The Crucible Study Guide Questions Act I

On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions, in complete sentences. Elaborate each answer and support each with support from the text so that your finished product will be in a paragraph-like format. Number your answers to correspond with the questions. Answer your questions each day, as we cover the events of the play in class. Submit your responses in your journal at the end of each act. 1. Why is Reverend Parris praying and weeping as the play begins? 2. How do the townspeople view the forest? (Of what is the forest an archetype?) 3. What reason did Thomas Putnam have for resenting Reverend Parris? 4. Why did Mrs. Putnam send her daughter Ruth to Tituba? 5. What sort of relationship is revealed between Abigail and John Proctor? 6. How does Abigail feel about this relationship? 7. How does John Proctor feel about this relationship? 8. How would you characterize Rebecca Nurse? 9. What is Rebeccas explanation for Bettys behavior? 10. Why is Mrs. Putnam so quick to believe that Goody Osburn is a witch? 11. Why do you think Tituba, Abigail, and Betty say that they have seen other people with the Devil? 12. Reverend hale says, We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise. What do you think he means, and how do you think this attitude will affect his handling of the events in Salem? 13. Which character in Act I do you admire most, and why? 14. What connections can you make to the characters, events, actions, decisions, etc. of Act I? 15. What do you think will happen next, and why?

The Crucible Study Guide Questions Act II

On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions, in complete sentences. Elaborate each answer and support each with support from the text so that your finished product will be in a paragraph-like format. Number your answers to correspond with the questions. Answer your questions each day, as we cover the events of the play in class. Submit your responses in your journal at the end of each act. 1. Why do you think, besides lack of proof, that Proctor hesitates to confront Abigail in court with what she told him? 2. What do you think really happened when Sarah Good nearly choked people in court? 3. Mary Warren used to be submissive. Why does she now dare to stand up to Proctor? 4. Why does Elizabeth think that Abigail would like to get rid of her? 5. Both Mary Warren and Hale use the phrase mentioned somewhat. What do you think the effect of that phrase would be on people hearing it? 6. Hale criticizes Proctor for two things. What are these things? 7. When Proctor recites the Commandments, which one does he omit? What is the irony of this omission? 8. Why is it important to Reverend Hale that the Proctors believe in the existence of witches? 9. Cheever finds a needle in the doll. Why does the needle convince him that Elizabeth is a witch? 10. What does Proctor want Mary Warren to tell the court? 11. By the end of Act II, what do you think Reverend Hale thinks of the court proceedings? 12. Mary Warren describes the feelings that overcome her as Sarah Good is being interrogated in court. What is the main idea that Arthur Miller attempts to get across with this description? 13. At the beginning of the study of this play, we identified four themes. Pick one that you feel is starting to develop. Explain what is happening to support your chosen theme, and then try to relate it to something that is happening in todays society/world. 14. How would you act if you were in Mary Warrens situation? Why? 15. What do you think will happen next, and why?

The Crucible Study Guide Questions Act III

On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions, in complete sentences. Elaborate each answer and support each with support from the text so that your finished product will be in a paragraph-like format. Number your answers to correspond with the questions. Answer your questions each day, as we cover the events of the play in class. Submit your responses in your journal at the end of each act. 1. Of what does Giles accuse Putnam? 2. What is Proctors goal in bringing Mary Warren to the court? 3. In what way does Marys testimony threaten to overthrow the court? 4. What do you think of the proof that Giles gives to support his accusation against Putnamr? 5. Proctor brings Danforth the signatures of ninety-one people wh have a good opinion of the accused. What does the judge do with this list? 6. What effect does Danforths statement that no uncorrupted man may fear this court have? 7. Why does Proctor admit to his wrong behavior --- having a relationship with Abigail? 8. What does Abigail do when she is questioned and accused? 9. How does Elizabeth respond to being questioned about Abigails character? Why does she respond this way? Do you feel she lied? 10. What three things does Danforth learn about Abigail that make him begin to doubt her character? 11. Abigail and the other accusers act as if Mary Warren has used witchcraft against them. How does Mary eventually respond to their actions? 12. How has Reverend Hale changed since Act II? 13. Numerous charges of witchcraft are made in this act. Discuss the truth of the charges in terms of their reality or fantasy, the apparent motives of the accusers, and the effects of the charges on the accused. 14. At the beginning of the study of this play, we identified four themes. Pick a second one that you feel has developed. Explain what is happening to support your chosen theme, and then try to relate it to something that is happening in todays society/world. 15. What do you think will happen next, and why?

The Crucible Study Guide Questions Act IV

On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions, in complete sentences. Elaborate each answer and support each with support from the text so that your finished product will be in a paragraph-like format. Number your answers to correspond with the questions. Answer your questions each day, as we cover the events of the play in class. Submit your responses in your journal at the end of each act. 1. Why do you think Sara Good and Tituba talk about the Devil taking them to Barbados? 2. What reasons does Parris give for thinking that the executions will lead to rebellion? 3. What does Parris think Abigail has done? 4. Why is Danforth unwilling to pardon the accused? 5. Why does Hale say, There is blood on my hands! 6. What does Hale urge Elizabeth to do? 7. What do Proctor and his wife talk about, and what does she tell him? What does the conversation reveal about their relationship? 8. Why does John call for the judges after his discussion with Elizabeth? 9. How does Rebeccas presence influence Proctor when he is about to confess? 10. Why is it so important to Danforth that Proctor sign his name, and why does Proctor refuse? 11. Danforth is and Reverend Hale was an officer of the court. Compare and contrast their thinking and their attitudes toward justice. 12. At the beginning of the study of this play, we identified four themes. Explain what is happening to support the last two themes, and then try to relate each to something that is happening in todays society/world. 13. Review your definition of tragic hero. Is John Proctor a tragic hero? Why or why not? 14. A crucible can be defined as a severe test or trial. What test faced the characters in this play,and which characters passed the test? 15. What did you personally learn from the play?