The Crucible

Questions to Ponder

The following is a list of questions about our play. Please answer one question per act using several quotes from the play to support your opinions. Your answers should contain an introduction, body, and conclusion where appropriate. You must type this for full credit. YOUR INTRODUCTION SHOULD HAVE A GUIDING THESIS AND IT SHOULD BE UNDERLINED.

1.  Compare two character’s reactions to the same thing or person.

2.  You are an attorney for either the defense or the prosecution. Either defend or condemn any person we have met so far in a court of law. Frame your response as a closing argument intended for a jury.

3.  How is the plot of this play driven by the idea of conflict? What kinds of conflicts exist and where do you see this? (Human vs. human, human vs. nature, human vs. society, human vs. self). Or, discuss one character’s internal or external conflicts; what causes them? What results because of these conflicts?

4.  Select a character and explain how the play would be different if not for her/his actions.

5.  Explain how Puritan society is to blame for this happening.

6.  Be the devil’s advocate and take a contrary position to one we have discussed in class (ex. Abigail as sympathetic, John Proctor as villain, etc.).

7.  Analyze how a character has changed throughout the Act or the throughout the play giving an example from the early on and one from later to demonstrate your point.

8.  Choose three adjectives to describe a certain character and justify your choices by finding an example for each.

9.  Select a line or lines that are profound, unclear, or revealing about a character and then explain why you found them to be important.

10. Explain why something in the play reminds you of something you have heard about, done, or seen.

11. Refer to a set of stage directions and explain why they are important to the meaning of a scene.

12. Explain a character’s motivation in a certain scene from the play.

13. Nominate one character for Salem’s ______of the year, 1692 and explain why.

14. Why is no one speaking out against the accusers? Find proof for your belief.

15. Explain one crucial decision that a character has made that caused this to happen.

16. How is this play about power, how it shifts, and what humans do in certain situations to get it? How has the pattern of accusations changed?

17. Create a simile. This situation in Salem is like ______, and then goes on to explain why.

18. Compose a one page story or a continuation of the play about a character we have read about. Give her/him a back story and refer to their situation as only they would know.

19. Find a song, movie, or real life situation and explain the similarities.

These are just a few ideas. Make sure to ALWAYS, ALWAYS, REFER TO THE TEXT DIRECTLY TO PROVE YOUR POINT. Any assignment missing quotes and proper citations will receive a check minus.