The Crucible by: Arthur Miller

The CrucibleThe Crucibleby: Arthur Millerby: Arthur Miller

Mrs. Kaufman Mrs. Kaufman

88thth Grade English Grade English

DramaDrama

(AKA play) a story that has been (AKA play) a story that has been written to be performed by actors for written to be performed by actors for an audiencean audience

The story is told through the words The story is told through the words and actions of the characters.and actions of the characters.

DialogueDialogue

The words that are spoken by the The words that are spoken by the characters.characters.

DRAMA IS DRIVEN BY DIALOGUE!!!DRAMA IS DRIVEN BY DIALOGUE!!!

Stage Directions (Italics)Stage Directions (Italics)

Instructions to help actors, directors, Instructions to help actors, directors, and readers visualize what is and readers visualize what is happening onstage.happening onstage.

Tell how characters should look, Tell how characters should look, speak, act, and move on the stage.speak, act, and move on the stage.

Protagonist & AntagonistProtagonist & Antagonist

The The protagonistprotagonist is the character is the character around whom the action revolves.around whom the action revolves.

The protagonist is usually in The protagonist is usually in conflictconflict with one or more with one or more antagonistsantagonists..

Tragedy vs. ComedyTragedy vs. Comedy

Tragedy – Tragedy – a play in which the a play in which the protagonist usually comes to an protagonist usually comes to an unhappy end.unhappy end.

Comedy –Comedy – a light, humorous play a light, humorous play with a happy ending.with a happy ending.

CharactersCharacters

A cast of characters is listed at the A cast of characters is listed at the beginning of a a play.beginning of a a play.

A short description of the characters may A short description of the characters may be included.be included.

The playwright may further describe the The playwright may further describe the character when he or she first appears in character when he or she first appears in the play.the play.

The audience continues to learn about the The audience continues to learn about the characters through their actions and characters through their actions and through the dialogue.through the dialogue.

SettingSetting

The time and place in which the events of The time and place in which the events of a play occur.a play occur.

The setting often helps to create the The setting often helps to create the moodmood of the play. of the play.

Typically described at the beginning and Typically described at the beginning and throughout as the setting changes (act throughout as the setting changes (act and scene changes)and scene changes)

Setting can also affect the views Setting can also affect the views expressed by characters.expressed by characters.

PlotPlot The series of related events that revolve around a The series of related events that revolve around a

central central conflictconflict.. Conflict may be a struggle involving:Conflict may be a struggle involving:

PeoplePeople IdeasIdeas ForcesForces

Plot typically develops in the following pattern:Plot typically develops in the following pattern: ExpositionExposition Rising actionRising action ClimaxClimax Falling actionFalling action ResolutionResolution DenouementDenouement

DialogueDialogue

Conversation between the charactersConversation between the characters

Helps reveal the plot and character of the Helps reveal the plot and character of the play.play.

The author must speak through the The author must speak through the characterscharacters

As you read, decide which characters, if any, As you read, decide which characters, if any, are expressing the authorare expressing the author’’s real beliefs.s real beliefs.

Acts & ScenesActs & Scenes

They indicate a change in location or They indicate a change in location or the passage of time during a play.the passage of time during a play.

““Real timeReal time”” vs. vs. ““drama time.drama time.”” Action in a play may occur over a much Action in a play may occur over a much

longer period of time than the longer period of time than the performance takes.performance takes.

As You Read As You Read The CrucibleThe Crucible

Who is the protagonist? Is there Who is the protagonist? Is there more than one?more than one?

Who are the antagonists?Who are the antagonists? What is the central conflict?What is the central conflict?

BackgroundBackgroundThe Time and PlaceThe Time and Place

The CrucibleThe Crucible takes place in 1692 in and near takes place in 1692 in and near Salem, a small town in the Massachusetts Bay Salem, a small town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony that had been founded in the early 1600Colony that had been founded in the early 1600 ’’s s by a group of Christians called Puritans.by a group of Christians called Puritans.

