Study Guide
Act 1-Study Guide, The Crucible
1. a. Why does the Rev. Parris fear that the children’s illness may be due to witchcraft in the beginning of the play?
b. At what point in Act I does he change his mind and become a supporter if the idea of witchcraft?
2. What personality traits of Giles Corey do we see in Act I? Give examples from the act that prove he has these traits?
3. Why do the Putnams seem so eager for the children’s illness to be witchcraft?
4. What is the attitude of Rebecca Nurse toward the talk of witchcraft?
5. How do others in Act I beside the Putnams feel about Rebecca Nurse?
6. What is the Rev. Hale’s view of what is wrong with the children in Act I?
7. Before the Rev. Hale enters, what is the view of Abigail and the other girls about what they have been doing in the woods?
8. What does Tituba say the Devil has urged her to do many times? Why would she say this?
9. What activities of the girls do we know that the Rev. Parris knew about in Act I?
10. What does Abigail Williams tell John Proctor about the girls’ activities in the woods?
11. Whom do the girls accuse of witchcraft in this act? List everyone.
12. Who is upset with whom in this act and why? List ALL conflicts brought up and beside each tell what is causing the
conflict. There are a good number of these conflicts and we will watch them develop in the other acts of the play.
Act II – Study Guide , The Crucible1. Give 3 examples of the tension between Elizabeth and John Proctor.
2. How many more people have been arrested, accused, or convicted in Act II?
3. a. How has Rev. Hale’s view on the witch accusation changed in this act?
b. What is he doing on the night in Act II?
4. a. What are the concerns Hale has concerning the Proctors?
b. What answer does he get from the Proctors for each of his concerns?
5. In Act II, who is accused of what? List all.
6. a. How does Mary Warren explain her calling out on Sarah Good? p. 57
b. What is Mary’s reaction to the attention she has been getting in court?
7. a. What is John Proctor’s view of what is happening in the Salem courts?
b. What does he plan to do at the end of the act?
Study Guide – Act III, The Crucible
1. How many more are accused, arrested, convicted, or executed in this act?
2. What is Hathorne’s attitude toward Proctor’s group?
3. Describe the personality of Danforth. Include in your answer such items as his attitude toward himself, his attitude toward
the trials, and his attitude toward Proctor’s group.
Toward self-
Toward trials-
Toward Proctor’s group-
4. What is Giles Corey’s claim against Thomas Putnam? Why won’t he give the name of the person who gave him the
information?
5. What is Hale’s position toward Proctor and his group?
6. What type of person does Abigail seem to be in this act? Give examples to prove the characteristics you point out in her.
Be thorough.
7. What happens to Mary Warren when she tries to tell the truth?
8. What does Hale do at the end of the act?
Study Guide – Act IV, The Crucible
1. What does the opening scene with Sarah Good, Tituba, and the marshall show us about conditions in Salem as a result of
the trials?
2. What does the Rev. Hale think is the right action today for the accused that are about to be executed?
3. a. How is Parris’s attitude different in this act?
b. What does he say that would tell us why he has a new attitude?
4. What has been happening in the neighboring town of Andover?
5. What are Elizabeth’s feelings and attitudes about John in this act? Be thorough.
6. What are John Proctor’s feelings and attitudes about himself in thisact? Be thorough.
7. a. What happened to Giles Corey?
b. How does his end fit with his personality?
8. Miller used Danforth in this act to point out most of his criticism of injustice. Find all comments by Danforth that would be
ironic. There are many!!! Try to get them all.
