Guided Reading Questions
The Crucible—GUIDED READING QUESTIONS
Act I
1. What purpose does the Overture serve?
2. What does the “spareness” of the Puritan setting reveal about the lives of the townspeople of Salem?
3. What Puritan primary fear is apparent in the philosophy, “In unity still lay the best promise of safety”?
4. Explain the significance of the forest to the Puritans.
5. Explain the irony in the Puritans’ pilgrimage to Salem to escape persecution.
6. When Abigail enters, she is described as “a strikingly beautiful girl...with an endless capacity for dissembling.” What does the phrase an “endless capacity for dissembling” suggest?
7. When Susanna exits, Abigail makes a confession to Parris, which she recants near the end of the act. What is the confession, and why does she change her mind?
8. Based on his words, what seems to be Parris’s motivation for inadvertently causing the hysteria?
9. Explain the relationship between Abigail and Goody (Elizabeth) Proctor.
10. What are Putnam’s motivations for his actions in Salem?
11. Explain the dramatic irony when Parris says, “I know that you—you least of all, Thomas, would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me.”
12. What role did Ann Putnam play in the dancing in the forest?
13. Explain briefly how Putnam coerces Parris to declare witchcraft.
14. What does Betty’s information about dancing in the forest reveal about Abigail’s true motivation?
15. What does the threat of a “pointy reckoning” reveal about Abigail’s true nature?
16. What does Miller mean by: “A Proctor is always marked for calumny”?
17. Describe Mary Warren’s personality.
18. Contrast Proctor’s verbal excuse about why he has come to Parris’s house with what his actions indicate may be his true motivation for coming.
19. Explain Proctor and Abigail’s relationship.
20. What does Abigail say that leads Parris, Putnam, and Mrs. Putnam to believe Betty is bewitched?
21. Describe Rebecca Nurse physically and by reputation.
22. What three grudges could the Putnams have
Act I
1. What purpose does the Overture serve?
2. What does the “spareness” of the Puritan setting reveal about the lives of the townspeople of Salem?
3. What Puritan primary fear is apparent in the philosophy, “In unity still lay the best promise of safety”?
4. Explain the significance of the forest to the Puritans.
5. Explain the irony in the Puritans’ pilgrimage to Salem to escape persecution.
6. When Abigail enters, she is described as “a strikingly beautiful girl...with an endless capacity for dissembling.” What does the phrase an “endless capacity for dissembling” suggest?
7. When Susanna exits, Abigail makes a confession to Parris, which she recants near the end of the act. What is the confession, and why does she change her mind?
8. Based on his words, what seems to be Parris’s motivation for inadvertently causing the hysteria?
9. Explain the relationship between Abigail and Goody (Elizabeth) Proctor.
10. What are Putnam’s motivations for his actions in Salem?
11. Explain the dramatic irony when Parris says, “I know that you—you least of all, Thomas, would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me.”
12. What role did Ann Putnam play in the dancing in the forest?
13. Explain briefly how Putnam coerces Parris to declare witchcraft.
14. What does Betty’s information about dancing in the forest reveal about Abigail’s true motivation?
15. What does the threat of a “pointy reckoning” reveal about Abigail’s true nature?
16. What does Miller mean by: “A Proctor is always marked for calumny”?
17. Describe Mary Warren’s personality.
18. Contrast Proctor’s verbal excuse about why he has come to Parris’s house with what his actions indicate may be his true motivation for coming.
19. Explain Proctor and Abigail’s relationship.
20. What does Abigail say that leads Parris, Putnam, and Mrs. Putnam to believe Betty is bewitched?
21. Describe Rebecca Nurse physically and by reputation.
22. What three grudges could the Putnams have