The Puritans had fled England for North America The Puritans had fled England for North America to escape religious persecution and to establish a to escape religious persecution and to establish a religious community.religious community.

As industry grew in Salem, many people did not As industry grew in Salem, many people did not share the religious beliefs of the Puritan founders.share the religious beliefs of the Puritan founders.

Many Puritans felt they were losing hold of their Many Puritans felt they were losing hold of their ideals.ideals.

Insecurity, frustration, and loss of control helped Insecurity, frustration, and loss of control helped create a climate of guilt and blame.create a climate of guilt and blame.

In the winter of 1691-1692, several teenage girls In the winter of 1691-1692, several teenage girls began behaving strangely. This led to began behaving strangely. This led to accusations of witchcraft and the execution of 20 accusations of witchcraft and the execution of 20 people.people.

About the TitleAbout the Title

Crucible – a pot or vessel made from Crucible – a pot or vessel made from highly heat-resistant material.highly heat-resistant material.

Used for melting metals to test them for Used for melting metals to test them for their purity.their purity.

Used by chemists to conduct chemical Used by chemists to conduct chemical reactions that require high heat.reactions that require high heat.

Has also come to mean – Has also come to mean – ““a severe test,a severe test,”” or or ““a place or situation in which a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development.influence change or development.””

Drawing ConclusionsDrawing Conclusions

What does the phrase What does the phrase ““an endless an endless capacity for dissemblingcapacity for dissembling”” (Miller 9)(Miller 9)

tell us about Abigail?tell us about Abigail?

Drawing ConclusionsDrawing Conclusions

We should recognize that Abigail We should recognize that Abigail deceives others.deceives others.

We have to always question her We have to always question her reliability and search for a hidden reliability and search for a hidden motive in her words.motive in her words.

Dancing is BADDancing is BAD

The Puritans forbade activities that The Puritans forbade activities that they considered they considered ““vainvain”” entertainment.entertainment.

DancingDancing TheaterTheater

Literary Elements:Literary Elements: Setting Setting

What function does the forest serve?What function does the forest serve?

Literary Terms: SettingLiterary Terms: Setting

The girls go there to hide their The girls go there to hide their dancing.dancing.

It also serves as an atmospherical It also serves as an atmospherical function.function.

To the Puritans, the forest was a wild, To the Puritans, the forest was a wild, dark place—the abode of heathens dark place—the abode of heathens and evil spirits.and evil spirits.

ThemeTheme

The idea of a personThe idea of a person’’s good name s good name will be a central theme to the play.will be a central theme to the play.

Abigail: “My name is good in the Abigail: “My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my village! I will not have it said my name is soiled?” (Miller 12)name is soiled?” (Miller 12)

Enter the PutnamsEnter the Putnams

What adjectives would you use to What adjectives would you use to describe Parrisdescribe Parris’’s attitude toward the s attitude toward the Putnams?Putnams?

He seems fearful, fawning, He seems fearful, fawning, submissive, and groveling.submissive, and groveling.

The Putnams seem to have influence The Putnams seem to have influence over people in Salem.over people in Salem.

Thomas PutnamThomas Putnam

Miller considered Thomas Putnam Miller considered Thomas Putnam one of the playone of the play’’s principal villains.s principal villains.

He was vindictive, had many He was vindictive, had many grievances against his neighbors, grievances against his neighbors, and was involves in disputes and was involves in disputes ownership of land.ownership of land.

Seems to have played a key role in Seems to have played a key role in the accusations of witchcraft.the accusations of witchcraft.

Literary Terms: MetaphorLiterary Terms: Metaphor

““the Devilthe Devil’’s touch is heavier than s touch is heavier than sick. Itsick. It’’s death, ys death, y’’know, itknow, it’’s death s death drivindrivin’’ into them. Forked and hoofed into them. Forked and hoofed”” (Miller 13).(Miller 13).

