PilotCrucibleQuestions

Characters in drama reveal their personality traits through their words and dialogue. The descriptions in the stage directions can also provide insight into these characters. As you read The Crucible, draw conclusions about the play's main characters. Record their important traits and the evidence that revelas these traits in a chart like the one shown. Be sure to add characters to the chart as you encounter them.
 * Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters**


 * ||  || Reverend Parris || Abigail Williams || Thomas Putnam || Mrs. Putnam || John Proctor || Rebecca Nurse || Reverend Hale || Giles Corey || Mary Warren || Elizabeth Proctor ||
 * || Traits ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * || Evidence ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||

Comprehension 1. RECALL What is the cause for concern in the Parris household? 2. CLARIFY What has occurred between John Proctor and Abigail Williams before the time in which the play begins? 3. SUMMARIZE Why does Reverend Hale come to Salem?
 * Act 1 Questions: (page 159 in Pilot Text)**

Literary Analysis 4. INFER CHARACTER MOTIVES Reread lines 1017-1056 at the end of Act One. Why do you think Tituba and Abigail admit to having practiced witchcraft? Why do they name others? 5. DRAW CONCLUSIONS ABOUT CHARACTERS Review the traits you recorded in your chart for the characters you have encountered so far. How would you describe the most important character traits of the following? Abigail Williams John Proctor Reverend Hale 6. MAKE PREDICTIONS Based on what you have learned about Abigail in Act One, whm do you think she might accuse as the play goes on? Cite specific evidence to support your answer. 7. IDENTIFY BELIEFS What do the characters in the play believe about witches? List their beliefs in a concept web like the one shown on page 159 in your PILOT text. 8. CONNECTING SETTING AND MOOD The setting of a literary work refers to the time and place in which the action occurs. How do you think Miller uses setting to help create mood in Act One? 9. ANALYZE CONVENTIONS OF DRAMA Review the stage directions that take the form of mini-essays in Act One. What insights about America after the Second World War does Miller convey? Use details from the mini-essays to support your answer.

Literary Criticism 10. AUTHOR'S STYLE The mini-essays in Act One are no usually included in the stage production of The Crucible. Why do you think this is so? Why do you think Miller included them in his drama?

Comprehension 1. RECALL Why does Elizabeth want John to go to Salem? 2. CLARIFY Why does Reverend Hale come to the Proctor's home? 3. SUMMARIZE What proof leads to Elizabeth's arrest.
 * Act Two Questions: (page 175 in Pilot text)**

Literary Analysis 4. FORM OPINIONS Do you Reverend Hale believes that Elizabeth Proctor is practicing witchcraft? Support your opinion with specific details. 5. DRAW CONCLUSIONS ABOUT CHARACTERS Review the traits you recorded in your chart for Elizabeth Proctor. How would you describe her character? 6. ANALYZE CONVENTIONS OF DRAMA What does dialogue reveal about the complicated relationship between John and Elizabeth in the following scenes? Elizabeth learns that John was alone with Abigail (lines 132-148) Elizabeth asks John to break his unspoken promise to Abigail (lines 398-422) John threatens Mary Warren (lines 990-1005) 7. ANALYZE DRAMATIC IRONY Dramatic irony occurs when readers know more about a situation than a character does. Why is John struck by Hale's declaration that "some secret blasphemy" (lines 946-947) has caused all the confusion? 8. MAKE JUDGMENTS ABOUT A CHARACTER How would you judge John's behavior so far? Cite evidence from the play to support your judgement. 9. COMPARE CHARACTERS Compare the following characters and determine which has the greatest faith in the court proceedings. What accounts for their differing attitudes? John Proctor Hale Cheever

Literary Criticism 10. HISTORICAL CONTEXT Miller wrote that during the anti-Communist hearings, "I saw accepted the notion that conscience was no longer a private matter but one of state administration." How does this notion apply to the witch-hunts in Salem?