The Crucible

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Page 1086 (Guide for Interpreting)

1. What year was Arthur Miller born?

2. Where did he go to college?

3. Which prize did Miller win for his play, "Death of a Salesman"?

4. What was Miller's next play after "Death of a Salesman"?

5. What was Miller investigated for after the release of "The Crucible"?

6. Who did Miller marry in 1956?

Page 1087 (Background for Understanding)

7. What was Massachusetts swept by in 1692? How many people from Massachusetts were executed? How many were jailed?

8. What is the estimated number of Europeans who were executed for being accused of witchcraft?

9. What did many colonists attribute their misfortunes to?

10. What happened to the Minister's daughters in the small parish of Salem Village? Who was blamed?

The Crucible

Act 1

Page 1089

11. How old is Reverend Parris during the events of the story?

12. Is Reverend Parris married? What are his feelings toward children?

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13. How is Puritan culture described?

14. What were the Puritan's feelings toward the forest and the Native-Americans that inhabited it?

15. Literary Focus: Why is this background information about the situation in Salem important to your understanding of the play?

Page 1091

16. What was one of the major differences between the Puritans and the Englishmen who landed in Jamestown?

17. What is a "junta"?

18. What is a theocracy?

Page 1092

19. How old is Tituba? Where is she originally from?

20. Whose health is Reverend Parris praying for?

Page 1093

21. What did Parris discover his daughter and niece doing in the forest? Who does he think the girls were communicating with?

22. Why is Parris worried about this information getting out to the rest of the community?

23. What does Parris say he saw Tituba doing in front of the fire? What is Abigail's explanation for this?

24. Parris asks why Abigail was fired from her job working for Goody Proctor. What is Abigail's response?

Page 1094

25. How is Mrs. Ann Putnam described?

26. What does Mrs. Putnam ask about Betty? What does this demonstrate about the nature of rumors and gossip?

27. Mrs. Putnam states that her daughter is sick too? Who does she blame as the cause of this?

28. What does Putnam accuse Parris of having take place within his house?

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29. What happened to Thomas Putnam's brother in law, James Bayley? What might this cause Thomas Putnam to have?

30. Why did Thomas Putnam try to break his father's will?

31. Whose handwriting were many of the accusations written in?

32. Why did Mrs. Putnam want to send her daughter to Tituba? How does Parris react to this?

Page 1096

33. What does Mrs. Putnam say her daughter, Ruth, is unable to do?

34. Who does Abigail say was conjuring the spirits?

35. Who is Mercy Lewis? How is she described?

36. What does Mercy suggest doing to Betty to wake her?

37. What does Abigail tell Mercy her uncle saw?

Page 1097

38. How is Mary Warren described? What are some synonyms for these adjectives?

39. What does Mary say the punishment is for people convicted of witchcraft? What does Mary saw will be Abigail's punishment if she admits to dancing? What does this tell you about Puritan culture?

40. When Abigail wakes up Betty, who does Betty say she wants to see, what is Abigail's response?

41. What does Betty accuse Abigail of drinking?

42. Critical Viewing: Look at the picture on page 1097 from the 1996 film version. Which scene do you think this picture portrays?

43. Why does Betty say Abigail drank the blood?

44. What does Abigail say all the girls did? What does Abigail say Tituba did?

45. What does Abigail threaten to do to the other girls if they admit to what happened?

Page 1098

46. How old is John Proctor? How is he described?

47. Who is John Proctor's servant? Why is he upset with her when he sees her at Reverend Parris's house?

48. Based on their body language and words, what can you tell occurred between Abigail and John Proctor?

49. Build Vocabulary: What does the word "calumny" mean.

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50. How does John Proctor respond when Abigail asks if they will ever be together again?

51. What does John Proctor threaten to do to Abigail when she insults his wife, Elizabeth?

52. What does Betty hear that causes her to wake up and start screaming?

53. How old is Rebecca Nurse?

54. What does Putnam say is a notorious sign of witchcraft?

55. How old is Giles Corey? How is he described?

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56. What does the text say Rebecca Nurse was eventually accused of? Which family is mainly responsible for the accusation?

57. How many grandchildren does Rebecca Nurse have? What is her advice regarding Betty and Ruth?

Page 1101

58. Who agrees with Rebecca Nurse about how to handle the situation? How does Mrs. Putnam respond?

59. Who is Reverend Hale? How do Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor's views toward the coming of Reverend Hale differ from that of Thomas Putnam?