These are references to the These are references to the traditional Puritan view that traditional Puritan view that represents the devil as a creature represents the devil as a creature with a forked tail and cloven hoofs.with a forked tail and cloven hoofs.

Cultural NoteCultural Note

Superstition holds that sneezing Superstition holds that sneezing might indicate that a possessed might indicate that a possessed person was expelling demons person was expelling demons through the nose.through the nose.

Who sneezes? What is the Who sneezes? What is the implication?implication?

This might be the origin of the This might be the origin of the practice of saying practice of saying ““God bless you!God bless you!””

AbigailAbigail

Describe the change in AbigailDescribe the change in Abigail’’s s behavior after the adults leave.behavior after the adults leave.

AbigailAbigail

She reveals a cruel side to her nature She reveals a cruel side to her nature in the way she treats the other girls. in the way she treats the other girls. With the adults gone, Abigail is able With the adults gone, Abigail is able to become the dominant personality to become the dominant personality and reveal her true nature.and reveal her true nature.

Is her attitude here believable? Why Is her attitude here believable? Why or why not?or why not?

Literary Elements:Literary Elements:Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

““What a grand What a grand peepingpeeping courage you courage you have” (Miller 19).have” (Miller 19).

Said by Mercy to Mary Warren-What Said by Mercy to Mary Warren-What does Mercy mean?does Mercy mean?

Literary TermsLiterary Terms

Double meaning:Double meaning: The act of looking cautiously or The act of looking cautiously or

sneakily.sneakily. The weak sound of a newborn bird, The weak sound of a newborn bird,

especially a chicken.especially a chicken. This is an example of scorn for Mary This is an example of scorn for Mary

WarrenWarren’’s courage.s courage.

Literary Elements:Literary Elements:CharacterizationCharacterization

““Let either of you breathe a word, or the Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (Miller reckoning that will shudder you” (Miller 20).20).

What do AbigailWhat do Abigail’’s threats toward the other s threats toward the other girls reveal about her character?girls reveal about her character?

Dialogue-ThemeDialogue-Theme

Notice the difference in what names Notice the difference in what names are used in the dialogue.are used in the dialogue. Mr. Proctor vs. JohnMr. Proctor vs. John Abigail vs. AbbyAbigail vs. Abby

What does this reveal about What does this reveal about relationships in the play?relationships in the play?

EvaluateEvaluate

Evaluate the offhand way Abigail describes Evaluate the offhand way Abigail describes events to Proctor in light of what we know events to Proctor in light of what we know about her character. How does her about her character. How does her demeanor change depending on who she demeanor change depending on who she is speaking with?is speaking with?

AbigailAbigail

She illustrates her ability to adapt She illustrates her ability to adapt her manner to suit a situation. With her manner to suit a situation. With her uncle, she feigns concern and her uncle, she feigns concern and righteous indignation. With the girls, righteous indignation. With the girls, she is domineering and cruel. With she is domineering and cruel. With Proctor, she is coy and seductive.Proctor, she is coy and seductive.

ConflictConflict

What is revealed about the What is revealed about the central conflict in the central conflict in the conversation between Abigail conversation between Abigail and John Proctor?and John Proctor?

ConflictConflict The conflict between Abigail and Mrs. The conflict between Abigail and Mrs.

Proctor: AbigailProctor: Abigail’’s motivation is now s motivation is now known. There was a romantic link known. There was a romantic link between her and John, which is why between her and John, which is why Mrs. Proctor dismissed her. Abigail Mrs. Proctor dismissed her. Abigail believes John loves her. Mrs. Proctorbelieves John loves her. Mrs. Proctor ’’s s death would clear the way for death would clear the way for marriage between them. marriage between them.

The conflict between Abigail and John: The conflict between Abigail and John: He denies that he ever gave her He denies that he ever gave her reason to believe there was hope for reason to believe there was hope for marriage.marriage.

