The+Crucible

American Literature Discussion Questions for Arthur Miller’s // The Crucible //

Act One

1. Describe the personality of Reverend Parris. What do you think of him? How might his personality affect the story later? (pp 3-5)

2. Explain this passage: “They believed, in short, that they held in their steady hands the candle that would light the world. We have inherited this belief, and it has helped and hurt us” (p. 5 bottom). Miller is comparing seventeenth-century Puritan culture to mid-twentieth-century American culture. What is he saying about both cultures? Do you agree or disagree and why? Is the comparison applicable to American culture today?

3. What do you think Miller means when he says: “But all organization is and must be grounded on the idea of exclusion and prohibition, just as two objects cannot occupy the same space. Evidently the time came in New England when the repressions of order were heavier than seemed warranted by the dangers against which the order was organized. 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.” (p. 7)? This is an important statement about why the witch hunt happened.

4. On page 10, Parris says: “What shall I tell them? That my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest?” What does this statement show us about Puritan culture and about Parris himself. What is Parris’ greatest concern (also see p. 11 bottom).

5. What is Miller saying about Puritan society and about ours when he says: “These people had no ritual for the washing away of sins. It is another trait we inherited from them, and it has helped to discipline us as well as to breed hypocrisy among us” (p. 20)?

6. What criticism is Abigail making about Salem when she says: “I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all those Christian women and their covenanted men” (p. 24 top)?

7. Look at the words of Parris on pages 30-31. What do they show about his personality and priorities? Why do you think he’s so worried about people opposing him? What effect might Parris’ priorities have on the story as a whole?

8. Why does Miller spend time telling us about land disputes on p. 32 and about Putnam’s grievances on p. 14 and 15? How might these conflicts affect the story later?

9. Why do you think Miller might be spending so much time talking about humans’ views on good and evil? How is this relevant to the witch trials? (p. 32 bottom – 36)

10. Do you see any sarcasm or irony in the statement that Reverend Hale hears “a hundred rumors that make him smile at the ignorance of the yeomanry in this most precise science”? Explain.

11. In the middle of page 40, Giles says to Hale: “Martha, my wife, I have waked at night many a time and found her in a corner, readin’ of a book. Now what do you make of that?” Why might we find this question funny today? Why would the Puritans not find this funny? Can you make any predictions about how/why this question might be important later in the play?

12. Why do you think we see the sudden accusations on pages 43-48? What causes Abigail to accuse Tituba? What causes Tituba to accuse four other women? What causes Betty to make her accusations? Why does Abigail “confess” after she seems to be “off the hook”? Act Two

13. What do you think of the relationship between John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth? Are they a happy couple? Do they get along well? Do their attitudes toward each other differ? Look at pages 49-53 to support your ideas (and don’t forget the stage directions).

14. Do you have any theories about why Elizabeth is “perplexed” and why Mary Warren’s voice trembles and decays at the top of page 56? What could be going on here?

15. How is Mary Warren acting differently toward her employers on pages 59-60? Why do you think she is doing this?

16. What is the “promise” Elizabeth speaks of on page 61? Do you agree with her? Why doesn’t Proctor seem to know about this?

17. On pages 60 and 61, are John and Elizabeth getting along differently (compare to prompt #13)? Does this give you any additional insight into their relationship?

18. On page 65, why does Proctor complain about the candlesticks? You should think about why he says he is mentioning them as well as any possible unspoken reasons (based on earlier information about Proctor).

19. On page 65, Hale is supporting one theological idea and Proctor is supporting another? What are the two ideas, and do you agree with one over the other and why?

20. On page 67, why does Miller show us this particular mistake on Proctor’s part? What is the irony in his omission? What is the significance of his repetition?

21. On page 67, Hale calls theology a fortress. Explain this metaphor (he’s comparing two threats). Why might this image be particularly effective for New England Puritans?

22. At the top of page 69, the stage direction tells us Hale “resists” “his own suspicion.” Why might he be doing this? What may he be concerned about (other than the job he’s doing in Salem right now)?

