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Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing

Literature Guides and Worksheets

for Teachers...

Using Bloom’s Taxonomy

Arthur Miller’s

The Crucible

Written by Angie Barillaro, Radiant Heart Publishing ©2010

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Worksheet 1: Knowledge- THE CRUCIBLE

1. Identify the characters in the play of “The Crucible”.

2. Locate where the action of the play takes place.

3. Draw and label the places where the story takes place.

4. Outline the plot of the story in a timeline from beginning to end.

5. Who is ill at the start of the play? Why?

6. What are the rumours going around in the village?

7. Why has Reverend Hale been called and what will he do?

8. Why was Mary Warren not at home?

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Worksheet 2: Comprehension- THE CRUCIBLE

1. What does John Proctor feel guilty about?

2. Within a few hours, how many people have already been accused of witchcraft?

On what basis?

3. Explain why Elizabeth is fearful of Abigail? What does she want John to do?

4. Describe the house visit at the Proctors?

5. Why is everyone shocked about Rebecca Nurse being charged?

6. What does the poppet show us about Abigail?

7. What type of ‘evidence’ is being collected from those that are suspected of

wrongdoing?

8. What is ironic about the arrest of Elizabeth Proctor and Rebecca Nurse?

9. Of all the characters, who can really help the Proctors?

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Worksheet 2: Comprehension- THE CRUCIBLE

10. Why do the characters seem so eager to accuse and arrest their neighbours?

11. What is happening to Hale’s beliefs? Why?

12. How are these characters treated when presented for ‘trial’?

Name What happens? Comments?

Elizabeth Proctor

Rebecca Nurse

Martha Corey

13. Describe Abigail’s ‘performance’? How do others react to it?

14. In what way does Danforth conduct the proceedings? Why?

15. What motivates Reverend Parris?

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Worksheet 3: Application- THE CRUCIBLE

1. Create a labelled diagram showing the characters mentioned in the story and how

they relate to one another.

2. Make up your own puzzle (any type) based on the play. Test it on your classmates.

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Worksheet 4: Analysis- THE CRUCIBLE

1. Analyse why women are the only target of these accusations.

2. Put forward a possible explanation for the refusal of the men in charge of the

trials to listen to other evidence or reason.

3. What is Arthur Miller showing us about the power of accusations and the law?

4. How have the accused been treated in jail?

5. What is the challenge and irony of the conflict facing John and Elizabeth Proctor?

6. How do we know that the real motivation behind the trials was to target certain

individuals and remove them from the community?

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Worksheet 5: Synthesis- CREATIVE PROJECT –THE CRUCIBLE

Choose TWO of the following

1. Compose a series of poems based on “The Crucible”.

2. Revise a section of the text and turn it into a scene to be acted out.

3. Write a series of letters between two characters in “The Crucible”.

4. Rewrite the ending of the play so that the outcome is different.

5. Plan and write a series of diary entries from the point of view of one of the

characters.

6. Present a talk on an aspect of the book to the class.

7. Who is Arthur Miller? Research and report a biography of Miller.

8. Write a newspaper article based on aspects of the play.

9. Research the many different front covers for the various editions over the years, of

the “The Crucible”. Create a collage of the covers. Analyse 3 of the best covers (in

your opinion) on an A3 poster – with annotations. You can find the many covers on

the Internet via Google and other search engines.

10. Compose and /or find some music that represents key moments in the play. Play

them to the class and explain to the class your reason for choosing these pieces of

music.

11. Choreograph a movement inspired by one or more key scenes in the play. Present

a live performance to an audience or have someone video tape it.

12. Using any art medium (painting, sculpture, inks, pencil etc.), create one or more

visual representations of the play.

Note: for each of your projects, write 250 + words about the process you undertook.

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Worksheet 6: Evaluation – THE CRUCIBLE

1. Evaluate what Elizabeth Proctor wants her husband to do at the end of the play?

2. To what extent does “The Crucible” accurately reflect the Salem witch trials?

Spend some time researching this question.

3. Write a short letter to Arthur Miller, with any questions and comments you have

about “The Crucible”.

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Worksheet 7: Text Essay Questions- THE CRUCIBLE

1. John Proctor is a tragic figure. Discuss

2. To what extent are ‘the little crazy children dangling the keys to the kingdom’ responsible for the deaths in “The Crucible”?

