CRUCIBLE (noun) 1. a container or vessel of metal employed for heating substances to high temperatures. 2. a severe, searching test or trial.

CRUCIBLE (noun)

1. a container or vessel of metal employed for heating substances to high temperatures.

2. a severe, searching test or trial.

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

How would you deal with being falsely accused of a crime simply because of the way you look or because of the people you are associated with? How would these allegations impact your daily

life, reputation, and family?Are these types of allegations fair? If not, why

do they persist?How do the themes of ‘panic’ or ‘hysteria’ fit

into the discussion?

The Salem Witch Trials

Read your role in Salem society – do not share whether you are a witch or whether you are innocent!

Act out your role according to the directions on your card

Do not make an accusation until the acting portion is over

YOUNG BOYS: Anthony, Sebastian, DylanYOUNG GIRLS: Colette, Diana, CaitlinWOMEN: Sarajane, Isabella, Lauren, BreanaMEN: Peter, Riley, CJREVERENDS & JUDGES: Celeste, Rachel, Milan

Accusation Game

Read your role in Salem society – do not share whether you are a witch or whether you are innocent!

Act out your role according to the directions on your card

Do not make an accusation until the acting portion is over

YOUNG BOYS: Allan, Nick, ArmaniYOUNG GIRLS: Lauren, Isabella, Kristen, MonetWOMEN: Sarah, Katie, Alexia, KaraMEN: Kevin, Grant, NoahREVERENDS & JUDGES: Tyler, Peilong, Iliana,

Chris

Accusation Game

Set in 1692Salem, MassachusettsWitch huntsPuritanical theocracyIntoleranceDICHOTOMY - division into two mutually

exclusive, opposed, or contradictory partsWritten in 1953

McCarthyismHUACCommunismCold WarALLEGORY – symbolic narrative; representation

Background Info

HYSTERIA

1. Heathen2. Abomination3. Vindictive4. Smirch5. Squabble6. Flail 7. Daft 8. Ameliorate9. Ultimatum 10. Blanch

Act 1 and 2 Vocabulary

Inference: (noun): something that can be deduced, concluded, or derived through reasoning.

Character Inferences

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION QUOTE INFERENCE

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS

-Age 17 -Niece of Parris-Orphan-Beautiful-Capacity for dissembling

“Now look you. All of you…Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come for you in the black of some terrible night…”

Abigail uses fear tactics and threats to keep her friends from going against her way

The AccusedTituba, Rebecca Nurse, the midwives, Elizabeth

The AccusersAbigail, Betty Parris, Ruth Putnam, Mary Warren

Team “Witchery”Reverend Parris, Ann & Thomas Putnam

Team “Level-headed”Elizabeth & John Proctor, Rebecca & Francis

Nurse, Corey

Alliances in Salem

Which characters would be on ‘Team Parris’? Which ones would be on ‘Team Proctor’?

Define briefly each of the following terms: plot structure, exposition, tragedy, tragic hero, fatal flaw.

Do Now

Re-read Miller’s description of Proctor in Act 1 from “But as we shall see…” to “…and an unexpressed hidden force.”

At first impression, it’s hard to understand how such a strong man could have a troubled soul. However, what information in Act 1 and the first half of Act 2 leads us to this understanding?

Do Now: 10 minutes

What is Reverend Parris’s main concern?Why did Mrs. Putnam send Ruth to Tituba?What “proof” is there that Betty has been

‘witched’?How does John Proctor feel about Reverend

Parris? Why?What ultimatum is given to Tituba?

Plot Questions (Act 1)

Why can’t Proctor tell the court that he knows Abby is lying?

Where does Elizabeth believe John is metaphorically judging himself for his actions?

What does Mary Warren give to Elizabeth? What is stuck inside?

What frightening news does Mary Warren report back to the Proctors from Salem?

What exactly does Elizabeth believe that Abigail plans to do?

Discussion Questions (Act 2)

1. What does Mr. Hale mean when he says, “Believe me, if Rebecca be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the whole green world for burning. Let you rest upon the justice of the court.”

2. Who has charged Rebecca Nurse, Martha Corey, and Elizabeth Proctor with witchcraft?

3. Why is it so significant that a poppet with a needle stuck inside is discovered at the Proctor home?

4. Why does John Proctor refer to Hale as Pontius Pilot?

5. What has John decided to do in order to save Elizabeth? What is he asking Mary Warren to do?

Discussion Questions (Act 2)

1. During prayer, what has Abigail been seen doing? She claims she was made to do this by Tituba.

2. What do Danforth and Parris tell Mary Warren to do in order to prove that she was faking her reactions to “spirits” earlier?

3. How does Abigail, with the help of her circle of friends, sabotage Mary Warren’s confession?

4. What happens when Elizabeth is called in to tell the truth about why she fired Abigail?

5. What do the girls “see” on the ceiling of the court house? What do they do when Mary speaks?

6. What happens at the end of Act 3?

Discussion Questions (Act 3)

1. What has happened in Salem since the summer?

2. Why has Mr. Hale returned to Salem? What does he hope to do?

3. What does Mr. Hale beg Elizabeth to do?4. How is Giles Corey killed? Why is he killed in

his manner? How do we know that he stayed true to his personality even in his last moments?

5. Describe the conversation between Elizabeth and John.

Discussion Questions (Act 4)

Salem is a strict theocratic society whose residents are very devout. They recite their commandments, read the Bible on a daily basis, and are held criminally accountable for moral infractions. However, it is possible that there be non-believers in Salem.

Does John Proctor believe in God? Why or why not?Answer the question with your opinion. You

must present evidence supporting your opinion. Have at least 2 specific examples from the play (not the film).

Debate

1. (p.105) Parris: This man is blackening my name…

2. (p.110) Proctor: A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything…

3. (p.114) Hale: Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now before another is condemned! I may shut my conscience to it no more – private vengeance is working through this testimony…”

4. (p.132) Hale: Life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.

More important quotes…

1. Qualm (noun)2. Base (adjective) 3. Callous (adjective)4. Probity (noun)5. Stench (noun)6. Gaunt (adjective)7. Agape (adjective/adverb): “with mouth

agape”8. Beguile (verb)9. Reprieve (noun/verb)10.Adamant (adjective)

Act 3 and 4 Vocabulary

Ideas: The dancing in the forest, Abigail discovered to be impaled with a needle, Marshals going to the Nurse and Corey house to arrest Rebecca and Martha, Court scene where the girls accuse Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Martha

1. Choose a title for your scene and where it would occur (which act)

2. Write a list of which characters will appear in your scene

3. Write a summary of what will happen in the scene

4. Begin writing dialog- Include stage directions, description of

scenery. - 2 pages in length- Skip lines between speakers- Mimic language

Write a deleted scene

http://thewallmachine.com/2jZUbj.html

Social Networking in Salem…

“Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”

Proctor: with a cry of his whole soul:

“I can. And there’s your first marvel, that I can. You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.”

Proctor his eyes full of tears:

Recite your favorite quote from the whole play. Why do you find it significant and/or enjoyable?

Analyze the plot structure of the play. Tell about the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

There is a lot of conflict in The Crucible. Explain and identify two external conflicts (man v. man and man v. environment/society) as well as an internal conflict (man v. self).

Aftermath