2. What would be the audience s first impression of Reverend Parris as he frets over his young daughter?

Transcription

1 TheCrucible Act 1-- Questions for Comprehension and Analysis Begin with the stage directions describing Reverend Parris s actions. 1. Considering what you know about Puritanism, why does the author, Arthur Miller, describe Tituba as knowing that trouble in this house eventually lands on her back? 2. What would be the audience s first impression of Reverend Parris as he frets over his young daughter? 3. Provide three adjectives from the stage directions that describe Abigail. Write a sentence using those words to characterize her. 4. What does dissembling mean? Why is it important to note early in the play that Abigail is dissembling? 5. Susanna arrives with news from the doctor. What is the doctor s diagnosis of Betty? 6. Why has Parris summoned Reverend Hale of Beverly to Salem? 7. What is the rumor spreading around town regarding Betty s illness? How do the various characters react to the rumor? (Abigail? Susanna? Parris?) 8. Parris discovered the girls misbehaving in the woods the previous night. What were the girls doing? Why is this behavior so upsetting to the Reverend? 9. Does Abby believe that Betty is witched? 10. Parris mentions that he has enemies. He uses the term enemies three times in six lines. What is unusual about Reverend Parris claiming to have enemies among his congregation?

2 11. Why does Reverend Parris say, Abominations are done in the forest? Why did the Puritans regard the forest as off-limits? 12. How does Parris describe what he witnessed in the forest the previous night? Does the behavior of the girls seem odd? 13. Parris claims that his ministry is at stake. Why would he fear the loss of his church position? 14. Note that Parris says, My ministry and perhaps your cousin s life. Where do his personal priorities appear to lie? 15. What events have caused Reverend Parris to question Abigail s reputation in the town? 16. What is Abigail s reaction to her uncle s suggestion that her behavior and reputation are questionable? 17. Why does Abigail refer to Goody Proctor as a gossiping liar? 18. How does Miller describe Ann Putnam in the stage directions? List three words. 19. What strange question does Goody Putnam ask Reverend Parris? Why might she make this bizarre inquiry? 20. Mr. Putnam enters and describes the current situation as providence. What does he mean? 21. Mrs. Putnam is convinced that the devil has touched Betty and the Putnams daughter, Ruth. How are their conditions similar but different? What might these differences indicate about the girls conditions?

3 22. What does Mrs. Putnam assert about Mr. Hale s accomplishments in Beverly? How does Reverend Parris respond to that claim? 23. Describe with one word, the relationship between Mr. Parris and Mr. Putnam. 24. Mrs. Putnam confesses a sin to Reverend Parris. What did she do? 25. What losses has Mrs. Putnam endured? 26. Why might Goody Putnam suggest that her babies were murdered rather than having died from natural causes? (Remember the Puritans sentiments about God s gifts and punishments). 27. Mr. Putnam appears convinced that witches have descended on Salem. How might he benefit from there being proof of witchcraft in the town? 28. Abigail concurs that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits. How does Parris respond to that revelation? Again, where do his personal priorities seem to lie? 29. Mercy Lewis arrives to join the discussion. How does Miller describe her in the stage directions? 30. What evidence does Mercy present to suggest that Ruth will soon be shaken from her trance? 31. Why is Abigail so insistent that her uncle address the gathering of townspeople in their parlor? 32. How does Mr. Putnam encourage Reverend Parris to use the possibility of witchcraft to his own benefit? What is your impression of Mr. Putnam? 33. Parris tells Abigail to call for him if Betty starts for the window. What might this demand indicate about his belief that witches have indeed affected these little girls?

4 34. What does Mercy suggest they do to awaken Betty? Has she any proof that this might cause Betty to wake? 35. Abigail gets the story straight with her girlfriends. What are the details of their story? 36. What is Mercy s reaction to Abby s report that Reverend Parris saw her naked? Are you surprised by her reaction? Why or why not? 37. What are the three adjectives that Miller uses to describe Mary Warren? 38. How is Mary reacting to the rumors in the town? 39. How does Mary suggest they remedy their situation? What reaction does she evoke from the other girls? 40. Abigail becomes impatient with Betty. How does Betty respond to Abby s aggression? 41. What alarming detail does Betty announce that first, reveals that she was conscious during Abby s conversation with Parris, and second, provokes Abby to threaten her and the other girls? 42. What does Abby threaten to do if the girls do not corroborate her story about what happened in the forest? 43. What does the audience learn about Abby s past and why she lives with her uncle, Parris? 44. Of all the girls, who is the most hysterical and subsequently the most dangerous to Abby s defense? 45. How do the girls react to the entrance of John Proctor? Quote from the stage directions.

