Focus Questions

1
Focus Questions

• The Crucible Act I

2
Focus Questions

• The Crucible takes place in 1692 in Salem,
  Massachusetts
• The protagonist is John Proctor
• Characters to watch
• Abigail Williams the niece of Rev. Parris
• John Proctor Had an affair with Abigail when
  she was a maid in the house

3
Focus Questions

• What is really wrong with Ruth Putnam, and why is
  she acting the way she is?
• Why is Rev. Parris worried that people will
  believe its witchcraft?

4
Focus Questions

• What rumors are spreading around town about Betty
  Parris?
• What concerns does Rev. Parris have about
  Abigail ?

5
Focus Questions

• What is the name of the woman is told not to beg,
  and what is her eventual role in the witch
  trials?
• In what town did Rev. Hale find witchcraft?

6
Focus Questions

• What reddish work happened to Abigails
  parents?
• Whats Rebecca Nurses response as to why Betty
  is acting the way she does?

7
Focus Questions

• Who did Abigail cast a blood spell against?
• What is John Proctors attitude toward Abigail?

8
Focus Questions

• What did Abigail mean when she said John Proctor
  put knowledge in her heart?
• Also, what did she mean when she said, I know
  you, John Proctor?

9
Focus Questions

• What metaphor is used in reference to Mr. Hales
  books?
• What has Mr. Hale heard about Rebecca Nurse, and
  what does that tell you about her stature in
  Salem?

10
Focus Questions

• How does Giles Corey accidentally implicate his
  wife?
• What allegorical aspects in reference to the Red
  Scare have all ready occurred?

11
Focus Questions

• Why does Abigail blame Tituba?
• What reasons make Tituba an easy target for false
  allegations?

12
Focus Questions

• Who does Goody Putnam first accuse of being a
  witch, and what is her motivation?
• Who does Tituba accuse of witchcraft and how did
  she arrive at those names?

13
Focus Questions

• The Crucible Act II

14
Focus Questions

• Describe the relationship between Elizabeth and
  John Proctor.
• What has John Proctor done to get his wife to
  forgive him for his actions?

15
Focus Questions

• What are the names of the three judges who arrive
  in Salem?
• Who is the first person called in before the
  court and who was the first to testify?

16
Focus Questions

• For what reasons are people of Salem being
  accused of witchcraft?
• Who laughs and walks out the court, and why do
  they do so?

17
Focus Questions

• What are the allegorical reasons for the girls
  fainting to invisible evidence?
• What allegorical role does the devil play in the
  plot?

18
Focus Questions

• What is Mary Warrens function with Salems
  court?
• At this point in the plot, how is Abigail
  perceived by the people of
  Salem?

19
Focus Questions

• What are Samuel Sewells concerns about the
  nature of the allegations of witchcraft against
  those in Salem?

20
Focus Questions

• Why does Rev. Hale question the Proctors about
  their Christian beliefs?
• Why doesnt John Proctor respect Rev. Parris and
  what did that have to do with Proctors last son?
• Whats ironic about Proctor forgetting one of the
  commandments?

21
Focus Questions

• What lead to Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse being
  arrested for witchcraft?
• Why is Mr. Cheever searching for a poppet in the
  Proctors house?
• Why does Proctor call Mr. Hale a broken minister?

22
Focus Questions

• Why is Mary Warren afraid to contradict Abigail?
• Also, for John Proctor, what risk is there for
  him if Mary contradicts Abigail?

23
Focus Questions

• The Crucible Act III

24
Focus Questions

• What does Giles Corey have that will prove the
  girls are lying?
• How does Proctor find out his wife is pregnant,
  and what significance does it hold for her?
• When Proctor presents a list of 91 people wholl
  testify the girls are lying, what happens to
  them?
• What connection with the U.S. today can you make
  with Danforths statement that Youre either
  with us or against us?

25
Focus Questions

• What is Mr. Coreys claim against Mr. Putnam?
• Why doesnt Mr. Corey testify as to who could
  validate his statement regarding Mr. Putnam, and
  how is it allegorical?

26
Focus Questions

• Why is Mr. Hale so upset about Judge Danforths
  reluctance to believe the girls are lying?
• Why is Judge Danforth shocked that the girls were
  dancing in the woods?
• To what does Mary Warren testify?
• After Abigail suggests Danforth is not beyond
  temptation of the devil, what does she do?

27
Focus Questions

• Why does Proctor admit to having an affair with
  Abigail?
• What does Judge Danforth mean when he says to
  Abigail may God spread his mercy on you?
• What is ironic about Elizabeths testimony
  regarding Proctors affair?

28
Focus Questions

• What is ironic about Mary saying she loves God?
• What is metaphorical about Proctor saying,
  Youre pulling down Heaven and raising up a
  whore?
• What part of dramatic structure is represented
  when John Proctor says, God is dead!?
• What was symbolic about John Proctor being
  represented in the sea?

29
Focus Questions

• The Crucible Act IV

30
Focus Questions

• For what crime is Giles Corey pressed to death,
  and what allegorical significance does it have?
• How have the people of Salem changed their
  attitude toward Abigail, and why did that occur?

31
Focus Questions

• What does Abigail steal from Rev. Parriss, and
  what is her intent?
• Whom does Judge Danforth allegorically represent?

32
Focus Questions

• What is Rev. Parris worried about regarding the
  hangings of John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and
  Martha Corey?
• Why does Rev. Hale state that all the accusations
  have been lies and encourages Proctor to give
  them the lie the court wants?

33
Focus Questions

• Why does Proctor ask Elizabeth for forgiveness,
  and what is her response?
• To what does Elizabeth admit to in regard to her
  relationship with her husband?

34
Focus Questions

• Why does Rebecca Nurse say to John, God send his
  mercy on you, John?
• What is meant by Rev. Parris saying, It is a
  weighty name?

35
Focus Questions

• What is more important to Proctor than his life,
  and what lesson does this teach his sons and
  others?
• Why does Elizabeth not try to stop her husband
  for being hanged?

36
Focus Questions

• How have the people of Salem changed in the way
  they view the hangings?
• How is the staging of the hangings symbolic?

37
Focus Questions

• What is Arthur Miller telling the audience by
  having the hangings take place before Amen
  could be said?