60. What does Putnam accuse Proctor of not doing?

Page 1102

61. What does Proctor say his reason for no longer attending church is?

62. What does Parris get in an argument with John Proctor and Giles Corey about? What does this show you about Reverend Parris?

63. Parris believes there is a faction in the church that is out to do what? How does Proctor respond  to this?

Page 1103

64. Where does Putnam accuse John Proctor of taking wood from?

Page 1103

65. How is Reverend Hale described?

66. What does Reverend Hale believe he cured a child of within his own parish back in Beverly?

Page 1104

67. What does the text say about the view of the underworld before the Christian era?

68. What type of contemporary accusations does Miller compare the accusations of witchcraft in Salem to?

69. What does the author (Arthur Miller) say he has no doubt people were doing in Salem. What does he use as an example of this?

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70. What did the church link sex and sin with early on?

71. Who is delighted to see Reverend Hale?

72. Who does Reverend Hale recognize? Why does he say he has heard about her?

73. Build Vocabulary: What does "inculation" mean?

74. Build Vocabulary; What does "propitiation" mean?

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75. What do Mr. and Mrs. Putnam say they want Reverend Hale to do after he treats Betty?

76. What does John Proctor say when asked if he believes in witches?

77. What does Mr. Putnam tell Reverend Hale that Betty can not bear to hear? What does he say this is a sure sign of?

78. What does Mrs. Putnam admit to doing?

Page 1107

79. What does Giles Corey tell Reverend Hale that he finds his wife doing in the middle of the night that troubles him? What does he say it prevents him from being to do?

80. What is the more logical reason for Giles Corey being unable to say his prayers?

81. Why is Reverend Parris confused as to why the Devil would go after his daughter? What is Reverend Hale's response?

82. Build Vocabulary: What does the word "licentious" mean?

Page 1108

83. What does Reverend Parris say he saw in the forest while the girls were dancing around Tituba? How does Abigail explain this?

84. What does Reverend Hale ask Reverend Parris about the soup? What does Parris say? How does Abigail explain this?

85. Who does Reverend Hale say he would like to speak to? What do you think will happen to this person?

Page 1109

86. What does Abigail accuse Tituba of making her and Betty do? How does Tituba respond?

87. What other things does Abigail accuse Tituba of making her do?

88. What does Reverend Parris threaten to do to Tituba if she does not confess? What does Mr. Putnam say must be done to her?

89. Reading Strategy: What does this dialogue reveal about Tituba's motives for suddenly admitting that she has trafficked with the devil?

Page 1110

90. What do Reverend Parris and Reverend Hale now believe they will be able to use Tituba to find?

91. What does Tituba claim the devil wants her to kill? Why do you think she says this?

92. What does Tituba say about Mrs. Good and Mrs. Osbourne? Why does Mrs. Putnam believe what she says about Mrs. Osbourne?

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93. After Tituba's confession, what does Abigail do? What does Betty wake up and start doing? Why do you think they do this?

Check Your Comprehension

94. What is Betty's condition as the play opens? What were she and her cousin Abigail doing the night before?

95. Summarize Abigail's prior relationship with the Proctors.

96. Who is Reverend Hale? Why is he contacted?

Act 2

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97. Where does scene one open?

98. What does Elizabeth serve John for dinner?

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99. When John asks Elizabeth why she is sad, what is her response? Why would she be worried about John going into Salem?

100. Why does John get upset with Elizabeth?

101. What reason did Mary Warren tell Elizabeth she had for having to go to Salem?

102. How many people does Elizabeth tell John are currently in court under charges of witchcraft?

103. What does Elizabeth say the Deputy Governor promised to do to anyone who did not admit to witchcraft? Who does she say is the leader of the accusers?

104. What does Elizabeth tell John he must do?

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105. What upsets Elizabeth when asking about Abigail's confession to John Proctor? How does John respond?

