1. The nature of authority -- how do people gain authority and MAINTAIN authority. What is the true nature of authority? How do people in Salem react when their authority is threatened? Be prepared to discuss specific characters and their actions, specifically Rev. Samuel Parris, Rev. John Hale, Deputy Gov. Danforth, John Proctor & Rebecca Nurse.
2. The underlying emotions of the residents of Salem and their motives were repressed before the play opens, yet the "crying out" of the girls sparked a metaphoric fire in Salem. Discuss the underlying issues that surface and serve as a motive for several Salem residents:
jealousy (Abigail's jealousy is OBVIOUS, but what of other jealousies--Ann Putnam's jealousy of Rebecca Nurse, for example); greed (what evidence does the audience see early in the play of the greed in Rev. Samuel Parris and Thomas Putnam); repressed judgment or resentment (why, for instance, does Proctor decline to come to church once Parris becomes Salem's minister?)
3. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience KNOWS the truth, but the characters in the drama presumably do not. For instance, one example of dramatic irony occurs when Rev. Hale questions the Proctors and asks John Proctor to recite his commandments (as proof of being an upright Puritan). John Proctor recites all his commandments except the one that says, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." It becomes ironic because the audience knows that Proctor has _______. Discuss SEVERAL other examples of dramamtic irony in Acts II and III that contribute to the suspense created in the play.
4. Situational irony is created when the visible appearance is different from the actual reality OR when the outcome is the opposite of what is expected or anticipated. Why do god-fearing Puritans, dedicated to a theocracy, ironically fall victim to the "witch fever" that occurred in Salem in 1692? In the case of the Salem witch trials, those who are accused can choose to plead their innocence or confess their guilt--ironically, what happens to those to maintain their innocence? In what way is this situational irony? In what way is the justice of the court ironic as well? How are the roles of the girls (who, until 1692, were expected to be seen but not heard?) ironic?
4. Compare and contrast Rev. Samuel Parris and Rev. John Hale--their backgrounds, interests, reputations, and their involvement in the witchcraft that surrounds Salem in 1692. Which reverend is more greatly changed by the events? How is he changed? What of the other man?
5. Discuss the greater setting of the play, the location of Salem village (on the edge of the wilderness) and the date, (1692) and the closely confined openings of each act. How does both the setting (literally the placement of Salem village on the edge of the wilderness and time period (1692 rather than 1620, when the first band of Pilgrims arrived in Boston Harbor on the Mayflower) influence their actions? Discuss the initial opening of the drama in Reverend Parris's upper bedroom (Betty's bedroom), the small living room of John and Elizabeth Proctor, the courtroom, and finally the jail in which Proctor (and others) are kept How is the mind-set of the citizens of Salem evident in the opening of each act?
How does the close of each act reflect the hysteria and upheaval in Salem?
6. In what way is the direct characterization given by Arthur Miller for several of the major players reflected in their words and actions? Specifically, consider the his characterization of Abigail Williams, John Proctor, Mary Warren, Deputy Govenor Danforth, and Rev. Samuel Parris.
7. Although Arthur Miller's play appeared during the mid-twentieth century, it deals with human nature and various situations that existed in
the seventeenth century and that are still acknowledged in the twenty-first century: peer presssure, bullying, power struggles, scape-goating, and greed as a motivating force. Compare at least three of the issues that are most relevant still today with their counterparts in The Crucible and identify the characteristics of human nature (and give examples) that have remained constant, even after 200-plus years.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Make up Work OR Extra Credit Opportunity
Due to time constraints, we will not read DOUBT. The final essay will be over THE CRUCIBLE.
If you failed to do a portion of a presentation and you need to do make-up work OR if you want to do extra credit work, read DOUBT, by Michael Shanley and answer each of the following quesions THOROUGHLY. To receive credit, these must be handed in by the last day of class (NOT the day of the final exam.)
