Act Two Questions – The Crucible Please answer the following in your spiral notebooks.
1a. What does Mary Warren bring home to Elizabeth Proctor?
1b. What is the significance of this gift?
1c. After spending time at the court, what does Mary Warren reveal about Elizabeth Proctor’s reputation?
1d. How does this disclosure serve to make the quarrel between Elizabeth Proctor and John Proctor even more heated?
2a. What does Elizabeth Proctor report to her husband about the trials in Salem?
2b. What does she urge her husband to do?
2c. Why is John Proctor so hesitant in following his wife’s suggestion?
3a. What are some of the ways in which Reverend John Hale questions John Proctor and his wife about their religious faith?
3b. How do the Proctors answer each of the questions and allegations? (there are three - list them)
3c. What theological argument does Reverend John Hale use to explain the causes of the events in Salem?
3d. Does John and Good Proctor agree with Reverend Hale’s theological argument? Explain.
4a. What evidence is used to support Abigail Williams’ assertion that Elizabeth Proctor is guilty of witchcraft?
4b. Do you think this evidence is compelling? Why or why not?
5a. What does Goody (Sarah) Good do to save herself from being hanged?
5b. Why would such an action save her?
6a. According to John Proctor, what is “walking Salem” and writing the law in the community?
6b. What evidence would support Proctor’s assertion?
6c. What does John Proctor rip up at the end of the act?
7a. Who says the witchcraft trials are “a black mischief”?
7b. What is ironic about that remark?
8a. Do you believe John Proctor is correct in not having this third child baptized by Reverend Samuel Parris? Why or why not?
8b. Why does John Proctor feel Reverend John Hale is attacking him, regarding his Puritan faith and belief?
9a. Why is it surprising that Rebecca Nurse is charged with witchcraft?
9b. Who charged her, and what is her evidence?
10a. Why is Martha Corey charged with witchcraft?
(There are two charges - list both)
11b. Who purposely charges her?
12c. Who accidentally charges her?
13. Ezekiel Cheever arrests Elizabeth Proctor and Rebecca Nurse. He knows these women are innocent. What is his argument for doing his job?
14. Research the story of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea before responding to this question. What does the biblical allusion to Moses and the parting of the Red Sea suggest about how the crowd views Abigail Williams?
15a. Research the story of Jesus and Pontius Pilate before responding to this question. What does John Proctor’s allusion to Pontius Pilate imply about Proctor’s opinion of Reverend John Hale?
15b. What does the allusion to Pontius Pilate imply about the witchcraft proceedings in Salem?
16. The Puritans lacked modern day laws which protect people from illegal searches and arrests. How does this fact add to your appreciation of the scene in which Good (Elizabeth) Proctor is arrested?
17. What conflict (Writer’s INC) does John Proctor face at the end of the act?
18. One of author Arthur Miller’s most powerful devices in the play is his use of irony (Writer’s INC).
Irony is a contrast or discrepancy between expectation and reality. (make sure to write these definitions down into your notes!)
In verbal irony, a writer or speaker says one thing but really means the opposite.
In situational irony, what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate.
In dramatic irony, the audience or reader is aware of something important that a character does not know.
Explain how each of the following is an example of verbal, situational or dramatic irony:
a. John Proctor’s words to Elizabeth Proctor at the beginning of the act, “Pray now for a fair summer.”
b. Mary Warren’s gift of a poppet to Elizabeth Proctor
c. John Proctor’s reliance, early in the act, on the good offices/friendship of Ezekiel Cheever
d. The one Commandment out of ten that John Proctor can’t remember
e. John Proctor’s statement near the end of the act about Abigail Williams, “Good. Then her saintliness is done with.”
f. Reverend John Hale’s statement about Reverend Samuel Parris, “The man’s ordained, therefore the light of God is in him.”
19. Although the play presents many conflicting forces and characters, the end of this act hints that the most important conflict, leading up to the climax of the play, will take place between two specific characters – a protagonist and an antagonist (Writer’s INC). Who are these characters? What hints can you detect in this act about the resolution (Writer’s INC) of this conflict?