106. How long does John say it has been since they removed Abby from the house?

Page 1117

107. Who does John tell Elizabeth is the only one who has the right to judge him? 

108. What does John threaten to do to Mary Warren when she enters the house?

109. What does Mary Warren give Elizabeth Proctor as a gift?

110. How many people does Mary Warren tell John are in the jail now? Who does she say is scheduled to hang?

Page 1118

111. What does Mary Warren claim that Sarah Good did to her with her spirit?

112. Why does Mary Warren say that she was not going to accuse Sarah Good at first?

113. What was Sarah Good unable to recite in court?

114. What does Mary Warren say will not happen to the people who confess? What will they have to do instead?

115. What does Mary refuse to do? What does John try to do to her in response?

Page 1119

116. Whose life does Mary Warren say she saved while in court? What does she say when asked who the accuser was?

117. Why does Elizabeth tell John that Abigail wants her dead?

Page 1120

118. What does Elizabeth say Abigail thinks about John?

Page 1120 - Scene 3

119. Who shows up at the Proctor home?

120. What does John Proctor offer Reverend Hale to drink?

121. Whose name does Reverend Hale first tell the Proctors was mentioned in court? Who else is name does he say was mentioned in court?

Page 1121

122. What does Reverend Hale ask John Proctor about church? What is John's excuse?

123. Paraphrase the story John Proctor tells Reverend Hale about the golden candlesticks in church? What does this tell you about Reverend Parris?

124. Why does John Proctor tell Reverend Hale that only two of his three boys are baptized?

125. Build Vocabulary: What is the definition of the word, "theology"?

Page 1122

126. Who does Elizabeth tell Reverend Hale that she and John Proctor have never loved?

127. What does Reverend Hale ask Elizabeth if she knows?

128. Which commandment does Proctor forget to recite?

129. What does John Proctor tell Reverend Hale that Abigail confessed to him?

Page 1123

130. Why does John Proctor tell Reverend Hale that people have been confessing to witchcraft?

131. What do the Proctors tell Reverend Hale that they do not believe in?:

132. Which two men enter the house and announce that their wives have been arrested for witchcraft?

Page 1125

133. What does Francis say his wife has been charged with?

134. Why was Martha Corey charged as a witch?

135. Who does Ezekiel Cheever show up with a warrant for?

136. Who does Cheever say charged Elizabeth? What does he ask to see?

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137. What does Cheever find in the poppet (puppet) that was given to Elizabeth Proctor by Mary Warren?

138, What does Cheever say happened to Abigail Williams at dinner that night? How does this relate to the puppet? Explain.

139. Build Vocabulary: Define the adjective, "gingerly."

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140. What does Mary Warren admit to?

141. What does John Proctor do with the arrest warrant?

142. Critical Thinking: What does Proctor mean when he says that "vengeance is walking Salem?" (Interpret)

143. According to footnote #4, who was Pontius Pilate?

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144. What do Cheever and Herrick do to Elizabeth Proctor that enrages John?

145. Who does John Proctor call a coward? Do you agree? Why? Explain.

146. Who does Mary Warren say she cannot charge murder on?

147. Build Vocabulary: What is the definition of "blasphemy"?

148. Build Vocabulary: What is the definition of an "abomination"?

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149. Mary Warren tells John that Abigail will charge him with lechery if Mary Warren tells on Abigail. According to footnote #5, what is lechery? What is it almost as serious as?

150. Who does John Proctor say he will never let die for him?

151. As the scene closes, what does Mary Warren continue sobbing over and over again?

Check Your Comprehension

152. What evidence is used to support Abigail William's assertion that Elizabeth Proctor is guilty of witchcraft?

153. What does Sarah Good do to save herself from hanging?

Act 3

Page 1132

154. Where does Act 3 open?

155. What does Hathorne accuse Martha Corey of?

156. What does Giles Corey accuse Thomas Putnam of?

157. How is Judge Hathorne described?

Page 1133

158. What does Danforth say is the only thing preventing Giles Corey from being arrested for his outburst?

159. Who does Francis Nurse say are frauds?

160. How many people does Judge Danforth say he has condemned to hang?

161. Who does Proctor bring into the courtroom with him?

Page 1134

162. What does John Proctor say Mary Warren has signed?

163. What does Parris try to accuse Proctor of doing?

164. Who does Danforth claim is speaking through the children?

165. Reading Strategy: Would you classify either Parris or Danforth as a villain? Why or why not?

Page 1135

166. What does Cheever tell the court that John Proctor did when they came to arrest Elizabeth Proctor?

167. When Danforth talks about seeing choked, stabbed, and slashed by spirits in the courtroom, how is this an example of dramatic irony?