Literary Elements:Literary Elements:CharacterCharacter

Analyze how the Putnams differ from Analyze how the Putnams differ from Proctor and Rebecca on the issue of Proctor and Rebecca on the issue of witchcraft. Support your conclusions with witchcraft. Support your conclusions with specific dialogue references.specific dialogue references.

Literary Elements: CharacterLiterary Elements: Character

The Putnams seem determined to The Putnams seem determined to prove that witchcraft is afoot. Proctor prove that witchcraft is afoot. Proctor and Rebecca believe there is a and Rebecca believe there is a natural explanation for the childrennatural explanation for the children’’s s behavior.behavior.

Think CriticallyThink Critically

Why might Ann Putnam hate Why might Ann Putnam hate Rebecca Nurse?Rebecca Nurse?

Ann already has mentioned that she Ann already has mentioned that she has lost seven babies in infancy. has lost seven babies in infancy. Now her only surviving child is Now her only surviving child is behaving strangely and is ill. behaving strangely and is ill. Rebecca has 11 children and 26 Rebecca has 11 children and 26 grandchildren, all of whom seem to grandchildren, all of whom seem to be healthy.be healthy.

CharacterizationCharacterization

CharacterizationCharacterization

Proctor does not defer to fools. His Proctor does not defer to fools. His reaction clearly reveals that he reaction clearly reveals that he respects her. respects her.

The fact that a man like Proctor will The fact that a man like Proctor will defer to her is testament to her defer to her is testament to her wisdom and strength of character.wisdom and strength of character.

Rebecca is the Rebecca is the ““voice of reasonvoice of reason”” in in the play.the play.

Irony—Why is this ironic?Irony—Why is this ironic?

Parris: “I do not preach for children, Parris: “I do not preach for children, Rebecca. It is not the children who are Rebecca. It is not the children who are unmindful of their obligation toward this unmindful of their obligation toward this ministry” (Miller 29).ministry” (Miller 29).

IronyIrony

Parris has little understanding of Parris has little understanding of children and sees no reason to children and sees no reason to instruct them, yet it is the young girls instruct them, yet it is the young girls who are trying to commune with the who are trying to commune with the devil. In an effort to conceal their devil. In an effort to conceal their misbehavior, they set in motion misbehavior, they set in motion events that will wreak havoc on events that will wreak havoc on Salem.Salem.

Acts & ScenesActs & Scenes

In the absence of scenes, the appearance In the absence of scenes, the appearance of a new character may indicate a shift in of a new character may indicate a shift in focus. Predict what Mr. Halefocus. Predict what Mr. Hale’’s arrival s arrival means.means.

Hale’s ArrivalHale’s Arrival

From previous references to this From previous references to this character, we should recognize that character, we should recognize that he is an expert on witchcraft. His he is an expert on witchcraft. His arrival signals a shift from the arrival signals a shift from the arguments over practical matters to arguments over practical matters to the subject of witchcraft.the subject of witchcraft.

IronyIrony Parris: Parris: ““Why would he choose my house to strike? Why would he choose my house to strike?

We have all manner of licentious people in the We have all manner of licentious people in the villagevillage!”!”

Hale: Hale: ““It is the best the Devil wants, and who is It is the best the Devil wants, and who is better than the ministerbetter than the minister”” (Miller 41)? (Miller 41)?

What is ironic here?What is ironic here?

IronyIrony

Parris asks why the devil would Parris asks why the devil would choose his house when there are so choose his house when there are so many less worthy people in Salem. many less worthy people in Salem. He does not recognize this own lack He does not recognize this own lack of good character. Haleof good character. Hale’’s question s question assumes that the minister must be assumes that the minister must be the best person in the village, an the best person in the village, an assumption at odds with the facts.assumption at odds with the facts.

Thinking CriticallyThinking Critically

Who is the first person to name Who is the first person to name specific individuals? What can you specific individuals? What can you infer from this?infer from this?

