Characters
Why did Abigail skip town?
She feared the townspeople would soon turn against her.
Why is Elizabeth Proctor arrested and taken to court?
A poppet was found in her home with a needle in her stomach. Abigail Williams was also found with a needle in her stomach and claimed that the spirit of Elizabeth Proctor put it there.
The girls also starting "seeing" the bird and following Abigail's lead. They began mimicking Mary Warren.
Relentless & cruel; stubborn
adamant
What caused Elizabeth Proctor to lie in court about her husband's affair?
She was likely trying to protect him from punishment and she didn't know that he had confessed.
What does John's confession reveal about his character?
He is willing to sacrifice his good name within the community in order to save his wife. This shows that deep down he is a good man who does the right thing when it matters.
What was the yellow bird a symbol of (according to Abigail)?
Abigail believed that Mary Warren's demonic spirit became the bird.
What event causes Mary Warren change her confession and go back to supporting Abigail in Act III?
Abigail pretended to be attacked by a yellow bird.
a written statement made under oath in court.
affadavit
Why does Proctor suggest that Danforth should also be damned by God for his behavior and that they (Proctor and Danforth) should be "burned together"?
Proctor believes Danforth knows there is logical evidence that would exonerate Elizabeth, but he is choosing to look the other way.
How did Hale's character view John Proctor in Act III?
Hale believed John to be an honest man, even though he disagreed with some of his beliefs.
At the end of Act IV, what does Elizabeth mean when she says, "He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!"
Elizabeth means that John made a noble choice by being honest and she will not intervene in his execution.
How does Danforth react when Proctor presents him with a petition of signatures of support for Elizabeth's good character?
Danforth has all 91 people arrested and brought in for questioning.
Describe someone who reacts callously to a situation. This example does not have to come from the text.
Answers may vary. Example: A teacher tears up a student's paper and gives them a zero because the student did not write their name on the paper.
How has Reverend Hale's role changed over the course of the story?
Hale was brought in to investigate witchcraft, but later saw how the courts were unfair in their administration of justice on innocent people. He began trying to get the accused to lie in order to escape death.
Describe Rev. Parris' behavior in court during Act III.
Reverend Parris frequently interrupted the court to personally attack people in order to keep the trial focused on supporting the accusations.
Why does Abigail focus on the bird in the courtroom?
She wants to keep the attention off of her. She wants to perpetuate the fraud in order to avoid being investigated for John Proctor's accusations.
What does Mr. Danforth mean when he says to Hale, "Mr. Hale, you surely do not doubt my justice"?
Mr. Danforth is questioning Hale's support of the way he runs the legal proceedings.
Which character in the story would you say is remorseless? Support your answer.
Answers may vary. Example: Danforth is remorseless because he doesn't feel any pity or mercy for the women who were accused of witchcraft, even when presented with strong character witness statements from the community.
Why did Reverend Hale "quit this court"?
Hale sees injustice in the way the court is only listening to one side of the case. He believes John Proctor is innocent and the court is being unreasonable.
What does John Proctor mean when, after announcing his adultery to the court, he tells Francis Nurse, "Oh Francis, I wish you had some evil in you that you might know me!"?
Answers may vary, but something along the lines of: Proctor wishes that Nurse had flaws so that he could understand that others can make mistakes.
Describe the conditions in the town as a direct result of people being jailed during the witch trials.
"There are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows the when the harlot's cry will end his life..."
In Act IV, why does Parris urge Elizabeth to go to her husband, who is being taken to execution?
so that she can try once more to persuade him to confess
A word that means shameless, rude behavior (bold behavior)
effrontery
Why does Proctor confess his affair?
He wants to save his wife. By admitting his sin in court, he hopes to show Abigail's motivation for committing fraud.