23. On page 72, why does Cheever repeatedly emphasize that he __must__ take Elizabeth away? Does Cheever have a choice? What life lesson might Miller be trying to teach us with this example?

24. Why does Proctor call Hale “Pontius Pilate” on page 77? Explain what Proctor means and what literary device Miller is using. Why might this be an effective rhetorical device in this situation?

25. On page 77, why do you think Hale has so much confidence in the justice of the court? Is it just based on his experience with the court, or are there other motives here?

26. Why does John Proctor say “Good” in the middle of page 80? What is he glad of and what does this reveal about his character?

27. On page 81, what does Proctor mean when he says, “We are only what we always were, but naked now”? What literary device is used here? Do you agree with Proctor’s statement? Explain.

Act Three

28. Why do you think the court is so hesitant to hear the evidence that Proctor and Giles bring? (pp 87-88)

29. What does Danforth mean when he says: “We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment”? Why is this line particularly important to the play as a whole? (p. 89)

30. On page 93, Danforth says the “pure in heart need no lawyers”? Later, on page 97, he says “Oh, it is a proper lawyer” about Giles. Why does Danforth make these statements, and what do they reveal about him?

31. Why does Parris think Proctor’s signatories should be summoned for questioning? Why is Parris sweating? (p. 93 bottom)

32. On page 94, Parris says, “All innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in Salem!” and on page 98, Danforth says, “There is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country.” What do these two statements mean and why do you think Parris and Danforth make them?

33. On page 100, what do Danforth’s words about the nature of witchcraft reveal about the trials?

34. Look at the way Danforth questions the girls on page 102. What do his words reveal about his motives? What is his bias? Why might he have this bias?

35. On page 107, why did Mary Warren //think// she saw spirits, and why can’t she see any when she’s not part of the group?

36. Why does Proctor reveal his secret on page 109? What does this show us about his character? Do you think he did the right thing here?

37. How is Hale’s testimony on page 114(top) a change from what he has been saying previously? Also, look at what Hale does at the very end of the act (p. 120). What do you think caused this change? Why hasn’t Hale said anything like this before?

38. Why is there a sudden change in Mary Warren’s behavior on page 118?

39. Why won’t Danforth listen to Hale now (on page 119)? What does this say about the trials in general? (You might want to relate your response to journal prompt #28.)

40. What does Proctor mean in his long speech on page 119-120 (after laughing insanely)? Do you think he’s insane, or is he making sense? Act 4

41. Why do you think Sarah Good and Tituba are waiting for the devil? Is there anything ironic about this? (p. 122)

42. Hale and Parris are both praying with condemned people. Explain the motives of each person; why is each doing this? What does this show about the personalities of the two men? (p. 123 and 128)

43. On the top of p. 128, Parris is trying to convince Danforth to postpone some of the executions. Why do you think he is doing this and what does this show you about his character? Why does the reason Parris gives here make Danforth stop and think? What does this show about Danforth’s character?

44. Why does Hale say they don’t need him in Andover? Does this give you any clues about what Hale is really doing here in Salem? (p. 131)

45. Explain Hale’s long speech on page 132. How is this a commentary on the trials as a whole and the people of Salem in general? How might Miller have intended this message for people in the 1950’s and today?

46. What do the method and circumstances of Giles Corey’s death show you about the trials and the people running them, participating in them and supporting them? What do Corey’s own reactions show you about his character? (p. 135)

47. Why does Proctor believe that he might as well lie? Why does he think he should lie while others should not? Do you agree with his reasoning here? (p. 136)

48. How are Proctor’s answers to Danforth ironic? How might he mean his answers in a way that Danforth and Parris don’t understand? (p. 139)

49. Why does Proctor finally decide not to confess? What does he finally realize about himself? (p. 144) What does Elizabeth realize about him? (p. 145)

50. Rebecca tells Proctor to fear nothing. What keeps Rebecca Nurse strong throughout this ordeal? How is this ironic? (p. 144) (You might want to compare this to prompt #39.)