168. Whose wife is pregnant now?

Page 1136

169. What sort of testament does John Proctor hand Judge Danforth?

170. Who does Danforth issue warrants for?

Page 1137

171. Who presents another deposition to Judge Danforth?

172. What does Giles Corey tell Judge Danforth about his father?

173. What does Giles Corey charge Thomas Putnam with doing?

174. Build Vocabulary: What is the definition of "imperceptible"?

175. Build Vocabulary: What is the definition of "deferentially"?

Page 1138

176. Why is Giles Corey threatened with contempt of court?

177. Who does Giles Corey threaten to kill?

178. Who does Giles Corey say wants to "hang us all"?

Page 1139

179. What does John Proctor tell the court that Mary Warren swears now?

180. What is a deposition?

181. Build Vocabulary: What is the definition of "anonymity"?

Page 1140

182. What does Hale tell Danforth about Proctor's claim?

183. How does Hale say he feels about the warrant he signed for Rebecca Nurse?

184. What does Danforth refer to as an "invisible crime"? Who does he say are its only witnesses?

185. Based on his speeches, how would you classify Danforth?

186. According to footnote #5, what is the meaning of "probity"?

187. Who does Judge Danforth tell Cheever to bring into the court?

188. What does Judge Danforth ask Mary Warren about John Proctor regarding her confession?

Page 1141

189. What does Danforth tell Mary Warren she is already guilty of?

190. How does Abigail respond when asked if she was lying?

191. What does Abigail say Goody Proctor always kept in the house?

Page 1142

192. What does Parris say after Mary Warren confesses there were never any poppets (puppets) in the Proctor house?

Page 1143

193. Why does John Proctor say Mary Warren has no reason to lie?

194. Who does Proctor accuse Abigail of trying to murder?

195. What does Proctor say that Abigail has been kicked out of church twice for? How does Parris explain this? What does Proctor then tell the court about Abigail and the girls?

Page 1144

196. What does Parris admit to Danforth that he saw the girls do?

197. What does Hathorne want Mary to do in the courtroom? What does Parris say when she is unable to do it? Why does Mary say she was able to do it before?

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198. Literary Focus: How is Abigail's claim of being nearly murdered and that she has been doing her moral duty an example of dramatic irony?

199. Who do the girls try to make look like a witch by acting like they are cold and shivering?

200. Who does John Proctor grab by the hair and call a whore?

201. What does Proctor finally admit to doing with Abigail?

Page 1146

202. Critical Thinking: Why do you think Proctor now expects Danforth to believe what he says about Abigail and Elizabeth? (Making Inferences)

203. What does John Proctor say his wife is unable to do?

204. Build Vocabulary: What is the definition of "blanched"?

Page 1148

205. How does Elizabeth Proctor respond when asked if John had ever cheated on her (committed lechery)?

206. Who tries to defend John Proctor and expose Abigail?

207. Literary Focus: What does the audience know that Danforth does not?

Page 1149

208. Describe the vision Abigail pretends to see regarding Mary Warren?

209. What do the other girls start doing to Mary along with Abigail?

210. Along with Proctor, who else tries to convince Judge Danforth that the girls are lying?

Page 1150

211. What does Mary Warren do to John Proctor out of fear?

212. Literary Focus: When the stage directions refer to Abigail's "infinite charity," how is this an example of verbal irony?

213. According to footnote #8, who or what is the "anti-Christ"?

Page 1151

214. Who say's "God is dead"?

215. Who denounces the proceedings and quits the court?

216. Reading Strategy: If you were classifying characters as static (unchanging) and dynamic (changing or growing) , in which category would you place Reverend Hale? Why?

Check Your Comprehension

217. Which three depositions are presented to the court?

218. Giles Cory charges that Putnam is "killing his neighbors for their land." What does Danforth demand as proof?

219. Summarize the events leading to John Proctor's arrest?

220. After rejoining the other girls in their hysterical behavior, what accusation does Mary make about Proctor?

221. What does Reverend Hale denounce at the end of Act 3?

Act 4

Page 1154

222. Where does Act 4 open?

223. Who enters the cell drunk? Which two women are in there when he enters?

224. Who is Sara Good referring to when she talks about "His Majesty"?

225. What do Tituba and Sara Good think will happen to them?

Page 1155

226. Critical Thinking: How has Danforth's attitude toward Reverend Hale changed? What has brought about this change? (Draw Conclusions)

227. What reason does Herrick give for drinking alcohol?

228. Why are there so many disagreements about the cows in the village?

229. Literary Focus: Examine Hathorne's description of Parris. What theme might Miller be raising here? (Theme)

Page 1156

230. Reading Strategy: What warning may the details about changes in Salem convey about the growing anti-Communist fear and suspicion in Miller's own time? (Contemporary Events)

231. According to Parris, What is Reverend Hale trying to get Rebecca Nurse and some of the others to do? What does he not want to see happen?