1. The subtitle of "Doubt" is "A Parable." Parables are very simple stories in which
a character must face a choice and accept the consequences of that decision. In other words, a parable is a brief, realistic story that illustrates a moral or ethical choice. In some parables, the main character, or protagonist, makes the right choice, and in others, he or she takes the wrong path. Parables are metaphors; they make their point indirectly.
2. Father Flynn argues that skepticism can provide a sense of community that is every bit as nourishing as faith. Indeed, he ends his first sermon by saying, “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.” Do you agree or disagree? Support your answer with examples from the play and/or personal experience.
3. "Doubt" begins with a parable. In the course of a sermon (also called a homily), Father Flynn tells the story of a man who is lost at sea and clinging to the hope that he has set the correct course for home. What happens to the man? Father Flynn doesn’t say, and thus, the play begins on a note of doubt. In what way does the play END on a note of doubt as well?
4. In the “Preface,” Shanley criticizes the fact that “we are living in a culture of extreme advocacy, of confrontation, of judgment, and of verdict.” In what sense might the play itself be considered an attempt to remedy this cultural trend. Provide examples to support your stance.
5. The play’s preface ends with the statement that “The beginning of change is the moment of Doubt. It is the crucial moment when I renew my humanity or become a lie. Doubt requires more courage than conviction does.” Why would Shanley celebrate uncertainty? What does uncertainty give us that certainty cannot?
6. Why does Sister Aloysius favor fountain pens that must be dipped in ink rather than ballpoint pens? How are these two modes of writing symbolic? Why is penmanship important? What does it suggest?
7. What specific evidence does Sister Aloysius have to support her conviction that Father Flynn behaved inappropriately with Donald? How does Sister Aloyisius go about gathering her proof? What is her view on truth? Father Flynn reminds Sister Aloyisius that “even if you feel certainty, it is an emotion and not a fact.” What is your view on truth? Do you believe in absolute truth or relative truth?
8. Sister Aloyisius points out that the gardener “pruned this bush, which was the right thing to do, but he neglected to protect it from the frost.” How does this statement apply to sister Aloyisius’ own attempts to protect her students? Why is the action of pruning symbolic?
9. One of the principles of our legal system is that one is innocent until proven guilty. Does Sister Aloyisius abide by this? Should she? What is more dangerous in this situation: presuming innocence or presuming guilt?
If you failed to do a portion of a presentation and you need to do make-up work OR if you want to do extra credit work, read DOUBT, by Michael Shanley and answer each of the following quesions THOROUGHLY. To receive credit, these must be handed in by the last day of class (NOT the day of the final exam.)
1. The subtitle of "Doubt" is "A Parable." Parables are very simple stories in which
a character must face a choice and accept the consequences of that decision. In other words, a parable is a brief, realistic story that illustrates a moral or ethical choice. In some parables, the main character, or protagonist, makes the right choice, and in others, he or she takes the wrong path. Parables are metaphors; they make their point indirectly.
2. Father Flynn argues that skepticism can provide a sense of community that is every bit as nourishing as faith. Indeed, he ends his first sermon by saying, “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.” Do you agree or disagree? Support your answer with examples from the play and/or personal experience.
3. "Doubt" begins with a parable. In the course of a sermon (also called a homily), Father Flynn tells the story of a man who is lost at sea and clinging to the hope that he has set the correct course for home. What happens to the man? Father Flynn doesn’t say, and thus, the play begins on a note of doubt. In what way does the play END on a note of doubt as well?
4. In the “Preface,” Shanley criticizes the fact that “we are living in a culture of extreme advocacy, of confrontation, of judgment, and of verdict.” In what sense might the play itself be considered an attempt to remedy this cultural trend. Provide examples to support your stance.
5. The play’s preface ends with the statement that “The beginning of change is the moment of Doubt. It is the crucial moment when I renew my humanity or become a lie. Doubt requires more courage than conviction does.” Why would Shanley celebrate uncertainty? What does uncertainty give us that certainty cannot?
6. Why does Sister Aloysius favor fountain pens that must be dipped in ink rather than ballpoint pens? How are these two modes of writing symbolic? Why is penmanship important? What does it suggest?
