The Crucible
Characterization
Group Activity
Everything you never thought you
wanted to know about the characters
in the play.
Purpose
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Gain deeper understanding of characterization
(round / flat, dynamic / static) as demonstrated
by Miller’s characters from the play.
Use fellow classmates as a “brain trust” to
gather and process data about the characters for
the final exam on The Crucible.
Collect information for your own characterization
worksheet and write up that is part of your
Crucible portfolio (due upon completion of the
play)
Procedure
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Divide into self-selected groups of 4 (no more
than 4 please!)
Take out several pieces of paper and prepare to
take notes on each of the prominent characters
of The Crucible as the teacher reads off the
names one at a time.
At the end of the group work, your group will
report out to the class on one of the characters
as assigned by the teacher. It could be ANY of
them, so take quality notes, please!
Procedure
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You will have approximately two minutes to
individually write as many thoughts as you can
about the character on your own piece of paper.
You will then have approximately three minutes
to discuss the character as a group and add to
your own notes.
A new character name will be put out for
consideration approximately every 5 minutes, so
work efficiently!
Information to note about
characters
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What does the character say in the play?
What does the character do in the play?
What does the character think at
important points in the play?
What do other characters say about the
character being discussed?
Is the character flat or round? Dynamic or
static?
Sample Notes
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Betty Parris:
Says: “…You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife!
You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!”
Does: Hysterically cries for her dead mother, reveals
important details about Abigail’s actions in the woods,
seems to come to her senses and screams when a psalm
is being sung at the beginning of the play (witchcraft? Is
she bewitched?)
Thinks: That Abigail might bring a “pointy reckoning” if
she reveals more about what happened in the woods.
Other characters say: Parris thinks she is ill, maybe
bewitched. Mrs. Putnam thinks she IS bewitched.
Rebecca Nurse thinks she is being a mischievous child.
Following the gathering of facts
about the characters:
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Each group will be required to report out to the
class their findings about a selected cast
member (Your teacher will assign one).
The presentation should last approximately 2
minutes (details, please!)
Each member must contribute / speak as part of
the presentation.
As groups present, audience members should
add to their own notes.
Character Color Codes
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Red = Supports the Witch Trials.
Blue = Both for and against the trials at
various points in the play. (sometimes
victims or potential victims)
Green = Victims of / dissenters against
the witch trials
Characters
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Reverend Parris
Tituba
Abigail Williams
Mrs. Ann Putnam
Thomas Putnam
Mary Warren
John Proctor
Elizabeth Proctor
Characters
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Rebecca Nurse
Giles Corey
Martha Corey
Reverend John Hale
Deputy Governor Danforth
What should be done with the
notes?:
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If and when we watch the film version of
the play, add to these notes.
Use the notes as a study guide for the
final “candle” essay on The Crucible.
What is my responsibility during the
film?
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Note differences between the film and play (Film
review / compare and contrast essay).
Specifically note additional settings versus the
play, scenes that have been added or subtracted
and characterizations that do or do not meet
with your expectations.
This will lead into your film review, which is part
of the portfolio.
Portfolios are due at the end of the play!