Name: ________________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Class: ____________
The Crucible
Act II - Character and Plot Through Diction Analysis
For each of the quotes below, please do the following:
1. Describe the context in which the quote occurs.
2. Categorize the quote by its level of formality, citing specific examples from the quote to justify your
categorization.
3. Discuss the connotation/denotation of the words used, and its effect on the quote as a whole.
4. Are any examples of figurative language present, and if so, what effect do they produce?
5. Is the quote more abstract or concrete in terms of language? What aspects did you consider while deciding?
6. Is the quote euphonic, or do the sounds clash? Discuss the relationship of euphony to the meaning.
7. Finally, combine all of the elements discussed above to form a paragraph in which you discuss the meaning of the
quote. Your assertions should be buttressed by the information gathered from the first six steps.
Quotes from Act II
1." John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not." (Elizabeth)
2. "Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!" (John)
3. "He preach nothin' but golden candlesticks until he had them. I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night, and
I tell you true, when I look to heaven and see my money glaring at his elbows - it hurt my prayer, sir, it hurt my
prayer. I think, sometimes, the man dreams cathedrals, not clapboard meetin' houses." (John to Rev. Hale)
4. "Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small." (Rev. Hale to John)
5. "Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers? I'll tell you what's walking
Salem - vengeance is walking Salem." (John)