The Crucible - hopewelleng3

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Literature Guides and Worksheets
for Teachers...
Using Bloom’s Taxonomy
Arthur Miller’s
The Crucible
Written by Angie Barillaro, Radiant Heart Publishing ©2010
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 1: Knowledge- THE CRUCIBLE
1. Identify the characters in the play of “The Crucible”.
2. Locate where the action of the play takes place.
3. Draw and label the places where the story takes place.
4. Outline the plot of the story in a timeline from beginning to end.
5. Who is ill at the start of the play? Why?
6. What are the rumours going around in the village?
7. Why has Reverend Hale been called and what will he do?
8. Why was Mary Warren not at home?
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 2: Comprehension- THE CRUCIBLE
1. What does John Proctor feel guilty about?
2. Within a few hours, how many people have already been accused of witchcraft?
On what basis?
3. Explain why Elizabeth is fearful of Abigail? What does she want John to do?
4. Describe the house visit at the Proctors?
5. Why is everyone shocked about Rebecca Nurse being charged?
6. What does the poppet show us about Abigail?
7. What type of ‘evidence’ is being collected from those that are suspected of
wrongdoing?
8. What is ironic about the arrest of Elizabeth Proctor and Rebecca Nurse?
9. Of all the characters, who can really help the Proctors?
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 2: Comprehension- THE CRUCIBLE
10. Why do the characters seem so eager to accuse and arrest their neighbours?
11. What is happening to Hale’s beliefs? Why?
12. How are these characters treated when presented for ‘trial’?
Name
What happens? Comments?
Elizabeth Proctor
Rebecca Nurse
Martha Corey
13. Describe Abigail’s ‘performance’? How do others react to it?
14. In what way does Danforth conduct the proceedings? Why?
15. What motivates Reverend Parris?
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 3: Application- THE CRUCIBLE
1. Create a labelled diagram showing the characters mentioned in the story and how
they relate to one another.
2. Make up your own puzzle (any type) based on the play. Test it on your classmates.
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 4: Analysis- THE CRUCIBLE
1. Analyse why women are the only target of these accusations.
2. Put forward a possible explanation for the refusal of the men in charge of the
trials to listen to other evidence or reason.
3. What is Arthur Miller showing us about the power of accusations and the law?
4. How have the accused been treated in jail?
5. What is the challenge and irony of the conflict facing John and Elizabeth Proctor?
6. How do we know that the real motivation behind the trials was to target certain
individuals and remove them from the community?
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 5: Synthesis- CREATIVE PROJECT –THE CRUCIBLE
Choose TWO of the following
1. Compose a series of poems based on “The Crucible”.
2. Revise a section of the text and turn it into a scene to be acted out.
3. Write a series of letters between two characters in “The Crucible”.
4. Rewrite the ending of the play so that the outcome is different.
5. Plan and write a series of diary entries from the point of view of one of the
characters.
6. Present a talk on an aspect of the book to the class.
7. Who is Arthur Miller? Research and report a biography of Miller.
8. Write a newspaper article based on aspects of the play.
9. Research the many different front covers for the various editions over the years, of
the “The Crucible”. Create a collage of the covers. Analyse 3 of the best covers (in
your opinion) on an A3 poster – with annotations. You can find the many covers on
the Internet via Google and other search engines.
10. Compose and /or find some music that represents key moments in the play. Play
them to the class and explain to the class your reason for choosing these pieces of
music.
11. Choreograph a movement inspired by one or more key scenes in the play. Present
a live performance to an audience or have someone video tape it.
12. Using any art medium (painting, sculpture, inks, pencil etc.), create one or more
visual representations of the play.
Note:
for each of your projects, write 250 + words about the process you undertook.
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 6: Evaluation – THE CRUCIBLE
1. Evaluate what Elizabeth Proctor wants her husband to do at the end of the play?
2. To what extent does “The Crucible” accurately reflect the Salem witch trials?
Spend some time researching this question.
3. Write a short letter to Arthur Miller, with any questions and comments you have
about “The Crucible”.
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 7: Text Essay Questions- THE CRUCIBLE
1. John Proctor is a tragic figure. Discuss
2. To what extent are ‘the little crazy children dangling the keys to the kingdom’
responsible for the deaths in “The Crucible”?
3. “The Crucible” is all about sexual repression and men’s fear of women. To what extent
is this true?
4. In the end, “The Crucible” was all about personal rivalry and grudges. Discuss
5. “The Crucible” shows us the destructive force of mass hysteria and fear? Discuss
Use the lines provided to brainstorm the essay questions.
