CRUCIBLE (noun)
1. a container or vessel of metal employed for heating
substances to high temperatures.
2. a severe, searching test or trial.
 How would you deal with being falsely accused of a
crime simply because of the way you look or because
of the people you are associated with?
 How would these allegations impact your daily life,
reputation, and family?
 Are these types of allegations fair? If not, why do they
persist?
 How do the themes of ‘panic’ or ‘hysteria’ fit into the
discussion?
 Read your role in Salem society – do not share whether you
are a witch or whether you are innocent!
 Act out your role according to the directions on your card
 Do not make an accusation until the acting portion is over
 YOUNG BOYS: Anthony, Sebastian, Dylan
 YOUNG GIRLS: Colette, Diana, Caitlin
 WOMEN: Sarajane, Isabella, Lauren, Breana
 MEN: Peter, Riley, CJ
 REVERENDS & JUDGES: Celeste, Rachel, Milan
 Read your role in Salem society – do not share whether
you are a witch or whether you are innocent!
 Act out your role according to the directions on your card
 Do not make an accusation until the acting portion is over
 YOUNG BOYS: Allan, Nick, Armani
 YOUNG GIRLS: Lauren, Isabella, Kristen, Monet
 WOMEN: Sarah, Katie, Alexia, Kara
 MEN: Kevin, Grant, Noah
 REVERENDS & JUDGES: Tyler, Peilong, Iliana, Chris
 Set in 1692
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Salem, Massachusetts
Witch hunts
Puritanical theocracy
Intolerance
DICHOTOMY - division into two mutually exclusive,
opposed, or contradictory parts
 Written in 1953
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McCarthyism
HUAC
Communism
Cold War
ALLEGORY – symbolic narrative; representation
HYSTERIA
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Heathen
Abomination
Vindictive
Smirch
Squabble
Flail
Daft
Ameliorate
Ultimatum
Blanch
 Inference: (noun): something that can be deduced,
concluded, or derived through reasoning.
CHARACTER
DESCRIPTION
QUOTE
INFERENCE
ABIGAIL
WILLIAMS
-Age 17
-Niece of Parris
-Orphan
-Beautiful
-Capacity for
dissembling
“Now look you. All
of you…Let either
of you breathe a
word, or the edge
of a word, about
the other things,
and I will come for
you in the black of
some terrible
night…”
Abigail uses fear
tactics and threats
to keep her friends
from going against
her way
 The Accused
 Tituba, Rebecca Nurse, the midwives, Elizabeth
 The Accusers
 Abigail, Betty Parris, Ruth Putnam, Mary Warren
 Team “Witchery”
 Reverend Parris, Ann & Thomas Putnam
 Team “Level-headed”
 Elizabeth & John Proctor, Rebecca & Francis Nurse, Corey
 Which characters would be on ‘Team Parris’? Which
ones would be on ‘Team Proctor’?
 Define briefly each of the following terms: plot
structure, exposition, tragedy, tragic hero, fatal flaw.
 Re-read Miller’s description of Proctor in Act 1 from
“But as we shall see…” to “…and an unexpressed hidden
force.”
 At first impression, it’s hard to understand how such a
strong man could have a troubled soul. However, what
information in Act 1 and the first half of Act 2 leads us
to this understanding?
 What is Reverend Parris’s main concern?
 Why did Mrs. Putnam send Ruth to Tituba?
 What “proof” is there that Betty has been ‘witched’?
 How does John Proctor feel about Reverend Parris? Why?
 What ultimatum is given to Tituba?
 Why can’t Proctor tell the court that he knows Abby is
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lying?
Where does Elizabeth believe John is metaphorically
judging himself for his actions?
What does Mary Warren give to Elizabeth? What is
stuck inside?
What frightening news does Mary Warren report back
to the Proctors from Salem?
What exactly does Elizabeth believe that Abigail plans
to do?
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5.
What does Mr. Hale mean when he says, “Believe me,
if Rebecca be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the
whole green world for burning. Let you rest upon the
justice of the court.”
Who has charged Rebecca Nurse, Martha Corey, and
Elizabeth Proctor with witchcraft?
Why is it so significant that a poppet with a needle
stuck inside is discovered at the Proctor home?
Why does John Proctor refer to Hale as Pontius Pilot?
What has John decided to do in order to save
Elizabeth? What is he asking Mary Warren to do?
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2.
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6.
During prayer, what has Abigail been seen doing? She
claims she was made to do this by Tituba.
What do Danforth and Parris tell Mary Warren to do in
order to prove that she was faking her reactions to
“spirits” earlier?
How does Abigail, with the help of her circle of friends,
sabotage Mary Warren’s confession?
What happens when Elizabeth is called in to tell the
truth about why she fired Abigail?
What do the girls “see” on the ceiling of the court house?
What do they do when Mary speaks?
What happens at the end of Act 3?
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5.
What has happened in Salem since the summer?
Why has Mr. Hale returned to Salem? What does he
hope to do?
What does Mr. Hale beg Elizabeth to do?
How is Giles Corey killed? Why is he killed in his
manner? How do we know that he stayed true to his
personality even in his last moments?
Describe the conversation between Elizabeth and John.
 Salem is a strict theocratic society whose residents are
very devout. They recite their commandments, read the
Bible on a daily basis, and are held criminally
accountable for moral infractions. However, it is
possible that there be non-believers in Salem.
 Does John Proctor believe in God? Why or why not?
 Answer the question with your opinion. You must
present evidence supporting your opinion. Have at
least 2 specific examples from the play (not the film).
(p.105) Parris: This man is blackening my name…
2. (p.110) Proctor: A man may think God sleeps, but God
sees everything…
3. (p.114) Hale: 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…”
4. (p.132) Hale: Life is God’s most precious gift; no
principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of
it.
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Qualm (noun)
Base (adjective)
Callous (adjective)
Probity (noun)
Stench (noun)
Gaunt (adjective)
Agape (adjective/adverb): “with mouth agape”
Beguile (verb)
Reprieve (noun/verb)
Adamant (adjective)
 Ideas: The dancing in the forest, Abigail discovered to be
impaled with a needle, Marshals going to the Nurse and
Corey house to arrest Rebecca and Martha, Court scene
where the girls accuse Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Martha
1. Choose a title for your scene and where it would occur
(which act)
2. Write a list of which characters will appear in your scene
3. Write a summary of what will happen in the scene
4. Begin writing dialog
- Include stage directions, description of scenery.
- 2 pages in length
- Skip lines between speakers
- Mimic language
 http://thewallmachine.com/2jZUbj.html
“Because it is my name! Because I cannot have
another in my life! Because I lie and sign
myself to lies! Because I am not worth the
dust on the feet of them that hang! How
may I live without my name? I have given
you my soul; leave me my name!”
“I can. And there’s your first marvel,
that I can. You have made your
magic now, for now I do think I see
some shred of goodness in John
Proctor. Not enough to weave a
banner with, but white enough to
keep it from such dogs.”
 Recite your favorite quote from the whole play. Why do
you find it significant and/or enjoyable?
 Analyze the plot structure of the play. Tell about the
introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and
resolution.
 There is a lot of conflict in The Crucible. Explain and
identify two external conflicts (man v. man and man v.
environment/society) as well as an internal conflict (man
v. self).