1. Literary Analysis questions
The Crucible
Literary Analysis questions

2. Act I Literary Analysis (page 1288)
1) Dialogue: “John, give me a soft word...” Stage Directions: She clutches him desperately What we can infer about Abigail: she loves John 2) Stage directions mention her “concentrated desire.” They also mention her anger at being rejected, etc.

3. Act II Literary Analysis (page 1312)
1) What does the biblical allusion to Moses and parting of the Red Sea suggest about how the crowd views Abigail? – According to the Bible, God spoke directly to Moses and gave him special powers; likewise, the people of Salem seem to believe that Abigail has similar powers direct from God... 3)(historical context about women being accused of witchcraft) – typically, women were more likely to be accused of witchcraft because their status in society was lower than that of men.

4. Cite examples of dialogue in which the character’s attitudes are unclear without the stage directions – opinion/answers will vary
7) What other significant information do the stage directions in Act II reveal to you? – they describe how the actors are supposed to move onstage, who they are speaking to, etc.

5. Act III Literary Analysis (page 1340)
Examples of irony...
Abigail (mocking Mary Warren): “She sees nothin!” is an example of verbal irony; what she says is true, but she intends everyone to believe that it is false.
2) What does the audience know that Elizabeth does not know...? – that John already confessed to adultery with Abigail

6. Why is the effect of Elizabeth’s testimony ironic
Why is the effect of Elizabeth’s testimony ironic? – because she was trying to save John, but ended up getting him arrested.
What is ironic about Mary Warren’s statement, “I have no power,” when she is being interrogated in front of Abigail? – Mary DOES have the power to stop the proceedings by telling the truth and standing up to Abigail.

7. Act IV Literary Analysis (page 1359)
Use evidence from the play to show how the author conveys the theme that fear and suspicion are infectious and can produce a mass hysteria that destroys public order. -- all the characters act the way they do because they are trying to avoid certain consequences (girls lie to avoid punishment, Parris calls in Hale because he fears his enemies, John fails to denounce Abigail because he fears admitting to adultery, etc.). All of these fearful actions eventually fuel the suspicions of witchcraft that drive the events of the play.

8. Cite evidence that supports the theme that it is more noble to die with integrity than to live with compromised principles that harm others. -- Rebecca Nurse is a good and honest person, and she refuses to confess; Giles Corey would rather die than get another person put in jail for reasons they don’t deserve.
4) State and support another theme that you believe is central to the meaning of the play. – opinion/answers will vary

9. R1: Genre, purpose, supporting details
Characteristics of Puritan literature
Characteristics of Puritan Plain Style
Identify Puritan authors
Characteristics of drama...stage directions, aside, monologue, soliloquy, etc.

10. R2: Theme & literary devices
All things Crucible:
Themes
Figurative language (metaphors, similes, etc.)
Irony (situational, dramatic, verbal)
There will be a new poem & there will be questions comparing it to The Crucible

11. R2a: Archetypes Questions on archetypes in The Crucible Scapegoat
Caretaker
Innocent
Witch
Temptress
Rugged individualist
Etc.

12. R3: Historical context Why did the Puritans come to America?
Puritan beliefs and culture
Comparing Puritans to society today (have we really changed all that much?)

13. R4: Author’s style
Questions about the writing in Huswifery, To My Dear and Loving Husband, and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Word choice, tone, imagery, etc.

14. R5: Comparing & contrasting texts
Questions comparing texts and authors to each other. Also comparing them to modern texts and authors.

15. R6: Drawing conclusions & making inferences
Two charts where you have to match various...
Crucible characters
Motivations
What they say
What their actions are
For example: We know Bob is wanting food because he says, “I’m starving!” and keeps going to look in the kitchen cupboard.