Character List:

John Proctor –

Abigail Williams –

Reverend John Hale -

Elizabeth Proctor -

Reverend Parris -

Rebecca Nurse -

Francis Nurse -

Deputy Governor Danforth -

Giles Corey –

Thomas Putnam –

Ann Putnam -

Ruth Putnam -

Tituba -

Mary Warren –

Betty Parris -


 * Susanna Walcott ** –

Martha Corey –

Ezekiel Cheever –

Judge Hathorne –

Herrick –

Mercy Lewis –

// The Crucible // Lawyer Presentation

Congratulations! You have just been appointed to the Salem bar association (you’re a lawyer, not a bartender). You can choose whether you are a defense attorney or a prosecuting attorney. You can also choose one of the following characters: Abigail Williams, John Proctor, Judge Danforth, Elizabeth Proctor, Rev. Samuel Parris, Rev. John Hale.

You need to assume charge against the character. It should be a reasonable but debatable charge. In other words, there must be a possibility that the character is guilty, but there also must be some defense against the charge (don’t make the task impossible or too easy). The charge can be something that would only be illegal in Puritan times, or it could be a contemporary charge. Here is a list of possible charges: witchcraft, bearing false witness, perjury, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, fraud, murder, attempted murder, negligence, theft, prostitution, adultery, rape, statutory rape, seduction, lust, idolatry, greed, pride. If you think of a different charge you’d like to use, see me before you start for approval. You may combine similar charges into the same case. For example, perjury and bearing false witness go well together, as do adultery and rape.

For evidence, you can use anything in Arthur Miller’s play, //The Crucible//. This includes not only dialogue, but also stage directions and the author’s notes in the book. You are allowed to selectively and strategically sift and filter the evidence you present. You can leave certain events out and emphasize others to do a good job of representing your client’s interests. You can even quote people out of context and distort the truth as presented in the play, but you cannot make up events that didn’t happen in the play. Your case must be based on the play.

Your speech must be __at least three minutes long__. Shorter speeches will lose points. It is also expected that your speech will refer to the play often, including at least five direct quotations. Quotations must be in quotation marks with the citation “(Miller X)” after the quote (and X equals the page number on which you found that quotation). You will be graded not only on the quality of evidence you choose, but the quantity of evidence and how well you present it. You should practice your presentation at least ten times before you actually present it to the class. Below is the rubric I will use to grade this presentation.

This presentation will be due 2 class days after we finish reading //The Crucible// in class. I anticipate that this will be approximately __Wednesday, October 10th__, and I guarantee that this presentation will not be due before this date. As per the late work policy in the syllabus, late presentations will lose 10% per calendar day, so please be punctual.

Lawyer Presentation Rubric

Student Name: ___ Character Chosen:__ ___D or P Charge:__ _ Time:

Familiarity with details of case - 1 2 3 4 5

Evidence chosen is compelling (quality) 1 2 3 4 5

Evidence presented is sufficient (quantity) - 1 2 3 4 5

Effort and enthusiasm --- 1 2 3 4 5

Poise and eloquence - 1 2 3 4 5

Effort in preparation (outline or notes and practice) -- 1 2 3 4 5

Total ___

American Literature Discussion Questions for Arthur Miller’s // The Crucible // First set of page numbers is in the old book. Second set is for the new book. Act One

1. Describe the personality of Reverend Parris. What do you think of him? How might his personality affect the story later? (pp 3-5 / same)

2. Explain this passage: “They believed, in short, that they held in their steady hands the candle that would light the world. We have inherited this belief, and it has helped and hurt us” (p. 5 bottom / same). Miller is comparing seventeenth-century Puritan culture to mid-twentieth-century American culture. What is he saying about both cultures? Do you agree or disagree and why? Is the comparison applicable to American culture today?

