Language
Arts
8
The
Crucible:
Literary
Analysis
Project
Literary
analysis
is
a
description,
criticism,
evaluation,
or
interpretation
of
a
particular
literary
work
or
works.
Literary
analysis
is
usually
expressed
in
the
form
of
a
critical
essay.
Simply,
you
notice
something
interesting
about
a
piece
of
literature,
and
you
give
your
interpretation
with
supporting
evidence.
You
prove
your
interpretation
by
finding
a
pattern
of
examples
that
supports
your
idea;
these
are
often
literary
elements
like
plot,
character,
setting,
symbols,
tone,
etc.
We
will
walk
through
the
process
of
forming
your
argument
and
your
essay
together,
but
your
essay
will,
in
some
way,
focus
on
one
of
the
main
themes
we’ve
been
discussing
in
Arthur
Miller’s
The
Crucible.
Your
analysis
will
address
ONE
of
the
prompts
below.
For
each
prompt
you
will
need
to
keep
in
mind
that
Miller
wrote
the
play
in
response
to
and
as
a
critique
of
McCarthyism.
Remember
that
the
themes
are
categorized
by
the
tension
that
exists
between
the
terms
on
each
side
of
the
“vs.”
sign.
How
can
these
two
things
exist
at
one
time?
Which
one
“wins”?
What
is
Miller’s
point?
OPTION
ONE:
Discuss
the
theme
of
individual
vs.
community
(this
includes
the
idea
of
social
order
vs.
individual
freedom
as
well),
considering
that
many
characters
in
the
play
seem
to
be
motivated
by
the
community,
but
in
reality
each
has
self‐serving
interests.
Your
thesis
would
focus
on
how
Miller
shows
this
theme
throughout
the
play,
and
why.
OPTION
TWO:
Many
of
the
characters
in
the
play
struggle
with
the
theme
of
justice
vs.
retribution
–
so
does
the
community
as
a
whole.
The
residents
of
Salem
claim
to
seek
justice,
and
are
willing
to
kill
in
its
name,
but
in
reality
they
seek
vengeance
for
selfish
reasons.
Create
a
thesis
that
addresses
this
theme,
considering
what
point
you
think
Miller
wanted
to
get
across.
Do
characters
seem
to
gravitate
toward
one
quality
or
the
other?
What
do
you
think
this
means?
OPTION
THREE:
Consider
the
theme
of
godliness
vs.
worldliness.
What,
in
Salem,
does
it
mean
to
focus
on
godliness?
What
does
it
mean
to
focus
on
worldliness?
What
is
the
tension
between
these
two
things?
Your
thesis
here
should
focus
on
how
Miller
shows
this
theme
throughout
the
play
and
why.
OPTION
FOUR:
Focus
on
the
theme
of
“The
Puritan
Myth”
–
we
haven’t
addressed
this
in
class.
The
Puritan
Myth
is
that
Puritans
were
pure
of
purpose
and
good
people
who
left
England
for
religious
freedom.
Your
thesis
could
focus
on
a
certain
character
(e.g.,
John
Proctor
doesn’t
fit
the
Puritan
Myth…but
is
he
a
good
example
of
morality
in
the
play?)
or
on
the
message
from
Miller
(e.g.,
Miller
highlights
the
Puritan
Myth
by…).
But
wait!
There’s
more!
In
addition
to
your
literary
analysis,
you
will
create
a
thematic
collage.
Based
on
the
topic/theme
you’ve
chosen
to
address
in
your
analysis,
you
will
analyze
this
theme
creatively
by
collecting
images
and
messages
from
print
media
sources
(magazines,
newspapers).
To
create
your
collage,
you
will:
1.
Find
images
and
text
from
a
variety
of
periodicals
that
you
think
represent
your
chosen
theme
from
The
Crucible.
2.
Cut
out
and
assemble
these
pieces
into
a
unique
and
artistic
collage
that
is
approximately
8.5”
by
11”
in
size.
3.
Pick
6
of
your
images
(though
you
may
have
many
more
in
your
collage!)
and
provide
a
brief
statement
(3‐4
sentences)
for
each
that
explains
the
message
the
piece
portrays
and
why
you
included
it
in
your
collage.
Make
sure
that
you
type
this
portion
and
that
you
clearly
indicate
which
collage
item
you’re
explaining.
Paper
Reminders
‐
Your
essay
should
be
typed,
double
spaced,
in
12
point
Times New Roman
font,
with
1”
margins.
‐
Your
essay
should
have
at
least
three
body
paragraphs
and
follow
the
traditional
5‐
paragraph
essay
format;
in
each
body
paragraph
you
should
provide
at
least
one
quotation
that
supports
your
example
(so,
your
paper
will
have
a
minimum
of
three
quotations),
and
it
should
be
cited
correctly:
The
first
citation
contains
the
author’s
name
and
page
number
“..in
the
house”
(Miller
23).
Each
subsequent
citation
contains
the
page
number
only.
“Do
not
chain
her!”
(14).
‐
On
your
first
page
in
the
upper
left‐hand
corner,
put
your
full
name,
Language
Arts
Tilley,
and
the
full
date.
‐
You
should
have
a
title
that
is
centered
above
your
first
paragraph.
Do
not
italicize
or
underline
or
make
bold
your
title.
Just
capitalize
the
way
you
should.
‐
Your
essay
should
be
at
least
2
pages,
but
not
more
than
3
pages.
‐
Your
paper
will
be
worth
200
points
and
your
collage
will
be
worth
50
points;
you’ll
receive
a
separate
rubric.