Name: ______Period: ______
The Crucible Dialectical Journal: Act 4
ELA Standard: 3.2 Analyze the way in which the theme or meaning of a selection represents a view or comment on life, using textual evidence to support the claim.
ESLR: Reflective Communicator
Whatever is in red or blue, you must type in!
Directions:
1. For Act 4, you are given quote and a topic/character to focus on. You are to:
a. How does this quote demonstrate the topic through the character?
b. What real-world connection or social problem do you see this topic exhibited today?
2. Use the questions as a guide for your answer, but you are not limited to the questions.
3. Also for your analysis portion, write at least 8-9 sentences.
*Your dialectical journal is building up to your response to literature essay at the end of this unit.
Entry #1:
Quote: / Commentary/Analysis (8-9 Sentences)“Hale: Why, it is all simple. I come to do the Devil’s work. I come to counsel Christians that they should belie themselves. His sarcasm collapses. There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!” (131).
“Parris: Go to him! He ruses out the door, as though to hold back his fate. Proctor! Proctor!” (145). / Compare and contrast Reverend Parris with Reverend Hale. How are they similar in the play and how have their characters transformed (or has not transformed at all) by the end of the play?
Entry #2:
Quote: / Commentary/Analysis (8-9 Sentences)“Danforth, conciliatory: You misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just…I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Them that will not confess will hang…Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. While I speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. If retaliation is your fear, know this – I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise resolution of the statutes…” (pg 129). / How is Danforth blinded and misguided by his power and position in Act 4? How does he abuse his power?
Entry #3:
Quote: / Commentary/Analysis (8-9 Sentences)Act 2:
Proctor: …Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your husband any more. I have forgot Abigail, and –
Elizabeth: And I.
Proctor: Spare me! You forget nothin’ and forgive nothin’. Learn charity woman…Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me and judge me not.
Elizabeth: I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you…(54-55).
Act 4:
Proctor, with great force of will, but not quite looking at her: I have been thinking I would confess to them, Elizabeth. She shows nothing. What say you? If I give them that?
Elizabeth: I cannot judge you, John (135).
Proctor: Spite only keeps me silent. It is hard to give a lie to dogs. Pause, for the first time he turns directly to her. I would have your forgiveness, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth: It is not for me to give, John, I am - …John, it come to naught that I should forgive you, if you’ll not forgive yourself. Now he turns away a little, in great agony. It is not my soul, John, it is yours…Only be sure of this, for I know it now: Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it…(136-37). / Compare and contrast Elizabeth’s character in Act 2 and Act 4. What has changed in this character, and what, do you think, marked this change?
Entry #4:
Quote: / Commentary/Analysis (8-9 Sentences)“Elizabeth: supporting herself against collapse, grips the bar of the window, and with a cry: He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (145) / The topics of guilt, repentance, and forgiveness is portrayed through John and Elizabeth’s relationship. How is this finally resolved at the end of the play? What does Elizabeth realize in the end when John marches toward his death? What does it mean to have true forgiveness?