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 8: Quotes – THE CRUCIBLE
Comment on the following quotes from the text.
QUOTE
COMMENT
Putnam: “I never heard you worried so on
this society, Mr. Proctor. I do not think I saw
you at Sabbath meeting since snow flew.”
Danforth: “The pure in heart need no
lawyers...”
Parris: “This is a clear attack upon the
court!”
“I cannot sleep for dreamin'; I cannot dream
but I wake and walk about the house as
though I'd find you comin' through some
door.” -Abigail to John Proctor
Proctor “She thinks to dance with me on my
wife's grave! And well she might, for I
thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted,
and there is a promise in such sweat. But it
is a whore's vengeance, and you must see
it;”
Proctor “A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the
boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is
my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that
quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I
have quailed, and as you quail now when
you know in all your black hearts that this be
fraud-God damns our kind especially, and we
will burn, we will burn together!”
“There is either obedience or the church will
burn like Hell is burning!” Parris to Proctor
John Proctor “Because it is my name!
Because I cannot have another in my life!
Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because
I am not worth the dust on the feet of them
that hang! How may I live without my name?
I have given you my soul; leave me my
name!”
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 9: Context- THE CRUCIBLE
Contextual background
How this is seen in the text...
Experience of crisis in American society
and how people react in such times was
of interest to Miller
There was a witch hunt in Salem,
Massachusetts in 1692, which Miller
researched and used although he did
change the facts and this was not his
sole interest.
There has long been a fear of evil, the
devil and witches in particular and they
have often been the subject of
paranoia by ‘religious’ people.
The Puritans settled in North
America in 1620 and their religion
was particularly strict.
During the witch hunt/ trials, there
was no escape once accused and
mass hysteria took over.
Miller saw parallels with what was
going on in post war America and
the Salem witch hunts. Instead of
witches, the focus was on the fear
of the spreading Communism in the
world. Suddenly a small number of
people seemed to have unlimited
power to be as intrusive on people’s
private lives as they wanted. (Mc
McCarthyism and the House of Un
American Activities.
There were disastrous results of this
paranoia and in the end very little
validation of any real threats of any
kind to America.
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 10: Character Study- THE CRUCIBLE
Understanding Characters through their words and actions.
Name
Action or Quote
What this reveals?
John Proctor
Elizabeth Proctor
Abigail Williams
Reverend Hale
Reverend Parris
Deputy-Governor
Danforth
Rebecca Nurse
Tituba
Giles Corey
Mary Warren
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 11: Themes- THE CRUCIBLE
THEME
EXPLANATION
CONFLICT
Miller’s play explores personal conflict; domestic conflict; communal
conflict; religious conflict; land conflict highlighting the challenges in
resolving conflict to everyone’s satisfaction.
POWER AND
ABUSE OF
POWER
The danger of absolute power is clear as it often results in corruption
and abuse of power. It is essential that processes are transparent and
the law is accountable at all times. During the McCarthy ‘investigations’
he was able to name suspects and assume they were guilty. There were
hundreds of hours of useless interrogations and suffering with very little
proof. Some people were even put to death. In the play, Abigail and
the girls are given total credibility and power over the community.
EVIL
What appears to be evil may not necessarily be so. It is dangerous to be
black and white and judge on exteriors. Miller is asking us to explore
the concept of evil rather that just follow rules and existing laws. A key
aspect of an evil act is if there is an innocent victim. The worst evil is
when the persecutors become fixated in carrying out the law without
human understanding and compassion. Miller is showing us that
nothing is so black and white.
SCAPEGOATS
It appears human for us to want to apportion blame or make scapegoats
of others, especially if they are different from us. This is especially so in
times of limitations, crisis, recession. It has happened all through
history and is very simplistic. History is filled with examples of wars
caused by thinking in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’. Those persecuted during
the witch hunts were clearly scapegoats.
IDEALISM versus
REALITY
Proctor is the victim of his own idealism and chooses to die rather than
live a flawed man. Perfection is rarely attained in society, but we tend
to expect it in ourselves and our lives.
JUSTICE AND
LAW and the
importance of
CONSCIENCE
A civilised society must allow individuals to follow their conscience. The
Puritan approach to life did not allow any flexibility and was not open to
what was really happening. Danforth was obsessed in following the
letter of the law and not wanting to deviate to explore any problems
fully. Thus true justice was denied and the law was made a mockery of.
GUILT AND
SUFFERING
Psychologically, when people feel guilty, have endured suffering and see
themselves as having less than others, there can be envy and anger
towards those perceived as having it ‘easier’. At times it is easier to
‘strike out’ at others and want them to suffer too. This is true of Abigail
– she wants John; Goody Putnam has lost seven babies and Parris is
particularly unhappy in his job and community.
