Know Your Characters
The minister of Salem's church and Abigail's uncle.
Reverend Parris
Where were Abigail, Betty, and the other girls before the play begins?
In the forest with Tituba.
What is the conflict between Abigail and John Proctor?
Abigail still has feelings for Proctor and wants him, while Proctor rejects her and tries to distance himself from their past relationship.
What does Reverend Hale come to Salem to investigate?
He comes to investigate whether witchcraft is present in Salem.
What does the word reputation mean?
The opinion or judgment that other people have about someone.
!Daily Double!
Who is Abigail most afraid will reveal what happened in the forest?
Mercy, Betty, and Mary. (The Girls)
What does Reverend Parris discover when he finds the girls?
They have been dancing in the forest, and Betty is unconscious/unresponsive.
Why does Reverend Parris have a conflict with Abigail?
He suspects she is not telling the truth about what happened in the forest and worries that her behavior could damage his reputation.
Why are the people of Salem particularly afraid of witchcraft?
They believe Satan and evil are real forces that can threaten their community.
Which vocabulary term describes deliberately misleading or hiding the truth from someone?
Deception
Which character is most openly skeptical of the idea that witchcraft is responsible for everything happening in Salem?
Rebecca Nurse
What does Abigail claim happened in the forest?
She claims they were only dancing and denies that she participated in witchcraft.
What conflict exists between Thomas Putnam and John Proctor?
They have disagreements and tension connected to land, money, status, and their different personalities.
How does the community's fear make accusations more powerful?
Once people become convinced that witchcraft is present, they may begin interpreting unusual behavior as evidence of guilt.
The people of Salem begin blaming certain individuals for problems and fears within the community. Which vocabulary term best describes this behavior?
Scapegoating
Why is Reverend Parris so concerned about what happened in the forest?
He is worried about his reputation and position as minister. He fears that rumors about his daughter and Abigail could damage his standing in Salem.
What causes Abigail to begin accusing other people of witchcraft?
Once the possibility of witchcraft becomes serious, Abigail realizes that accusing others can shift attention away from herself and protect her from punishment.
Why might Abigail's personal conflict with Elizabeth Proctor become important later, even though Elizabeth has not appeared yet?
Abigail's feelings for John Proctor create a personal motive for her to resent Elizabeth and potentially want to harm her and her reputation.
How might Rebecca Nurse's response to the situation be different from the reactions of characters like the Putnams?
Rebecca is more calm and skeptical. She does not immediately assume that witchcraft is responsible, while the Putnams are more fearful and willing to believe that something supernatural is happening.
Which vocabulary term describes someone who uses threats, pressure, or force to make someone do something?
Coercion
Which character seems most concerned with maintaining a good reputation, and what evidence from Act 1 supports your answer?
Reverend Parris. Explanation of Why?
How does the situation in Act 1 change from the beginning of the play to where we are now?
It begins as a secret involving a group of girls in the forest, but gradually becomes a much larger situation involving accusations, fear, suspicion, and the possibility of an official investigation.
Which conflict in Act 1 do you think has the greatest potential to cause problems for the entire community? Explain why.
Open-ended. Students must defend their choice.
Witchcraft rumors
Abigail and Proctor
Rev Hale's prescence
Miller connects the Salem witch trials to the fear of communism during his own time. What similar pattern does he see in both situations?
Both involve fear of a perceived enemy, suspicion of people within the community, pressure to identify those enemies, and accusations that can spread because people are afraid of what might happen if they don't participate.
Choose TWO of our vocabulary terms and explain how they are connected to what is happening in Salem so far in Act 1.
Two terms are named and connected to specific events, characters, or situations in the play.