Female Characters
Male Characters
Plot
Character Interaction
Miscellaneous
100

Who is Abigail? How would you describe her character?

She is Reverend Parris' niece. She is strong and manipulative.

100

Who is Samuel Parris? How would you describe his character?

Parris is the minister of the church of Salem. He is paranoid that others are always out to get him, he always feels the need to be in power, and he hates children.

100

What were the girls doing in the woods? Who was there?

Dancing- some naked, some not. They wanted to cast spells on the boys of the village for them to love the girls. Tituba, Abigail, Betty Parris, Mercy Lewis, Mary Warren, and others.

100
What is going on between Abigail and Proctor? What emotions are they experiencing and why? What do they say to each other?
Abigail and Proctor had an affair. Abigail is frustrated because John denies them having an affair. John seems concerned about saving his image, so he denies their affair and tells her that they won't be together.
100
Where and when does The Crucible take place?
Salem, Massachusetts, 1692
200

What does Mrs. Putnam blame on witchcraft?

The death of her 7 babies

200
Who is John Proctor? What are his characteristics?
Proctor is a local farmer. He does not like hypocrites. He is "powerful of body, even-tempered, and not easily led."
200

Why does Reverend Parris insist that there "be not unnatural causes" with Betty? In other words, why does he insist that no one speak of "unnatural causes" ?

Parris knows that if people begin to link "unnatural causes" (witchcraft) to Betty's illness, they will quickly panic. In their hysteria, they may take extreme action against Parris and his family.

200
What mission did Abigail have concerning the wife of John Proctor? How does she try to fulfill her mission?
To get rid of her so she could be with John Proctor. She "drinks a charm" to kill Elizabeth Proctor.
200
How do the characters in The Crucible feel about witches? (3 parts)
1) exist and are the Devil's agents 2) can control people and harm children 3) can take form of animals
300

This girl is the Putnam's servant. She was witnessed by Rev. Parris running naked in the woods.

Who is Mercy Lewis?

300
What is John Proctor's major complaint regarding Parris' preaching? How does he say it affects the people of the town?
Proctor says that Parris preaches too much about "hellfire and bloody damnation." He says that people stay away from church because he "hardly ever mentions God anymore." This creates tension between them.
300

What does Rebecca Nurse say about the girls' apparent illness? How does she know?

She insists that the girls are just acting silly. She has had 11 children and 26 grandchildren, so she feels she has been around children enough to know when they are acting silly.

300
Why does Parris suggest calling Reverend Hale?
Because he is an expert with dealing with witchcraft, so he is the best person to determine whether Betty is possessed by the Devil.
300
Toward the end of the first act, both Abigail and Tituba confess to witchcraft because__________
...the pressure is so great. They name others in order to deflect blame from themselves.
400

She has had six children die at childbirth. Her one daughter is Ruth. She blames Sarah Osburn for the death of the other children.

Who is Ann Putnam?

400
What are Reverend Parris' biggest complaints? What does this suggest about how he thinks of himself?
He feels that he deserves the firewood, a better salary, home ownership, and greater job security. This suggests that he is a proud man regards himself highly. He thinks he deserves better because of his education or because he is a servant to God.
400

Why are the girls more willing to lie and blame others than to tell the truth about what they did in the woods?

They will only be whipped for dancing in the woods. If they are accused of witchcraft, not only will their names be ruined, but they could possibly get hanged.

400
What does Giles Corey's wife do that disturbs him? Why?
She reads a book late at night. When she is reading her books, he claims he cannot pray, so he thinks she may be a witch
400
Describe the setting and mood in Act One. Give examples.
1) Hysterical, Frantic 2) Mysterious 3) Tense 4) Anger 5) Misunderstanding
500

Who is Betty? What happens to her? How is this significant to the play?

She is Reverend Parris’s ten-year-old daughter. Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the woods with Tituba. After, she seems to fall into a strange trance. Her condition and that of Ruth Putnam fuel the first rumors of witchcraft.

500
Who is Reverend Hale? What are his beliefs? How does he view himself?
He is an expert on witchcraft. He is called into the Parris' home to examine Betty. He believes the "Devil is precise." Diabolism is nothing to be messed around with. He feels that he is very intelligent, that he was blessed with this intelligence, and he is meant to use it to fight the Devil.
500

How does suspicion and name-calling among the Salemites contribute to a growing sense of hysteria?

The more frightened the villagers become, the more desperate they are to explain the things that are scaring them.

500
What is Thomas Putnam like? What does he have against the people of Salem, especially Francis Nurse?
Thomas Putnam is a wealthy, greedy, and influential citizen of Salem. Putnam holds a grudge against Francis Nurse for preventing Putnam’s brother-in-law, Bayley, from being elected to the office of minister.
500
What similarities did Arthur Miller see between attitudes in the Salem community in 1692 and attitudes of Americans in the 1940s and 1950s?
1) Hysteria 2) Accusations 3) Punishments
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