5 46. John Proctor indicates that there is much discussion of witchcraft around town. Does he appear to believe the rumors at all? What does he suspect has happened in town to cause such chaos and concern? 47. Describe Abby s demeanor towards Proctor. 48. What does Abby s statement, I am waitn for you every night, indicate about her relationship with John Proctor? 49. How does Proctor s response indicate a significant change in their relationship? 50. What is ironic about Proctor referring to Abby as child? 51. What topic does Abby broach that incites John to anger? 52. How does Abby compare the lessons that Christian women taught her to the lessons she learned from John? 53. Betty reacts to the song that the congregation sings down in the parlor. What is interesting about the timing of Betty s outburst? 54. What does Goody Putnam conclude about Betty s reaction to the psalm? 55. Describe Rebecca Nurse. Quote from the text. 56. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam seem to be friendly with Rebecca. What do they ask her to do? 57. What is Rebecca s opinion about the existence of witches in Salem? Who does she think is to blame for the children s illness?

6 58. What are some of the issues that Proctor lists indicating his disdain for Reverend Parris? 59. Giles is an argumentative character and often incites discord among the townspeople. Provide two specific examples. 60. Why does Parris respond to Giles and Proctor s accusations by saying, What are we Quakers? We are not Quakers here yet? 61. Parris contends earlier in the act and now that there is a faction among Salem s citizens that wants him fired as their minister. Are his suspicions legitimate? Explain. 62. What indication is there of significant discord among the citizens of the town, long before the suspicion of witchcraft? 63. Land-lust has been determined as the motive for many of the witch accusations in Salem. What is land-lust? What evidence is there of land-lust in the dialogue of Act 1? 64. Mr. Hale arrives with a dozen heavy books. What do the books symbolize to Mr. Hale? 65. Hale recognizes Rebecca upon sight without an introduction. How does he know who she is? What does this say about Rebecca s reputation? 66. Hale also recognizes Mr. Putnam and refers to him as distinguished company. What does this say about Putnam s reputation and influence in the town? How might Putnam influence Mr. Hale?

7 67. Mr. Hale says, We cannot look to superstition in this [the search for signs of witchcraft].i shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of hell upon her. Restate this quote in your own words. 68. What does the above proclamation indicate about Mr. Hale s character and his integrity? 69. What contention exists between Goody Putnam and Goody Nurse? 70. List three things that Hale names as content in his books. 71. Why do the others resent Rebecca when she chooses to leave rather than witness Hale s examination of Betty? 72. What question does Giles ask Mr. Hale? What is Giles specific concern? 73. Before Betty s examination, does Mr. Hale seem more likely to confirm or deny the presence of witchcraft in Salem? 74. How does Mr. Hale respond to Parris s question about why the devil would target a pious minister? 75. What new details does the audience discover about the girls activity in the woods during Hale s inquiry? 76. At what point might the audience sense a bit of panic in Abigail? 77. Why would Abby choose Tituba as the scapegoat? 78. How does Tituba respond to the various accusations against her?

8 79. Why does Tituba suddenly confess to truck[ing] with the devil? 80. What does Hale promise Tituba in exchange for the truth about her involvement in the conjuring? 81. How does Abby enhance the accusations against Tituba? 82. How do Parris and Putnam threaten Tituba? 83. Mr. Hale presents Tituba with multiple-choice questions. How readily does Tituba answer? What does this interrogation method and Tituba s reactions indicate about the legitimacy of the information Mr. Hale is gathering? 84. Many of the accusations during the Salem Witch Trials resulted from grudges that neighbors held against one another. Tituba targets her owner, Parris, in a recollection of the devil s orders to her. What does she say? Why might she say this? 85. Tituba charges Goody Osburn and Goody Good with consorting with the devil. She is saving herself by accusing others. Why might she choose these two women to condemn? 86. Why is Abby inspired to join Tituba in the flurry of accusations? 87. Why do the girls join Abby in the condemnation of Salem s women? 88. Describe Hale s reaction to the girls outburst. What does he think he just accomplished? Why is his accomplishment somewhat illegitimate?