The Crucible Characters
This character is paranoid about losing their position and status in the village because of the accusations of witchcraft made in their house.
Reverend Parris
This theme is present when John Proctor refuses to sign a false confession saying, "Because it is my name!"
Reputation
What is Mrs. Putnam's motivation for accusing Rebecca Nurse of witchcraft?
Her 7 babies died in infancy.
What is the difference between the meanings of these to words?
Tenet & Sacrosanct
A tenet is a belief or principle. It is a NOUN.
Sacrosanct means something too important to be changed or interfered with. It is an ADJECTIVE.
What 3 parts should your thesis statement have?
Concession (acknowledge the counterargument), Thesis (state your opinion/argument), and Reasons (support your thesis.)
This character is worried about losing their reputation in the village because he is worried the residents will not respect his authority.
Judge Danforth
Reverend Hale changes his position on this theme when he urges people to lie to avoid being hanged at the end of the play.
Justice
What is Tituba's motivation for confessing to witchcraft when she is accused both in Act 1 and Act 4?
She confesses to avoid punishment.
What is the difference in meaning or usage between these two words?
Parsimonious & Penurious
Parsimonious means only frugal or stingy. It is an ADJECTIVE.
Penurious means poor, but can also mean stingy. It is also an ADJECTIVE.
Name 2 figurative devices:
"The wind whispered through the trees."
Alliteration and personification.
("Wind whispered" and giving the wind human characteristics.)
This character is educated and thinks he is fair, but is overconfident in the first half of the play.
Reverend Hale
The Crucible is considered this type of literary work where the events of the story symbolize something larger.
It is an allegory representing the McCarthy trials.
This symbolic word both represents the severe trial and the pressure to conform.
Crucible.
What is the difference between the meanings of these two words?
Attenuate & Debase
Attenuate means to gradually lessen in strength or intensity. It is a VERB.
Debase means to lower moral or character quality. To put someone down. It is also a VERB.
Name the figurative device:
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
Meaning: words are more powerful than fighting.
Metonymy (Something related is used to represent what you are talking about.)
This character was a follower in the beginning, then got some confidence, then crumbles when challenged in the end
Mary Warren
Give 3 examples of "heat and cold" symbolism from The Crucible.
Dancing around the fire, cold wind in the courtroom, the girls' skin is cold to the touch when they pretend to be bewitched, Elizabeth admits she kept a cold house, a crucible is a melting pot for metal at high heat.
What was the purpose of both McCarthy and the Salem leaders asking the accused to name names?
To build public fear and encourage more targets.
Which word refers to a person with a particular role, and which refers to an idealistic concept?
Emissary & Altruism
An emissary is an actual person with a mission. Emissary is a NOUN (person).
Altruism is generosity or charitableness. Altruism is a NOUN (thing).
Name the figurative device:
"She's not unattractive."
Litotes (making a positive statement by denying the opposite.)
This character rambles on in court and in the village. His nonstop talking got his wife arrested for witchcraft.
Giles Corey
Which theme is represented by the quote, "A person is either with this court or they may be counted against it!"
Judge Danforth says this. It reflects the theme of intolerance.
This vocabulary word refers to an emotional front or false appearance, like the girls in the courtroom.
The girls put up a facade.
What is the difference between the meanings of these two words?
Dilatory & Abeyance
Dilatory means delayed or tardy. It is an ADJECTIVE.
Abeyance is a pause, often due to outside factors. It is a NOUN (thing.)
Name the figurative device:
“Try to light the fire.”
Assonance (The repetition of internal vowel sounds in nearby words.)