The Crucible by Arthur Miller Study Guide
The Crucible by Arthur Miller Study Guide
The Crucible by Arthur Miller Study Guide
Act I
1. Where and when is the play set?
2. What does Abigail confess to Reverend Parris?
3. What is wrong with Betty Parris?
4. For whom does Abigail work? Whose niece is she?
5. For whom does Mercy Lewis work?
6. For whom does Mary Warren work?
7. How do Rev. Parris' parishioners feel about him?
8. What is John Proctor's attitude toward Parris?
9. What were the girls doing in the woods with Tituba?
10. Thus far, which people feel that witchcraft exists and which do not?
11. What does it mean when Betty can't stand to hear the Lord's name?
12. Who is John Hale? Why has he come to the Parris home?
13. What is the conflict between Putnam and Proctor about?
14. What does Mrs. Putnam believe caused the death of her seven children?
15. What are Parris' feelings toward his congregation?
16. Why do Tituba and the girls call out names at the end of this act? What does Tituba confess and why?
17. Why did Mrs. Putnam send her daughter, Ruth, to see Tituba?
18. Why would the Devil want Rev. Parris' daughter?
19. What does Giles Corey say disturbs him about his wife? How is Corey described?
20. According to Miller, what caused the witch-hunts? How does he describe the witch- hunts?
Act II
1. What is the setting of this act?
2. What does Elizabeth want John to do?
3. Why has John been trying so hard to please his wife these last seven months?
4. Why does Mary Warren say that she had to be in Salem all day?
5. What does Mary bring to Elizabeth?
6. Why does Elizabeth want John to go see Abigail?
7. Why is Rev. Hale going from house to house?
8. Why does John tell Hale that he would testify that Abigail was not really involved with witchcraft?
9. With what has Rebecca Nurse been charged?
10. With what has Martha Corey been charged?
11. With what does Cheever charge Elizabeth?
12. What does Elizabeth say that makes them take her away?
13. Why will Elizabeth not believe in witches?
14. Since the aged Goody Good has been declared pregnant, who is being implicated as the father?
15. Why has Goody Osburn been convicted?
16. At this point, who does Rev. Hale believe is telling the truth- the Proctors or the court?
17. What is the irony in the fact that John Proctor misses the adultery commandment?
18. How does Elizabeth explain that her name has been called out in court?
19. What has Abigail suffered from that very night? What was her plan?
20. At the end of this act, what does John want Mary Warren to do?
Act III
1. Where does this act take place?