3. What do you think Miller means when he says: “But all organization is and must be grounded on the idea of exclusion and prohibition, just as two objects cannot occupy the same space. Evidently the time came in New England when the repressions of order were heavier than seemed warranted by the dangers against which the order was organized. 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.” (p. 7/ same)? This is an important statement about why the witch hunt happened.

4. On page 10 / 10, Parris says: “What shall I tell them? That my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest?” What does this statement show us about Puritan culture and about Parris himself. What is Parris’ greatest concern (also see p. 11 bottom / p. 11).

5. What is Miller saying about Puritan society and about ours when he says: “These people had no ritual for the washing away of sins. It is another trait we inherited from them, and it has helped to discipline us as well as to breed hypocrisy among us” (p. 20 / 21)?

6. What criticism is Abigail making about Salem when she says: “I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all those Christian women and their covenanted men” (p. 24 top / 25 top)?

7. Look at the words of Parris on pages 30-31 / 31-32. What do they show about his personality and priorities? Why do you think he’s so worried about people opposing him? What effect might Parris’ priorities have on the story as a whole?

8. Why does Miller spend time telling us about land disputes on p. 32 / 33-34 and about Putnam’s grievances on p. 14 and 15? How might these conflicts affect the story later?

9. Why do you think Miller might be spending so much time talking about humans’ views on good and evil? How is this relevant to the witch trials? (p. 32 bottom – 36 / 34-38)

10. Do you see any sarcasm or irony in the statement that Reverend Hale hears “a hundred rumors that make him smile at the ignorance of the yeomanry in this most precise science”? Explain.

11. In the middle of page 40 / 42, Giles says to Hale: “Martha, my wife, I have waked at night many a time and found her in a corner, readin’ of a book. Now what do you make of that?” Why might we find this question funny today? Why would the Puritans not find this funny? Can you make any predictions about how/why this question might be important later in the play?

12. Why do you think we see the sudden accusations on pages 43-48 / 45-51? What causes Abigail to accuse Tituba? What causes Tituba to accuse four other women? What causes Betty to make her accusations? Why does Abigail “confess” after she seems to be “off the hook”? Act Two

13. What do you think of the relationship between John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth? Are they a happy couple? Do they get along well? Do their attitudes toward each other differ? Look at pages 49-53 / 52-57 to support your ideas (and don’t forget the stage directions).

14. Do you have any theories about why Elizabeth is “perplexed” and why Mary Warren’s voice trembles and decays at the top of page 56 / page 59? What could be going on here?

15. How is Mary Warren acting differently toward her employers on pages 59-60 / 62-63? Why do you think she is doing this?

16. What is the “promise” Elizabeth speaks of on page 61 / 64? Do you agree with her? Why doesn’t Proctor seem to know about this?

17. On pages 60 and 61 / 64 and 65, are John and Elizabeth getting along differently (compare to question #13)? Does this give you any additional insight into their relationship?

18. On page 65 /69, why does Proctor complain about the candlesticks? You should think about why he says he is mentioning them as well as any possible unspoken reasons (based on earlier information about Proctor).

19. On page 65 /69, Hale is supporting one theological idea and Proctor is supporting another? What are the two ideas, and do you agree with one over the other and why?

20. On page 67 /71, why does Miller show us this particular mistake on Proctor’s part? What is the irony in his omission? What is the significance of his repetition?

21. On page 67 /71, Hale calls theology a fortress. Explain this metaphor (he’s comparing two threats). Why might this image be particularly effective for New England Puritans?

22. At the top of page 69 /73, the stage direction tells us Hale “resists” “his own suspicion.” Why might he be doing this? What may he be concerned about (other than the job he’s doing in Salem right now)?

23. On page 72 /76-77, why does Cheever repeatedly emphasize that he __must__ take Elizabeth away? Does Cheever have a choice? What life lesson might Miller be trying to teach us with this example?

24. Why does Proctor call Hale “Pontius Pilate” on page 77 / 82? Explain what Proctor means and what literary device Miller is using. Why might this be an effective rhetorical device in this situation?