3. “The Crucible” is all about sexual repression and men’s fear of women. To what extent is this true?

4. In the end, “The Crucible” was all about personal rivalry and grudges. Discuss

5. “The Crucible” shows us the destructive force of mass hysteria and fear? Discuss

Use the lines provided to brainstorm the essay questions.

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Worksheet 8: Quotes – THE CRUCIBLE

Comment on the following quotes from the text.

QUOTE COMMENT 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.”

Danforth: “The pure in heart need no lawyers...”

Parris: “This is a clear attack upon the court!”

“I cannot sleep for dreamin'; I cannot dream but I wake and walk about the house as though I'd find you comin' through some door.” -Abigail to John Proctor

Proctor “She thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore's vengeance, and you must see it;”

Proctor “A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud-God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!”

“There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!” Parris to Proctor

John Proctor “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!”

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Worksheet 9: Context- THE CRUCIBLE

Contextual background How this is seen in the text...

Experience of crisis in American society and how people react in such times was of interest to Miller

There was a witch hunt in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, which Miller researched and used although he did change the facts and this was not his sole interest.

There has long been a fear of evil, the devil and witches in particular and they have often been the subject of paranoia by ‘religious’ people.

The Puritans settled in North America in 1620 and their religion was particularly strict.

During the witch hunt/ trials, there was no escape once accused and mass hysteria took over.

Miller saw parallels with what was going on in post war America and the Salem witch hunts. Instead of witches, the focus was on the fear of the spreading Communism in the world. Suddenly a small number of people seemed to have unlimited power to be as intrusive on people’s private lives as they wanted. (Mc McCarthyism and the House of Un American Activities.

There were disastrous results of this paranoia and in the end very little validation of any real threats of any kind to America.

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Worksheet 10: Character Study- THE CRUCIBLE

Understanding Characters through their words and actions.

Name Action or Quote What this reveals?

John Proctor

Elizabeth Proctor

Abigail Williams

Reverend Hale

Reverend Parris

Deputy-Governor Danforth

Rebecca Nurse

Tituba

Giles Corey

Mary Warren

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Worksheet 11: Themes- THE CRUCIBLE

THEME EXPLANATION CONFLICT Miller’s play explores personal conflict; domestic conflict; communal

conflict; religious conflict; land conflict highlighting the challenges in resolving conflict to everyone’s satisfaction.

POWER AND ABUSE OF POWER

The danger of absolute power is clear as it often results in corruption and abuse of power. It is essential that processes are transparent and the law is accountable at all times. During the McCarthy ‘investigations’ he was able to name suspects and assume they were guilty. There were hundreds of hours of useless interrogations and suffering with very little proof. Some people were even put to death. In the play, Abigail and the girls are given total credibility and power over the community.

EVIL

What appears to be evil may not necessarily be so. It is dangerous to be black and white and judge on exteriors. Miller is asking us to explore the concept of evil rather that just follow rules and existing laws. A key aspect of an evil act is if there is an innocent victim. The worst evil is when the persecutors become fixated in carrying out the law without human understanding and compassion. Miller is showing us that nothing is so black and white.

SCAPEGOATS

It appears human for us to want to apportion blame or make scapegoats of others, especially if they are different from us. This is especially so in times of limitations, crisis, recession. It has happened all through history and is very simplistic. History is filled with examples of wars caused by thinking in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’. Those persecuted during the witch hunts were clearly scapegoats.

IDEALISM versus REALITY

Proctor is the victim of his own idealism and chooses to die rather than live a flawed man. Perfection is rarely attained in society, but we tend to expect it in ourselves and our lives.

JUSTICE AND LAW and the importance of CONSCIENCE

A civilised society must allow individuals to follow their conscience. The Puritan approach to life did not allow any flexibility and was not open to what was really happening. Danforth was obsessed in following the letter of the law and not wanting to deviate to explore any problems fully. Thus true justice was denied and the law was made a mockery of.

GUILT AND SUFFERING

Psychologically, when people feel guilty, have endured suffering and see themselves as having less than others, there can be envy and anger towards those perceived as having it ‘easier’. At times it is easier to ‘strike out’ at others and want them to suffer too. This is true of Abigail – she wants John; Goody Putnam has lost seven babies and Parris is particularly unhappy in his job and community.

