Journal
Explain whether you agree with the following
statements and why you agree or disagree
with them.
 People are generally good by nature.
 People will do the right thing in difficult times.
 I will do the right thing when it is unpopular
Question
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What is a crucible?
1. a container of metal or refractory material
employed for heating substances to high
temperatures.
2. Metallurgy . a hollow area at the bottom of a
furnace in which the metal collects.
3. a severe, searching test or trial.
Act 1 Notes
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How are we supposed to feel about Parris?
What do we learn about the adult’s views of
the children of Salem? Is it based on anything
associated with reality?
What did you learn about life in Salem at this
time?
Analyzing the People
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“Simply, it was this: for good purposes, even high purposes, the
people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and
religious power whose function was to keep the community
together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to
destruction by material or ideological enemies…The witch-hunt
was a perverse manifestation of the panic which set in among all
classes when the balance began to turn toward greater individual
freedom.”
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Using this quote as a guide, what does it reveal the true reason
for the witch-hunt was and what were the leaders of Salem trying
to do?
Act one notes
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It has been said that you can tell a lot about a
person by how they treat those beneath them, what
does the opening lines between Parris and Tituba
reveal about Parris?
What are Abigail and Parris afraid of? What does it
say about their character?
What is Parris more upset over: his daughter’s
health or his career? What does it say about his
character?
Reread Abigail’s statement on pages 12-13 and
write down the words she uses to describe Goody
Proctor, then tell me what the use of those words
tells us.
Act One Continued
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What does Mrs. Putnam reveal about the
night the strange events started?
What does Betty reveal as the true purpose
of the witchcraft that night?
What did we learn specifically from the scene
with John and Abigail?
Act One Conclusion
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How are the Putnam’s and the Nurse’s different from
one another? What do they argue about?
What sorts of things does Parris want as part of his
role as their pastor? How are these demands taken
by Giles and Proctor?
When Reverend Hale arrives, what information does
he pull out of Abigail? What does Abigail add to the
story when Tutuba arrives?
When does Tutuba say that Sara Good and Goody
Osborn are witches, how are she and the other girls
treated by the adults?
Act Two Analysis (part one)
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What happened between acts one and two? What is the punishment for
the accused witches if they do not confess?
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Explain the significance of this quote. What does it show, what were the
two arguing about right up before it, and what does Elizabeth mean by
it?
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What would you do and why?
Proctor – “Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me
not.”
Elizabeth - “I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges
you. I never thought you but a good man, John, only somewhat bewildered.”
In order to bring down Abigail, what must he do that he is unwilling to
do? Why is he unwilling to do it?
What information does Mary reveal happened in the court that day.
Who is the accuser?
When Hale arrives what test does he put Proctor to? What does Proctor
forget? What does this slip of knowledge reveal about his character?
What does this quote from Hale reveal about the Puritan ethic?
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“Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small.”
Act Two Analysis (part two)
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How does Hale respond when Proctor informs him about the
conversation with Abigail about witchcraft?
What charges are brought against Rebecca Nurse and Martha
Corey?
 Looking deeper at the charges, what do you think the real
motivations are and why were they really leveled against these
two women?
What evidence is brought against Elizabeth, how is it refuted,
what is the result?
How has Hale changed from Act one to Act two? What
precipitated that change?
Based on everything we have seen, write an analytical
explanation that reveals what the theme of hysteria is doing in
the play.
Character Map Day
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Today, you will be creating a
character connection poster
where you draw connections
between each of the characters
below. You also need to
explain what the connection is
between each character using
a color coded key and a short
description of how they are
connected.
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Abigail
John
Elizabeth
Mary
The Putnam’s
Parris
Rebecca Nurse
Francis Nurse
Giles Corey
Reverend Hale
Act 3 Analysis (day one)
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Contrast Proctor, Giles, and Francis to Parris, Hawthorne and
Danforth for:
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authority, power, reason, and motivation.
In an effort to gain power, what do Hawthorne and Danforth do
to Proctor and what does it reveal about their characters?
Why does Parris fight so hard agianst Proctor?
In what way does Proctor complicate things for the village? What
does the Judges reaction tell us that a theme is being created?
What happens when Marry Warren takes the stand? What
happens to her at the end of the scene?
Why does Proctor reveal his affair with Abigail, what is the result
of the reveal, what theme becomes clear from it?
What is the motivation of Abigail and her troop of accusers?
Act 4 Analysis (part one)
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What do the conversations between Tituba and
Sara Good reveal about the witchcraft trials. (i.e.
how has justice been not served correctly?)
What physical changes have Parris and Proctor
gone through? What does each change signify?
What have been some of the unforeseen
consequences of the witch trial?
What has happened to Abigail and why do you think
she did what she did?
Why won’t the judges declare everyone innocent?
Why is he so committed to being wrong?
Act 4 Analysis (part 2)
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Why did Giles allow himself to be tortured to death
by pressing?
Why does Proctor go through the process of
confessing to consorting with the devil only to refute
it when they want to nail his signature on the door?
In what way is Proctor redeemed through the
experience?
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At first Proctor was ________ through his ______ but the
act of _________ allows him to ______________.
Perhaps the most significant theme in this play is
that of reputation. Write an statement of theme that
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Why does Proctor confess himself a witch?
When Proctor eventually confesses of
consorting with the devil, why does he refuse
to give any names other than his own?
After the Final
Due:
1) Crucible Character Webs Act 1-4
2) Crucible Discussion Questions Acts 1-4
3) Crucible Final Study Guide
4) Crucible/Puritan Notes