232. Who does Parris say has vanished? What did this person take from him and where does he think she is now?

233. What happened in the neighboring city of Andover?

234. Build Vocabulary: What is the definition of "agape"?

Page 1157

235. What does Parris fear will happen in Salem?

236. What does Parris think will happen if Hale can convert one of the prisoners? How is this beneficial to him?

Page 1158

237. How many people does Parris say showed up for John Proctor's excommunication? Based on context clues, what do you believe an excommunication is?

238. Comprehension Check: What does Parris make of the fact that a dagger was thrown onto his doorstep?

239. What does Reverend Hale tell Judge Danforth he must do?

240. Literary Focus: What theme about authority or hypocrisy do you think Danforth's attitude here may convey? (Theme)

241. How long does Parris say it has been since John Proctor has seen his wife, Elizabeth?

Page 1159

242. How does Hale tell Danforth the townspeople will view Danforth if he postpones the executions and strives for confessions? What is Danforth's

243. When Hale talks to Danforth and reinforces Cheever's earlier description of a chaotic Salem, what theme is being reinforced?

244. Why does Hale tell Danforth he has returned to Salem?

245. Critical Thinking: What do Hale's comments to Elizabeth Proctor reveal about his character? (Infer)

246. Critical Thinking: Explain what Hale means when he says he originally came "bearing gifts of high religion." To what does he refer when he says that "blood flowed up"?

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247. Literary Focus: What theme or themes does Reverend Hale state in his speech?

248. Who does Elizabeth agree to speak with?

Page 1161

249. Critical Thinking: What emotions do you imagine that John and Elizabeth Proctor are experiencing at this point?

250. How many people does Elizabeth say have confessed? Who does she tell John Proctor is dead?

251. Comprehension Check: What did Giles do to help his sons? What tendency did he show through his life, including his final act?

Page 1162

252. Describe how Giles Corey was killed. What were the only two words he would give his killers?

253. Literary Focus: What theme might the details of Giles Corey's death convey?

254. Has Giles Corey's wife agreed to confess?

255. When John Proctor starts to consider confessing, what is his line of reasoning? What does John say has prevented him from confessing up until this point? (Analyze)

256. What does Elizabeth tell John she blames herself for?

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257. Why does Danforth want Proctor's confession to be written?

258. Explain how Danforth tries to use Proctor's confession to influence Rebecca Nurse.

259. Literary Focus: How does Rebecca Nurse embody the theme of courage?

Page 1164

260. What type of questions does Danforth start asking John Proctor? What is he trying to do? Explain.

Page 1165

261. Build Vocabulary: What is the definition of "purged." Where else have you seen this word?

262. Reading Strategy: How might Proctor's insistence on not incriminating others relate to McCarthy hearings of the 1950's?

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263. What does Proctor refuse to do? What does he not want to be used as?

264. Literary Focus: What notorious aspect of the McCarthy hearings is Miller alluding to when Proctor refuses to sell out his friends?

265. Comprehension Check: Why is Proctor's name so important to him, and why does it now cause him anguish?

266. Literary Focus: How does Proctor's change of heart reflects the themes of integrity and courage?

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267. Why does Rebecca Nurse proclaim, "let us fear nothing"?

268. Critical Thinking: Do you agree with Hale that Proctor's refusal to give in is due to "pride" and "vanity"?

Check Your Comprehension

269. What worries Parris when he meets with Danforth at the beginning of Act IV? What does he propose to Danforth?

270. Summarize Hale's argument favoring Proctor's confession.

271. Why does Danforth arrange a meeting between John and Elizabeth Proctor?

272. What does Proctor have "no tongue for"?

Critical Thinking

273. What motivates Reverend Hale to seek confessions from the condemned prisoners? (Infer)

274. Why is Elizabeth unable to offer her husband advice on whether to confess? (Interpret)

275. Why does Elizabeth say her husband has "his goodness" as he is about to be hanged? (Interpret)