The Crucible
Act 1
Read through the following questions and then view Act 1 of The Crucible again. Answer the
questions as you watch.
1. At the beginning of Act 1, Reverend Parris is kneeling beside a bed in prayer. Who is in the
bed? And why is he praying?
2. Why does Reverend Parris fear the villager’s response to the rumor that his daughter has been
afflicted?
3. When Reverend Parris first questions his niece Abigail about what she, Betty, and the other
girls were doing in the forest the night before, what does she admit too?
4. After Parris tells Abigail about “enemies who would like to “ruin” him, what does he tell her that
a “faction” has sworn too?
5. What reason does Abigail give Reverend Parris for her discharge as the Proctor’s servant?
What does Abigail call Goody Proctor?
6. What was the real reason for her dismissal?
7. After talking to Parris about “hurtful, vengeful spirits layin’ hands on these children,” Putnam
asks his wife to tell Parris what she has done. What does she say?
8. When Mrs. Putnam tells Parris that her babies were murdered, on whom does her husband
place the blame?
9. According to Putnam, what do the villagers want Parris to do?
10. After Abigail rouses Betty from her trance by shaking her furiously, what does Betty say Abigail
did in the forest that she didn’t tell Parris about?
11. When John Proctor arrives and asks Abigail to explain “this mischief here.” What explanation
does Abigail give him for Betty’s condition?
12. After Proctor tells Abigail that she is “wicked yet,” what does she ask him to give her? What
does Abigail want from John Proctor?
13. When Proctor prepares to leave to drag some lumber from his “forest by the riverside,” who
claims that “tract” to be in his bounds?
14. Why does Parris send for the Reverend Hale?
15. When Reverend Hale begins to instruct everyone about witchcraft, what does he warn against?
16. Who initially accuses Tituba of witchcraft? Why?
17. How does Tituba first respond to Hale’s accusation of witchcraft?
18. With what does Parris threaten Tituba?
19. How does Tituba change her response?
20. Why might Tituba, as well as Abigail and Betty, make accusations at the end of Act 1?
21. How many do they accuse at the end of Act 1?
22. At the close of act 1, why does Reverend Hale shout for the marshal to bring irons?
Literary Elements
23. Which characters do the main questioning in Act 1?
24. Which characters are the subjects being questioned?
25. What do the characters hope to determine by asking their questions?
26. What is the overall atmosphere, or prevailing mood, of act 1?
27. How does Miller create this atmosphere?
28. Describe the feelings the characters seem to have for one another in Act 1. (Especially Parris,
Proctor, Putnam, and Corey.)
Themes
Each of the following themes is conveyed at least once in Act 1. Give an example of when this theme
was revealed in the play during Act I.
Integrity/Courage – __________________________________________________________________
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Authority – ________________________________________________________________________
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Hypocrisy – ________________________________________________________________________
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Manipulation – _____________________________________________________________________
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Hysteria – _________________________________________________________________________
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Guilty – ___________________________________________________________________________
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Deception – _______________________________________________________________________
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Pride – ___________________________________________________________________________
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Fear – ____________________________________________________________________________
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