1. The Crucible
Literary Elements

2. Allegory
Allegory—A narrative in which the characters and settings stand for abstract ideas or moral qualities. In addition to the literal meaning of the story, an allegory contains a symbolic, or allegorical, meaning.

3. Allegory
Allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, stand for some greater idea.
The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas such as evil, greed, or envy.
Ex: Jack and his tribe represent the potential for evil inside of all men.

4. Allegory
Thus, an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning.
The main purpose of an allegory is to tell a story that has characters, setting, etc. that have both literal and figurative meanings.

5. The Crucible and Communism
Allegory: work of literature that tells one story on the surface while referring to another sub textually
Comparing the play to the Red Scare
Can you see how these historical events are similar to those of the Salem Witch Trials?

6. Allusion
A reference to another work of literature/art/music, an historical event or figure, or stories/people from the Bible.
All the girls hope that the new student becomes their Romeo.
A reference to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

7. Foil
Where the author creates a character whose primary purpose is to create a contrast to another character by laying emphasis or drawing attention to the latter’s traits and characteristics through the former’s obviously contradictory ones
Examples:
Proctor/Hale
Elizabeth/Abigail

8. Tragic Hero
A “good” character with a tragic flaw who is doomed to fail despite his/her good intentions & best efforts.
John Proctor is the tragic hero as he has many positive traits about him, such as his noble characteristics and his honorable and righteous qualities. He however also had a darker side to his otherwise pure nature, his affair with Abigail Williams, leading to his eventual fatal downfall and the downfall of others as a result of one action.

9. Tragic Flaw
The character defect that causes the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy.

10. Comic Relief
The inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.
Giles’s bragging about going to court dozens of times and his use of the word “fart” in court offers a little comic relief.

11. Elements of Drama Review
Soliloquy: An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, esp. by a character in a play
Aside: A remark or passage by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play
Monologue: A long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast program
Dialogue: Conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie
Stage Directions: An instruction in the text of a play, esp. one indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor, or the sound effects and lighting

12. Irony Review
Dramatic
Situational
Verbal

13. Characterization Review
Direct vs. Indirect
Flat
Round
Static
Dynamic