By Arthur Miller

Drama—a form of literature that is written to be performed for an audience (stage or camera) Tragedy—the downfall of a main character Comedy—lighter and humorous in tone Combination of the two

1600’s Puritans felt drama to be frivolous and unnecessary Few plays produced 18 th -19 th Centuries Gradually became more accepted Most plays came from Europe

By 1920’s Eugene O’Neill’s Beyond the Horizon performed on Broadway Led to other American Playwrights Thornton Wilder Lillian Hellman Tennessee Williams Arthur Miller

Married Marilyn Monroe in 1959 Divorced her in 1961 She died in 1962 Married Inge Morath 1962

The Man Who Had All The Luck First play produced on Broadway 1944 Other works Death of a Salesman All My Sons Recurring theme of his work A guilty past catches up with a man eventually

Political Environment McCarthy Era After World War II Threat to USA was communism Commissions set up to find communists People were asked to “blacklist” others in Hollywood

The Crucible Written as an allegory to the McCarthy Era Allegory Extended metaphor Objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself Story with 2 meanings Literal (the story itself) Symbolic (what the story represents

Literary elements of Drama Plot Setting Character Theme Divided into Acts and Scenes Acts are divided into scenes Plot is same as in other forms of fiction Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action & resolution

Cast of Characters the beginning, before the play starts Protagonist Central character of the play Center of the conflict Undergoes radical changes during the course of the play Antagonist Character who opposes the main character Foil Minor character whose traits contrast sharply with those of the main character Heightens dramatic tension

Stage Directions Italicized instruction in a play Describe the setting, suggest props, lighting, scenery, sound effects, costumes Describe entrances and exits of characters How characters should look, speak, and react to events or to other characters

P. 229 Stage directions What’s the effect of the Marshall’s entrance on the scene? He carries the keys…he’s in charge Carries a lantern

Speech Devices Dialogue— conversation between characters Monologue— a long speech spoken by a single character to himself or herself, or to the audience Soliloquy – a monologue in which the character speaks his or her private thought aloud and appears to be unaware of the audience Aside – a short speech or comment that is delivered by a character to the audience, but that is beyond the hearing of the other characters who are present

Pre-reading Strategies: Review the characters Read the stage directions Opening scene introduces conflict

Active Reading Strategies: Picture the characters Picture the action (stage directions) Try to “see” the setting & movements of the characters Try to “hear” the characters speaking

Active Reading Strategies: Dialogue Moves the plot forward Tells about characters Character interactions Reveal relationships and character traits

Reverend Samuel Parris Betty Parris Tituba Abigail Williams John Proctor Elizabeth Proctor Susanna Walcott Mrs. Ann Putnam Thomas Putnam Mercy Lewis Mary Warren Rebecca Nurse Giles Corey Reverend John Hale Francis Nurse Ezekiel Cheever Marshal Herrick Judge Hathorne Martha Corey Deputy Governor Danforth Sara Good

Character Trait: Evidence: Page: Character Trait: Evidence: Page: Character Trait: Evidence: Page:

Character Trait: Evidence: Page: Character Trait: Evidence: Page: Character Trait: Evidence: Page:

Character Trait: Evidence: Page: Character Trait: Evidence: Page: Character Trait: Evidence: Page:

Character Trait: Evidence: Page: Character Trait: Evidence: Page: Character Trait: Evidence: Page:

Arbitrate Ascertain Disproportionate Fanatic Iniquity Predilection Subservient

John Proctor Goody Ann Putnam Thomas Putnam Goody Rebecca Nurse Reverend Parris

Characters who believe there is witchcraft in Salem Characters who do not see evidence of witchcraft in Salem Reverend ParrisRebecca Nurse Thomas PutnamJohn Proctor Goody Ann Putnam

Exposition Rising Action