“
The Crucible” Packet
by Arthur Miller
In this packet you will find:
 Study Guide Questions for each Act of the Play.
o There will be a quiz after Acts 1 & 2 and a quiz after
Act 3 &4.
o There will be a 2 part final exam for this Play. The first part
will be the essay. The second part will be quote identification.
o You may use your study guide on the exam, if you take the time to fill it out
in its entirety.
 A character Sheet. This sheet is one we will pull out periodically during the play to
fill out details. You will be allowed to use it on quizzes and the exam.
What you need to remember:
 After each Act you are responsible for choosing 5 of the questions on the Study
Guide and answering them in 2-3 sentences and turning them in the next day. (So
how many questions will you answer if there are 4 acts total?)
Name:______________
Date:___________
Hour:______
The Crucible Study Guide Questions, Act 1:
Directions: Please answer in complete sentences, on your own paper. Include page
numbers where you found your answers.
1. Why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor as the play begins?
2. What advice does the doctor send back?
3. In Salem, an excellent public reputation is essential if one is to be accepted in
the community. In the beginning of the play, what clues are there that Abigail's
reputation has become questionable?
4. Describe Mr. Putnam. Why is he a bitter man?
5. Why does Mrs. Putnam contact Tituba?
6. Who does Abigail accuse of conjuring spirits at this point?
7. Who was running naked in the forest?
8. What is Mary’s argument to Abby?
9. What does Betty Parris reveal about what really happened in the woods?
10. How many girls do we know were present in the woods?
11. What threat does Abigail make to the other girls?
12. In your own words, describe John Proctor.
13. In the past, what had happened between John and Abigail? How do each of
them feel about it now?
14. Who is Elizabeth Proctor? How does Abigail feel towards her?
15. What do you think about Abigail? What kind of a person is she?
The Crucible Study Guide Questions, Act 2:
Act Two: Directions: Write questions and answers on your paper. Include page numbers
where you found the answers.
1. Where does Elizabeth want John to go, and what does she want him to do there?
2. What is John's response to her prodding?
3. What gift did Mary give Elizabeth?
4. What was the "evidence" against Sarah Good?
5. Why doesn't Proctor want Mary to go back to court?
6. Why does Elizabeth think Abigail wants to kill her?
7. Why did Hale come to Proctor's house?
8. What things are "suspicious" about Proctor and his family?
9. Hale asks Elizabeth if she believes in witches. What is her reply?
10. On what charge(s) was Rebecca Nurse arrested?
11. Why does Cheever come to the Proctor house?
12. Explain the significance of the needle in the "poppet."
13. What will happen to Proctor if he tries to discredit Abby?
14. Why doesn't Mary want to testify about the doll?
The Crucible Study Guide Questions, Act 3:
Act Three: Directions: Write questions and answers on your paper. Include page numbers
where you found the answers.
What happens when people seem to criticize the court’s proceedings?
What news do we learn about Rebecca Nurse?
Why do Giles and Francis want to talk to Danforth?
What two pieces of evidence are brought out against Proctor in regard to his
Christian nature?
5. What news does Danforth tell John Proctor about Elizabeth? What deal does he try
to make with him?
6. What paper did 91 people sign? What is going to happen to them?
7. “…a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no
road between.” Explain the importance of Danforth’s statement.
8. What is Giles Corey’s proof that Thomas Putnam is "reaching out for land."? Why
won’t he reveal his source?
9. What happens to Giles Corey?
10.What is Reverend Hale’s advice as John Proctor is about to read his disposition
before the court, regarding Mary Warren?
11.Hawthorne thinks of a test for Mary. What is it? Can she do it? Why or why not?
12.How does Abigail respond when she is asked whether she pretended to faint in
church? Why?
13.Proctor calls Abigail a whore, and he confesses his lechery. Why does he do that?
14.Who is called to back up John’s testimony? What happens?
15.What do the girls do to Mary? What is her response?
16.Why does Mary Warren reverse her position?
17.What do you think John Proctor means when he says, "God is dead!"?
18.What does Hale do when Proctor is arrested?
19. Compare Reverend Hale now to how he was at the beginning of the play. Explain
how he has changed?
20. Explain Reverend Parris’s motivation throughout this act.
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Crucible Study Guide Questions, Act 4:
Act Four: Directions: Write questions and answers on your paper. Include page numbers
where you found the answers.
1. What explanation does Cheever give for Parris' "mad look"?
2. What did Abigail do?
3. Parris says, "You cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me." What "sort" does he mean,
and what is the danger to him?
4. Explain Danforth's reason that a pardon would not be just.
5. Why has Hale come back to Salem?
6. What does Hale want Elizabeth to do?
7. What happened to Giles?
8. Proctor says, "My honesty is broke, Elizabeth, I am no good man." Explain.
9. What "confession" did Elizabeth make to John?
10. What did Proctor do after he signed the confession? Why?
11. "I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" Explain.
12. "He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!" What does Elizabeth mean?
Name:
Period:
Date:
Character Identification
Please take advantage of this character review sheet to help you on the test. Many characters
are introduced in Act 1 and this guide will help you remember them. If you were present
during the “Who Am I?” activity last class, this should be easier to complete.
Character
Name:
Parris
Tituba
Abigail
Mrs. Ann
Putnam
Mr. Thomas
Putnam
Mary
Warren
John Proctor
Giles Corey
Rebecca
Nurse
John Hale
Description:
A significant quote: