act II when he says, “My wife will never
die for me”?
14. What does John Proctor want Mary Warren to tell the court after Elizabeth’s arrest?
15. Why does Mary Warren repeatedly say that she cannot tell the truth about Abigail at
the end of Act II?
Part III: Vocabulary – Review the vocabulary exercises that go with the vocabulary
words from Act II.
a. arbitrate
e. iniquity
i. indignant
b. ascertain
f. predilection
c. disproportionate
g. subservient
d. fanatic
h. calamity
The Crucible
Act III - Study Guide
Part I: Quotation Identification – Be able to identify the speaker and the listener of the
following quotations. Also write a short translation of each quotation.
a. “Your Honor, I – in that time I were sick. And I – My husband is a good and
righteous man. He is never drunk as some are, nor wastin’ his time at the
shovelboard, but always at his work. But in my sickness… I thought I saw my
husband somewhat turning from me.” (pp.222-223)
b. “A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my
face, and yours, Danforth… God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we
will burn together!” (p.227)
c. “My name, he wants my name. ‘I’ll murder you,’ he says, ‘if my wife hangs! We
must go overthrow the court’, he says!” (p. 226)
d. “Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now before another is
condemned! I may shut my conscience to it no more – private vengeance is working
through this testimony!” (p. 223)
e. “I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood running out! I have been near
to murdered every day because I have done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people –
and this is my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, questioned like a…” (p.219)
f. “Why not? There are no spirits attacking her, for none in this room is accused of
witchcraft. So let her turn herself cold now, let her pretend she is attacked now, let
her faint. Faint!” (p.218)
g.
“We have thought it too convenient to be credited. However, if I should tell you now
that I will let her be kept another month; and if she begin to show her natural signs,
you shall have her living yet another year until she is delivered – what say you to
that?” (p.212)
h. “It is my third wife, sir; I never had no wife that be so taken with books, and I thought
to find the cause of it, d’y’see, but it were no witch I blamed her for. I have broke
charity with the woman, I have broke charity with her.” (p. 208)
Part II: Multiple Choice – Use the following questions to organize your thinking for this
section.
1. What is John Proctor’s goal in bringing Mary Warren into the court?
2. What promise does Danforth make when he learns that Elizabeth Proctor is pregnant?
3. How many signatures appear on the petition brought forth by Francis Nurse, Giles
Corey, and John Proctor?
4. Why is Francis Nurse terrified when Danforth tells Cheever to draw warrants for the
people who signed the petition?
5. What accusations does Giles Corey make against Thomas Putnam?
6. Why is Giles Corey arrested after accusing Thomas Putnam?
7. How does Hathorne test Mary Warren to see if she is telling the truth about
pretending to see spirits?
8. What does Abigail mean when she says to Danforth, “Think you be so mighty that the
power of hell may not turn your wits?”
9. What do Abigail and the other girls do to convince Danforth that Mary Warren’s
testimony is false?
10. What three things does Danforth learn about Abigail that causes him to doubt her
character?
11. Why does John Proctor admit to his wrong behavior – having an affair with Abigail?
12. Why does Elizabeth Proctor lie to Danforth about John and Abigail’s affair?
13. Why does Mary Warren change her testimony at the end of Act III?
14. Why is John Proctor arrested at the end of Act III?
15. Why does Reverend Hale denounce the court at the end of Act III?
Part III: Vocabulary – Review the vocabulary exercises that go with the vocabulary
words from Act III.
a. afflicted
e. immaculate
b. contentious
f. inaudibly
c. deposition
g. plaintiff
d. effrontery
h. unintelligible
The Crucible
Act IV - Study Guide
Part I: Conflict Identification: Identify the following conflicts as internal or external.
Also write a sentence or two that describes how the conflict was resolved.
a. John Proctor’s decides whether to confess to a lie or die for his principles.
b. Reverend Hale urges Elizabeth to talk John into confessing to a crime he did not
commit.
c. John Proctor struggles to forgive himself for having an affair with Abigail.
d. Danforth tries to persuade John Proctor to sign the confession and turn on his friends.
e. Reverend Parris fears that the townspeople will turn on him if John Proctor and his
friends are put to death.
f. Elizabeth wants to forgive her husband for his sins but she is constantly reminded of
the affair.
g. Danforth ponders whether the town is full of witches or lying, vengeful hypocrites.
h. Abigail fears that the townspeople are starting to sympathize with the people she has
accused of tormenting her.
i. Reverend Parris wants Danforth to postpone the executions, but Danforth argues that
to wait any longer would be disrespectful to those that have already been put to death.
j. Reverend Hale decides whether to support Danforth’s decisions or risk his reputation
and denounce the court.
Part II: Multiple Choice – Use the following questions to organize your thinking for this
section.
1. At the beginning of Act IV, where do Sarah Good and Tituba believe they are going?
Who do they believe will take them there?
2. Why is Reverend Hale visiting the people that have been accused of witchcraft at the
beginning of Act IV?
3. Why are cows and children wandering the streets of Salem without anyone to look
after them?
4. What happens to Reverend Parris that causes him to worry about his own safety?
5. What is Parris’ real reason for wanting Danforth to spare John Proctor’s life?
6. What happens to Abigail Williams and Mercy Lewis?
7. Why does Danforth refuse to postpone the hanging of John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse,
and Martha Corey?
8. Why is it important to Danforth that John Proctor confesses to the crime of
witchcraft?
9. Why does Reverend Hale ask Elizabeth to talk to John before he is sent away to be
hanged?
10. How is Giles Corey put to death?
11. Why does Elizabeth apologize to John during their final conversation?
12. Why does John call for the judges after his discussion with Elizabeth?
13. How does Rebecca Nurse react when she learns that John Proctor is going to confess?
14. Why does John Proctor tear up the confession and agree to be hanged (Give at least
two reasons)?
15. What does Elizabeth mean at the end of Act IV when she says about John, “He have
his goodness now”?
Part III: Vocabulary – Review the vocabulary exercises that go with the vocabulary
words from Act IV.
a. afflicted
e. immaculate
i. empower
b. contentious
f. inaudibly
j. excommunication
c. deposition
g. plaintiff
k. indictment
d. effrontery
h. unintelligible