Cruc Study Guides - All Acts

Am.Lit.A The Crucible Study Guide Questions Act I 1. What is Betty Parris’s “condition”? 2. Who states, “Look to unnatural things for the cause” of Betty’s condition? 3. What does Parris discover? 4. Why does Parris ask Abigail if her name is “white”? What does he mean by “white”? ). 5. The Parris daughter acts as if she can _________________? Why? 6. What has Ann Putnam asked Tituba to do? 7. How does Abigail threaten the rest of the girls? 8. Describe the relationship between Abigail and John Proctor. 9. How do their feelings differ toward each other? 10. What does Rebecca say the girls are doing? 11. Why does Mrs. Putnam envy Rebecca? 12. Name the two claims Putnam makes that anger Proctor. 13. Why does Parris believe there is a group out to get rid of him? 14. What does Proctor say about Putnam’s grandfather? 15. What does Giles Corey ask Rev. Hale?

Am.Lit.A 16. Why does Tituba confess? She gives them a false confession. 17. Where does Tituba get the names of the “witches”? 18. Why does Abigail suddenly decide to confess? 19. Why does Betty recover so speedily?

Am.Lit.A Act II 1. Name two topics Elizabeth and John discuss at the beginning of Act II. 2. Why does Elizabeth want John to go to Salem? 3. What gift does Mary Warren present to Elizabeth? 4. What evidence is given against Sarah Good in court? 5. How does Dr. Griggs save Sarah Good’s life? 6. What promise does Elizabeth think John made to Abigail prior to the opening of the play? 7. Name three reasons John Proctor refuses to attend church. 8. Ironically, which commandment does John forget? 9. Why does Elizabeth refuse to believe in witches? 10. What charge is made against Martha Corey? 11. Name the “evidence” given as proof of her witchery. 12. How is Rebecca Nurse charged? 13. How does the poppet (a type of doll) end up at Proctor’s home? 14. How does this poppet indict (show proof of guilt) Elizabeth? 15. What does Hale suggest is responsible for the events taking place in Salem?

Am.Lit.A

16. Why is Mary Warren afraid of Abigail? 17. What must Mary Warren tell the court

Am.Lit.A

Act III 1. As this act opens, what accusation does Giles Corey make? 2. What news do we learn about Rebecca Nurse? 3. When John Proctor arrives at court with Mary Warren, what does Reverend Parris accuse him of?

4. What two pieces of evidence are brought out against Proctor in regard to his Christian nature?

5. What news does Danforth tell John Proctor about Elizabeth? What deal does he try to make with him? 6. What is going to happen to the 91 people who signed the testament stating a good opinion of Elizabeth, Martha Corey, and Rebecca Nurse?

7. Discuss "Do that which is good , and no harm shall come to thee."

8. What is Giles Corey’s proof that Thomas Putnam is "reaching out for land."? Why won’t he reveal his source?

9. What happens to Giles Corey?

10. What is Reverend Hale’s advice to John Proctor as he is about to read his disposition before the court?

11. What does Danforth think Mary Warren’s appearance in the court might be?

12. When Mary Warren says that she pretended to faint in court, what is she asked to do? What is the result?

Am.Lit.A 13. What does Abigail do when suspicion that she might be pretending falls on her?

14. What does John Proctor do to discredit her?

15. Who is called to back up John’s testimony? What happens?

16. What happens when Reverend Hale states that Abigail has always seemed false to him?

17. What is Mary Warren’s reaction to Abigail’s performance?

18. What does John Proctor mean when he says, "God is dead!"?

19. What does Hale do when Proctor is arrested?

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Act IV 1. Why has Reverend Hale returned to Salem?

2. What is Reverend Hale advising the condemned to do?

3. What does Reverend Parris reveal about his niece Abigail?

4. What is the condition of Salem at this point?

5. How does Andover differ from Salem?

6. How do the proposed hangings of Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor differ from the past executions?

7. What does Reverend Parris want Danforth to do?

8. What does Reverend Hale want Danforth to do?

9. What does Reverend Hale mean when he says,"there is blood on my head!"?

10. Why does Danforth refuse to postpone the hangings?

11. What do Hale and Danforth request of Elizabeth Proctor?

12. What happened to Giles Corey?

13. What is John’s excuse for confessing?

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14. What is Elizabeth’s proof that John is a good man?

15. How has Elizabeth changed since we first met her?

16. After John confesses, what does Danforth want him to do?

17. Discuss,"I am John Proctor! You will not use me!"

18. What does Hale attribute Proctor’s willingness to hang to?

19. What does Elizabeth attribute it to?