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Worksheet 12: Structure and Style- THE CRUCIBLE

Structure Text Connection Effect on the text and reader

Historical play Based on an event that happened in history although Miller did say he changed /omitted the facts to suit the play.

Tragedy Genre As in the Greek tragedy where the fatal flaw of the ‘hero’ becomes his undoing. Such tragedies involve a loss of good name/ fortune and death at the end of the play. Proctor is the tragic hero.

Allegory There is another parallel story that mirrors the witch hunt in the play – and that is the story of McCarthy and his anti-communist trials that resembled the events of “The Crucible” in hysteria, lack of objectivity and lack of due process.

Play about ideas Miller wants us to think deeply about the key themes and issues, especially remembering the importance of individual conscience.

Play structure Has traditional, naturalistic setting; tight plot and is divided into four Acts or parts. Each act ends in a climax. Act One – Sets the drama and introduces the characters Act Two – Getting to trial Act Three- The Trial Act Four- Death of the ‘hero’ John Proctor

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Worksheet 13: Vocabulary- THE CRUCIBLE

ACT 1

Theocracy Heathen Witched Conjured Abominations Gibberish Deference Demonic Vindictive Smirched Calumny Licentious

ACT 2 Poppet Crone Wily Flailing Daft Ameliorate Sarcastical

ACT 3 Wrath Qualm Ipso facto Base Gulling Callously Probity

ACT 4 Stench Gaunt Agape Strongbox Gibbet Excommunication Conciliatory Beguile Floundering Reprieve Adamant Cleave Disputation Sibilance Tantalized

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The Crucible - At a Glance – AUTHOR CONNECTIONS

Arthur Miller CONNECTION TO ‘The Crucible’

Miller’s family faced financial ruin during The Great Depression of the 1930s. He experienced much suffering as did others in his community. His childhood was thus harsh.

Being of Jewish descent, the persecution of Jews under Nazism would have instilled disgust and distrust of authority figures. Certainly it challenged people to consider the ‘evil’ that seemed to be everywhere.

Could not afford to go to College, so had to go to work to raise his own funds. He then enrolled at the University of Michigan and worked part time. He also enrolled in extra writing courses. His first play won a large prize.

He kept on writing plays whilst working in radio. In 1949 he wrote ‘Death of a Salesman’ which won a Pulitzer Prize and hit a chord with the American audience. The main character in this play was Willy Loman who is an ordinary salesman who believes in ‘the American dream’, but his life falls apart despite tying his hardest.

‘The Crucible’ was published in 1953 and audiences were aware of the allegorical attack on McCarthyism.

Miller was brought before the House of Un American Activities in 1954 on suspicions that he supported Communism.

Miller was married to famous actress, Marilyn Monroe and he wrote her last film ‘The Misfits’, during which she suddenly died.

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Exploring CONFLICT in The Crucible - Worksheet

Type of Conflict Characters involved Quotes/ comments

Conflict in the community

Conflict in the family

Conflict within oneself

Conflict between specific individuals

Conflict...

Conflict...

Conflict...

Conflict...

Conflict...

Conflict...

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CONFLICT Prompts- The Crucible - Worksheet

1. Conflict cannot always be resolved, nor should it be.

2. The ideal solution of ‘win win’ resolutions to conflict is clearly a myth. In all conflict there is always a winner and a loser.

3. Conflict comes from fear – it is a response to fear.

4. As we are merely human, it is inevitable that conflicts will occur. What is really important is that there exists within every society a justice system that is fair, impartial and accountable.

5. Sometimes the world seems to be against you and you find yourself embroiled in a conflict you did not ask for and have no chance of escaping.

6. We need resilience and level headedness in dealing with conflict - as responding with anger is surely a disastrous road to further conflict and ruin.

7. Our world is littered with conflict of all types, and most people in this world have to learn to continue living despite this turmoil.

8. All conflicts begin with a reason, a want, and a need. Somebody’s reason, want or need at the expense of another’s.

9. Conflict is never worth the price it costs to society.

10. Conflict inevitably goes hand in hand with abuse of power and the need to control others.

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