1. Literary Analysis Essay
English 11
Perry High

2. Prompt:
The Crucible has many underlying themes that drive the plot of the play and the dialogue of the characters. Using your notes on The Crucible, select one of the themes an analyze its meaning and how it is developed within the play.

3. Essay Requirements Introduction Paragraph
Enticing Hook Brief background of the play Clear Thesis
Body Paragraphs
Topic Sentence Two well-developed SEE-sets (embedded textual evidence, MLA) Conclusion Sentence
Conclusion Paragraph

4. Background of the Play
Written in 1953, The Crucible is a play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a work of historical fiction as it tells the story of the Salem witch trials 1692.

5. Themes in The Crucible Ambition:
Being passionate about something can blind you from reality.
At times, unchecked ambition can hurt you or others.
Sometimes, well-intentioned passion can lead to unintended consequences.
 Mass Hysteria:
Hysteria can push a person to do irrational things.
Fear and ignorance can cause mass hysteria.
Faithfulness:
Undiscovered lies are more damaging than exposed lies.
Many find it difficult to stay faithful to each other and to God.
Giving in to our selfish desires leads to unfaithfulness.

6. Themes in The Crucible (Continued)
Truth:
Many people are afraid to tell the truth.
The truth will set you free, but many are afraid of the consequences.
Telling the truth often requires humility and transparency.
 Reputation:
A person’s reputation is very important.
Having a good reputation means that you are a good citizen.
A person’s reputation shows how he/she is faithful to the community/church.

7. Thesis
A theme in The Crucible that is evident is that a person’s reputation is of utmost importance. Characters in the play work to protect their reputations regardless of the consequences.

8. Thesis
One important theme in The Crucible deals with the truth. Although the truth will set you free, characters in The Crucible are afraid of the consequences of telling the truth.

9. Statement
The characters in The Crucible were afraid to tell the truth because they would be placed in danger of being whipped, ridiculed and even executed.

10. Evidence
For example, when Abigail was being questioned by Reverend Parris, she states “[insert quote here]“ (I.26-32).

11. Explanation
Abigail uses “pretense” (lies) to avoid telling the truth in an effort to stay out of trouble. But in the process, she puts others in even greater danger. The decision to lie and put others in danger stems from a desire to mitigate the consequences and from a theocracy that believes in the doctrine of divine will (all good comes from God and all evil from the devil).