25. On page 77 /81-82, why do you think Hale has so much confidence in the justice of the court? Is it just based on his experience with the court, or are there other motives here?

26. Why does John Proctor say “Good” in the middle of page 80 / top of page 85? What is he glad of and what does this reveal about his character?

27. On page 81 / 85, what does Proctor mean when he says, “We are only what we always were, but naked now”? What literary device is used here? Do you agree with Proctor’s statement? Explain.

Act Three

28. Why do you think the court is so hesitant to hear the evidence that Proctor and Giles bring? (pp 87-88 /89-90)

29. What does Danforth mean when he says: “We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment”? Why is this line particularly important to the play as a whole? (p. 89 / 93)

30. On page 93 / 97, Danforth says the “pure in heart need no lawyers”? Later, on page 97 / 102, he says “Oh, it is a proper lawyer” about Giles. Why does Danforth make these statements, and what do they reveal about him?

31. Why does Parris think Proctor’s signatories should be summoned for questioning? Why is Parris sweating? (p. 93 bottom / 98)

32. On page 94 / 98, Parris says, “All innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in Salem!” and on page 98 / 103, Danforth says, “There is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country.” What do these two statements mean and why do you think Parris and Danforth make them?

33. On page 100 / 105, what do Danforth’s words about the nature of witchcraft reveal about the trials?

34. Look at the way Danforth questions the girls on page 102 / 107. What do his words reveal about his motives? What is his bias? Why might he have this bias?

35. On p. 107 / 112-113, why did Mary Warren //think// she saw spirits, and why can’t she see any when she’s not part of the group?

36. Why does Proctor reveal his secret on page 109 / 115? What does this show us about his character? Do you think he did the right thing here?

37. How is Hale’s testimony on page 114(top) / 119 a change from what he has been saying previously? Also, look at what Hale does at the very end of the act (p. 120 / 125-126). What do you think caused this change? Why hasn’t Hale said anything like this before?

38. Why is there a sudden change in Mary Warren’s behavior on page 118 / 124?

39. Why won’t Danforth listen to Hale now (on page 119 / 125)? What does this say about the trials in general? (You might want to relate your response to question #28.)

40. What does Proctor mean in his long speech on page 119-120 / 125 (after laughing insanely)? Do you think he’s insane, or is he making sense? Act 4 41. Why do you think Sarah Good and Tituba are waiting for the devil? Is there anything ironic about this? (p. 122 / 128)

42. Hale and Parris are both praying with condemned people. Explain the motives of each person; why is each doing this? What does this show about the personalities of the two men? (p. 123 / 129 and 128 / 134-135)

43. On the top of p. 128 / 134, Parris is trying to convince Danforth to postpone some of the executions. Why do you think he is doing this and what does this show you about his character? Why does the reason Parris gives here make Danforth stop and think? What does this show about Danforth’s character?

44. Why does Hale say they don’t need him in Andover? Does this give you any clues about what Hale is really doing here in Salem? (p. 131 / 137)

45. Explain Hale’s long speech on page 132 / 138-139. How is this a commentary on the trials as a whole and the people of Salem in general? How might Miller have intended this message for people in the 1950’s and today?

46. What do the method and circumstances of Giles Corey’s death show you about the trials and the people running them, participating in them and supporting them? What do Corey’s own reactions show you about his character? (p. 135 / 141-142)

47. Why does Proctor believe that he might as well lie? Why does he think he should lie while others should not? Do you agree with his reasoning here? (p. 136 / 143)

48. How are Proctor’s answers to Danforth ironic? How might he mean his answers in a way that Danforth and Parris don’t understand? (p. 139 / 146)

49. Why does Proctor finally decide not to confess? What does he finally realize about himself? (p. 144 / 149) What does Elizabeth realize about him? (p. 145 / 152)

50. Rebecca tells Proctor to fear nothing. What keeps Rebecca Nurse strong throughout this ordeal? How is this ironic? (p. 144 / 151) (You might want to compare this to question #39.)