Quotes
What is Parris most concerned about?
I saw it! He moves from her. Then, resolved: Now tell me true, Abigail. And I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry’s at stake, my ministry and perhaps your cousin’s life. Whatever abomination you have done, give me all of it now, for I dare not be taken unaware when I go before them down there.
He cares a great deal about what other people think and say about him.
Who accused Elizabeth of witchcraft?
Abigail accused her of witchcraft because she is in love with John.
The dragon Proctor refers to in the following dialogue most likely represents __.
Proctor: It will keep if it is kept, but Mary Warren swears she never saw no poppets in my house, nor anyone else.
Parris: Why could there not have been poppets hid where no one ever saw them?
Proctor, furious: There might also be a dragon with five legs in my house, but no one has ever seen it.
accusations that can neither be proven nor disproven
Describe the relationship between John and Elizabeth.
strained and distant
Which of the following best describes John Proctor’s feelings toward Abigail at the beginning of the play?
guilt and romantic attachment
Which of the following words best describes the notes not intended to be spoken onstage within the text?
a. omniscient
b. confessional
c. unreliable
omniscient
What is the significance of the poppet?
It signifies Abigail’s hatred of Elizabeth
What is the most likely reason Tituba names Goody Good and Goody Osburn as witches?
They are the two people that Mrs. Putnam suggested while Tituba was being accused
Does Elizabeth want John to confess?
Although she wants him to live, she is proud of John's decision not to confess.
When he meets Elizabeth in Act 4, how can Proctor’s appearance be described?
haggard
Which of the following inferences is best supported by Elizabeth’s description of Abigail?
Elizabeth: She speak of Abigail, and I thought she were a saint, to hear her. Abigail brings the other girls into the court, and where she walks the crowd will part like the sea for Israel.1 And folks are brought before them, and if they scream and howl and fall to the floor— the person’s clapped in the jail for bewitchin’ them.
Abigail has gained tremendous power in Salem through her accusations.
Why does Elizabeth perjure herself in court?
Her loyalty to John outweighs her penchant for absolute honesty.
How is the psychological foundation behind the puritans’ belief in witchcraft still prevalent today?
When a group of people becomes fearful or frustrated, they often begin to act irrationally. This can result in hysterical, unreasonable behavior. People who believe they are in danger or who think someone is different from them can make decisions or commit acts similar to those of the puritans.
There have been many examples of this throughout history, such as the Holocaust, the Second Red Scare, or the Japanese-American internment camps. (on the test, you will need to explain how one of these examples can be compared to the Salem Witch Trials)
Why hasn't John been attending church?
He does not care for Reverend Parris or his sermons.
True or False?
The play shows that "leaders are in power for a reason, and we should trust them implicitly."
false
According to the author, what is the result of not valuing novelists or writers in a culture?
No one can really know what their lives were like. They had no novelists—and would not have permitted anyone to read a novel if one were handy. Their creed forbade anything resembling a theater or “vain enjoyment.” They did not celebrate Christmas, and a holiday from work meant only that they must concentrate even more upon prayer.
Without novelists and writers, a culture’s way of life may be lost to history.
In Act 3, what happens when Mary Warren tries to tell the court the truth?
Danforth is very intimidating
Abigail says that Mary Warren is lying and starts to accuse her of witchcraft
Mary Warren pretends to be bewitched again
This shows the dramatic context of the court may be convincing the girls they are experiencing witchcraft in the moment
What is Abigail's fate at the conclusion of the play? Is this a just ending for her?
She steals Parris's money and runs away
Which commandment does John forget, and what is the most likely reason for this?
Adultery
he feels guilty about his affair with Abigail
What is most likely the reason Mary Warren suddenly becomes defiant of John Proctor?
Being an official of the court has made her feel important and given her new power.
Which literary device is this an example of?
Danforth says to Mr. Hale that “No uncorrupted man may fear this court.”
irony
The court at Salem seems to be mostly interested in ___.
finding witches wherever they can
What is the most likely the reason Hale wishes Proctor to confess?
Hale feels tremendous guilt for his complicity in each hanging.
What causes John to change his mind about confessing?
He can't stand to see his name signed on a lie. He feels that confessing to witchcraft is a betrayal to his friends.
True or False?
The play shows that "to a certain degree, reality is shaped by those who wield power."
True