Thinking CriticallyThinking Critically

Thomas Putnam is the first. Sarah Thomas Putnam is the first. Sarah Good and Osburn are people whom Good and Osburn are people whom the Putnams do not like or against the Putnams do not like or against whom the Putnams have grievances.whom the Putnams have grievances.

IronyIrony

Hale: “You are GodHale: “You are God’’s instrument put in our s instrument put in our hands to discover the Devilhands to discover the Devil’’s agents s agents among us. You are selected, Tituba, you among us. You are selected, Tituba, you are chosen to help us cleanse our village” are chosen to help us cleanse our village” (Miller 46).(Miller 46).

Identify the irony.Identify the irony.

IronyIrony

He tells Tituba that she is GodHe tells Tituba that she is God’’s s instrument doing his work and instrument doing his work and helping cleanse the village. In helping cleanse the village. In reality, he is persuading her to make reality, he is persuading her to make false accusations of witchcraft false accusations of witchcraft against innocent people.against innocent people.

Responding to LiteratureResponding to Literature

Describe the feelings the characters Describe the feelings the characters have toward each other: the have toward each other: the Putnams toward John Proctor and Putnams toward John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse, Proctor toward the Rebecca Nurse, Proctor toward the Putnams and Parris, and Parris Putnams and Parris, and Parris toward the congregation. What toward the congregation. What effect might these feelings have on effect might these feelings have on the future action of the play?the future action of the play?


PutnamsPutnams’’ feelings might include hatred, feelings might include hatred, fear, resentment, and jealousy. Proctorfear, resentment, and jealousy. Proctor’’s s feelings toward the Putnams and Parris feelings toward the Putnams and Parris might include contempt, distrust, and might include contempt, distrust, and dislike. Parrisdislike. Parris’’s feelings toward the s feelings toward the congregation might include resentment, congregation might include resentment, anger, and fear. These feelings could anger, and fear. These feelings could create a dispute with Proctor and Nurse create a dispute with Proctor and Nurse against the Putnams and Parris, or lead to against the Putnams and Parris, or lead to accusations against Proctor and Nurse.accusations against Proctor and Nurse.

Responding to Literature, Responding to Literature,

How does Tituba first respond to HaleHow does Tituba first respond to Hale’’s s accusation of witchcraft? How does she accusation of witchcraft? How does she change her response? Why might she, as change her response? Why might she, as well as Abigail and Betty, make well as Abigail and Betty, make accusations at the end of act 1?accusations at the end of act 1?


At first Tituba denies any dealings At first Tituba denies any dealings with the devil. She later says that with the devil. She later says that the devil tempted her and showed the devil tempted her and showed her others who were in his service. her others who were in his service. They might hope to avoid They might hope to avoid punishment by accusing others.punishment by accusing others.


What is the overall What is the overall atmosphereatmosphere, or , or prevailing mood, of act 1? How does prevailing mood, of act 1? How does Miller create this atmosphere?Miller create this atmosphere?


Terror, suspense, mystery, tension.Terror, suspense, mystery, tension. Miller creates the atmosphere Miller creates the atmosphere

through the fears expressed by the through the fears expressed by the characters or through the underlying characters or through the underlying tension and mistrust that runs tension and mistrust that runs through the dialogue.through the dialogue.


Is MillerIs Miller’’s portrayal of the teenage s portrayal of the teenage girls and their behavior believable? girls and their behavior believable? Why or why not?Why or why not?


What similarities do you see between What similarities do you see between the interactions among the Salemites the interactions among the Salemites of 1692 and interactions among of 1692 and interactions among people today?people today?

Literature GroupsLiterature Groups

In a group, work together to create In a group, work together to create character webs that profile each character webs that profile each character in Act 1. Include the character in Act 1. Include the charactercharacter’’s age, personality traits, s age, personality traits, standing in the community, and standing in the community, and conflicts with others. Then, as a conflicts with others. Then, as a group, predict the role each group, predict the role each character will play in this drama. character will play in this drama. Share your predictions with the class.Share your predictions with the class.

Documents

The Crucible by: Arthur Miller