Girls in the Woods
At the start of the play, this girl has fallen into a trance. She is assumed to be possessed and screams upon hearing the Lord's name.
Who is Betty Parris?
She is the Parris's slave from Barbados.
Who is Tituba?
Read the excerpt from Act I of The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
PARRIS, in fright: How can it be the Devil? Why would he choose my house to strike? We have all manner of licentious people in the village!
How does the inflection in these sentences affect the meaning of the text?
Answers will vary. Should mention something about how Parris is self-righteous and thinks himself better than others.
This girl is the oldest and the presumed leader of the group. She witnessed her parents murder. She had an alleged affair with John Proctor.
Who is Abigail?
He is the first villager to instigate a witch hunt. He is the father of one child, and is one of the richest men in Salem. He is constantly trying to gain more power and presitge.
Who is Thomas Putnam?
She has had six children die at childbirth. Her one daughter is Ruth. She blames Sarah Osburn for the death of the other children and resents Rebecca Nurse for her healthy children and grandchildren.
Who is Ann Putnam?
Read the excerpt from Act I of The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
ABIGAIL, in a temper: My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!
What does this excerpt most likely suggest about Abigail's character?
Answers will vary. Should mention something about how Abigail will do anything to protect her reputation.
Read the excerpt from Act I of The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
PUTNAM, to Parris: When Reverend Hale comes, you will proceed to look for signs of witchcraft here.
PROCTOR, to Putnam: You cannot command Mr. Parris. We vote by name in this society, not by acreage.
PUTNAM: I never heard you worried so on this society, Mr. Proctor. I do not think I saw you at Sabbath meeting since snow flew.
PROCTOR: I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more.
PARRIS, now aroused: Why, that’s a drastic charge!
What can best be inferred about the conflict in this scene?
This girl delivers the news to Rev. Parris that the doctor can find no medical reason for Betty's illness.
Who is Susanna Walcott?
He is a farmer and our protagonist who, despite making certain deplorable moral choices and had an alleged affair with Abigail, has strong character and beliefs. While he believes in God, he doesn't attend church.
Who is John Proctor?
She is an old woman and grandmother. She is sensible, of good moral character, and claims the girls are just going through "silly seasons" rather than buy into the hysteria of witchcraft.
Who is Rebecca Nurse?
Read the excerpt from Act I of The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
PARRIS, eagerly: What does the doctor say, child?
SUSANNA: He bid me come and tell you, reverend sir, that he cannot discover no medicine for it in his books.
PARRIS: Then he must search on.
SUSANNA: Aye, sir, he have been searchin’ his books since he left you, sir. But he bid me tell you, that you might look to unnatural things for the cause of it.
PARRIS, his eyes going wide: No-no. There be no unnatural cause here. Tell him I have sent for Reverend Hale of Beverly, and Mr. Hale will surely confirm that. Let him look to medicine and put out all thought of unnatural causes here. There be none.
SUSANNA: Aye, sir, I pray for her. Goes out.
ABIGAIL: Uncle, the rumor of witchcraft is all about; I think you‘d best go down and deny it yourself. The parlor‘s packed with people, sir. I‘ll sit with her.
Why does Reverend Parris most likely respond to Susanna with such insistence?
He's afraid of being accused of witchcraft
Read the excerpt from Act I of The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
COREY: It suggests to the mind what the trouble be among us all these years. Think on it, wherefore is everybody suing everybody else. I have been six times in court this year.
PROCTOR: Is it the Devil’s fault that a man cannot say you Good Morning without you clap him for defamation? You’re old, Giles, and you’re not hearing as well as you did.
Based on the underlined portions of this excerpt, the author uses syntax and diction (word order and choice of language) to:
What is, to indicate the setting as Salem in the 1600s?
This girl is the Proctor's current servant.
Who is Mary Warren?
He provides the comic relief in the play. He is worried his wife is reading "strange books." He has been involved in many lawsuits concerning land ownership. His character's pettiness sometimes serves as a foil for John Proctor's gruff good-naturedness.
Who is Giles Corey?
She is the first woman accused of witchcraft. Thomas Putnam asked Tituba if she was with the devil. She is a homeless woman in Salem.
Who is Sarah Good?
Read the excerpt from Act I of The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
PUTNAM: This woman must be hanged! She must be taken and hanged!
TITUBA, terrified, falls to her knees: No, no, don’t hang Tituba! I tell him I don’t desire to work for him, sir.
PARRIS: The Devil?
HALE: Then you saw him! Tituba weeps. Now Tituba, I know that when we bind ourselves to Hell it is very hard to break with it. We are going to help you tear yourself free . . . Tituba, look into my eyes. Come, look into me. She raises her eyes to his fearfully. You would be a good Christian woman, would you not, Tituba? . . .
TITUBA: Bless Him. Bless Him. She is rocking on her knees, sobbing in terror.
Based on this excerpt, which choice best describes how Miller develops the character of Tituba?
Answers will vary, but students should note that he is emphasizing Tituba's fearfulness.
The Crucible, by Arthur Miller is an allegory for a period in American History known as the "Red Scare". What is an allegory? What, in simple terms, was the "Red Scare"?
Answers will vary.
He is an expert on demonic arts. He tells others not to look to superstitions.
Who is Rev. Hale?
She was the midwife in most of Mrs. Putnam's deliveries and accused of witchcraft at the end of Act I.
Who is Sarah Osburn.
Read the excerpt from Act I of The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
GILES: It suggests to the mind what the trouble be among us all, these years. Think on it, wherefore is everybody suing everybody else. I have been in court six times this year.
PROCTOR: . . . You’re old, Giles, and you’re not hearin’ so well as you did.
GILES, he cannot be crossed: John Proctor, I have only last month collected four pound damages for you publicly sayin’ I burned the roof off your house, and I—
PROCTOR, laughing: I never said no such thing, but I’ve paid you for it, so I hope I can call you deaf without charge. Now come along, Giles, and help me drag my lumber home.
Based on this excerpt, how does Giles Corey act as a foil (someone who acts as a contrast in order to highlight character's -- usually a protagonist -- qualities) for John Proctor?
Giles's petty accusations bring out Proctor's good-naturedness.
An omniscient narrator periodically appears in The Crucible through lengthy exposition pieces that are not glossed as stage directions. For example, at the beginning of Act I, Miller provides stage directions for the set, props, and position of Parris and Betty on stage. However, Miller also includes an extensive psychological profile of Parris prior to beginning the action of the play. Before Parris speaks, a narrator says that "in history he cut a villainous path, and there is very little good to be said for him." Later, the narrator interrupts the action in Scene 1 to include background information on Putnam, and the narrator does the same for Proctor in Scene 3, Rebecca in Scene 4, and Hale and Giles in Scene 5. In addition to historical background on significant characters, the interruptions also include social commentary within the exposition.
What is the significance of the narrator to the overall theme and plot throughout Act I? How does this influence the reader's understanding of each character as they are introduced? What makes this a unique narrative technique?
Answers will vary