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 12: Structure and Style- THE CRUCIBLE
Structure
Text Connection
Historical play
Based on an event that happened in
history although Miller did say he
changed /omitted the facts to suit
the play.
Tragedy Genre
As in the Greek tragedy where the
fatal flaw of the ‘hero’ becomes his
undoing.
Such tragedies involve a loss of
good name/ fortune and death at
the end of the play.
Proctor is the tragic hero.
Allegory
There is another parallel story that
mirrors the witch hunt in the play –
and that is the story of McCarthy
and his anti-communist trials that
resembled the events of “The
Crucible” in hysteria, lack of
objectivity and lack of due process.
Play about ideas
Miller wants us to think deeply
about the key themes and issues,
especially remembering the
importance of individual conscience.
Play structure
Has traditional, naturalistic setting;
tight plot and is divided into four
Acts or parts. Each act ends in a
climax.
Act One – Sets the drama and
introduces the characters
Effect on the text and
reader
Act Two – Getting to trial
Act Three- The Trial
Act Four- Death of the ‘hero’ John
Proctor
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Worksheet 13: Vocabulary- THE CRUCIBLE
ACT 1
Theocracy
Heathen
Witched
Conjured
Abominations
Gibberish
Deference
Demonic
Vindictive
Smirched
Calumny
Licentious
ACT 2
Poppet
Crone
Wily
Flailing
Daft
Ameliorate
Sarcastical
ACT 3
Wrath
Qualm
Ipso facto
Base
Gulling
Callously
Probity
ACT 4
Stench
Gaunt
Agape
Strongbox
Gibbet
Excommunication
Conciliatory
Beguile
Floundering
Reprieve
Adamant
Cleave
Disputation
Sibilance
Tantalized
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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The Crucible - At a Glance – AUTHOR CONNECTIONS
Arthur Miller
CONNECTION TO ‘The Crucible’
Miller’s family faced financial ruin
during The Great Depression of the
1930s. He experienced much suffering
as did others in his community. His
childhood was thus harsh.
Being of Jewish descent, the
persecution of Jews under Nazism
would have instilled disgust and
distrust of authority figures. Certainly
it challenged people to consider the
‘evil’ that seemed to be everywhere.
Could not afford to go to College, so
had to go to work to raise his own
funds. He then enrolled at the
University of Michigan and worked
part time. He also enrolled in extra
writing courses. His first play won a
large prize.
He kept on writing plays whilst
working in radio. In 1949 he wrote
‘Death of a Salesman’ which won a
Pulitzer Prize and hit a chord with the
American audience. The main
character in this play was Willy Loman
who is an ordinary salesman who
believes in ‘the American dream’, but
his life falls apart despite tying his
hardest.
‘The Crucible’ was published in 1953
and audiences were aware of the
allegorical attack on McCarthyism.
Miller was brought before the House
of Un American Activities in 1954 on
suspicions that he supported
Communism.
Miller was married to famous
actress, Marilyn Monroe and he
wrote her last film ‘The Misfits’,
during which she suddenly died.
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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Exploring CONFLICT in The Crucible - Worksheet
Type of Conflict
Characters involved
Quotes/ comments
Conflict in the community
Conflict in the family
Conflict within oneself
Conflict between specific
individuals
Conflict...
Conflict...
Conflict...
Conflict...
Conflict...
Conflict...
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing
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CONFLICT Prompts- The Crucible - Worksheet
1. Conflict cannot always be resolved, nor should
it be.
2. The ideal solution of ‘win win’ resolutions to
conflict is clearly a myth. In all conflict there is
always a winner and a loser.
3. Conflict comes from fear – it is a response to
fear.
4. As we are merely human, it is inevitable that
conflicts will occur. What is really important is
that there exists within every society a justice
system that is fair, impartial and accountable.
5. Sometimes the world seems to be against you
and you find yourself embroiled in a conflict you
did not ask for and have no chance of escaping.
6. We need resilience and level headedness in
dealing with conflict - as responding with anger is
surely a disastrous road to further conflict and
ruin.
7. Our world is littered with conflict of all types,
and most people in this world have to learn to
continue living despite this turmoil.
8. All conflicts begin with a reason, a want, and a
need. Somebody’s reason, want or need at the
expense of another’s.
9. Conflict is never worth the price it costs to
society.
10. Conflict inevitably goes hand in hand with
abuse of power and the need to control others.
Literature Guides and Worksheets- The Crucible- Angie Barillaro Radiant Heart Publishing