The Crucible: Act I

1
The Crucible Act I

• There is prodigious danger in seeking loose
  spirits.
• --Rebecca Nurse

2
Cast of Characters

• Questions to Consider
• What characters have we met so far?
• What do we know about each?
• Take a moment and add to your Cast of Characters
  worksheet !

3
Pick a Side
With the rumors of witchcraft circulating, two
factions have formed. Which character belongs to
which team?

• Team the towns gone crazy
• John Proctor
• Rebecca Nurse

• Team WitchCraft
• Reverend Parris
• Thomas Putnam
• Ann Putnam

4
Tituba

• BARBADOS Tituba is from Barbados, an island in
  the West Indies. Barbados was originally
  inhabited by the Arawak and the Carib, although
  it was uninhabited when the first white settlers
  arrived from England in 1627. West African slaves
  were brought there during the 1600s and the
  1700s.
• Africans brought to the West Indies cultural
  practices that contributed to the development of
  voodoo, which is characterized by sorcery and
  spirit possession. The Puritans did not know or
  understand Tituba's culture, and anything they
  did not know, they assumed to be evil. Therefore,
  Tituba is the perfect target for accusations of
  witchery.
• What If? What do you think would have happened if
  Tituba had not confessed to practicing
  witchcraft?

5
Characterization Activity

• Create a graphic organizer/chart for the
  following characters John Proctor or Abigail and
  one of your choosing. You pick how you want to
  chart the information.
• Jot down TWO important character traits for each
  character. You may treat the girls, except for
  Abigail, as a single character.
• Then, find THREE examples for each trait. You may
  use dialogue, action, and/or stage direction.

6
Real Life CharactersA Real Life Witch Hunt?

• Meet the West Memphis Three
• New Evidence
• New York Times Article
• Web Site
• WM3.org