7. What specific evidence does Sister Aloysius have to support her conviction that Father Flynn behaved inappropriately with Donald? How does Sister Aloyisius go about gathering her proof? What is her view on truth? Father Flynn reminds Sister Aloyisius that “even if you feel certainty, it is an emotion and not a fact.” What is your view on truth? Do you believe in absolute truth or relative truth?
8. Sister Aloyisius points out that the gardener “pruned this bush, which was the right thing to do, but he neglected to protect it from the frost.” How does this statement apply to sister Aloyisius’ own attempts to protect her students? Why is the action of pruning symbolic?
9. One of the principles of our legal system is that one is innocent until proven guilty. Does Sister Aloyisius abide by this? Should she? What is more dangerous in this situation: presuming innocence or presuming guilt?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Crucible - Questions - both Obvious & Thoughtful
Study Questions relating to Literary elements of:
The Crucible
The most obvious of these we will not cover in class; we will discuss questions that deal with setting and its importance, irony, theme, human nature, and dramatic license. The final will cover those topics, perhaps more.
Act I
1. Where and when is the opening scene of the play set?
2. In his stage directions, what are some of the good and bad points that Miller observes about the Puritans?
3. Why is the Rev. Samuel Parris so distraught at the beginning of Act One? What unnerves him about the report Susanna Walcott brings from Doctor Griggs? What negative aspect of his own character does this reveal?
4. Why has Parris sent for Rev. Hale of Beverly?
5. What do we learn in the exposition of the play about the events in the forest?
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? What has been Abigail’s past connection with the Proctor family?
6. What innuendo does Rev. Parris make about Abigail’s character?
7. How does Abigail respond?
8. What do we learn from the conversation that Mercy, Abigail, and Mary Warren have while alone?
9. How do we see Abigail as the acknowledged leader of this group?
10. In his stage directions, Miller tells us that despite, or perhaps because of, his upright appearance, John Proctor feels he is a fraud because he knows he is a sinner. What does his conversation with Abigail tell us about the nature of his sin?
11. As Abby flirts with John Proctor, what is her opinion of Betty’s illness?
12. What information about Thomas Putnam does Arthur Miller tell us in his expository aside? What does Ann Putnam claim in the play about her dead babies?
13. What seems to be attitude of Giles Corey and the others gathered in the house?
14. Rebecca Nurse, who walks to Betty’s bed and quiets her with her presence, is a voice of reason and rationality. To what does she attribute Betty’s condition?
15. Why do Putnam and Proctor get into an argument?
16. How does Proctor’s subsequent comment on hellfire and damnation cause an outburst from Rev. Parris?
17. In this argument, the theme of authority explicitly arises. What are the two points of view?
18. In what way do Putnam and Parris find themselves aligned on this question?
19. How is Putnam’s materialistic ambition further revealed in his argument with Proctor?
20. According to the stage the directions, how does John Hale enter for the first time?
21. Why does Rebecca Nurse tell Parris that Hale should be sent home rather than allowed to see Betty?
22. Who is Tituba and of what does Abigail accuse her? Why has Abigail turned on Tituba and accused her of these things?
23. What does Putnam say that terrifies Tituba and causes her to say that she told the devil that she did not want to work for him?
24. What happens when John Hale interrogates Tituba? How does the atmosphere of the scene become hysterical at the end of the act?
25. Why does Tituba come up with the name Goody Good and Goody Osburn as the two women she saw consorting with the devil?
26. What is the meaning of crucible in the title of the play? What kind of play does this title lead you to expect?
27. Consider the stage directions that describe the physical setting of the play as the curtain rises on Act One. Together with the opening lies of dialogue, what atmosphere of mood does this setting create?
28. Summarize your impressions of the Rev. Samuel Parris in this act. What are his principal flaws or moral weaknesses?
29. One of Miller’s major subjects in the play is the nature of authority. Comment on how Samuel Parris, Thomas Putnam, John Hale, and Rebecca Nurse are linked with the idea of authority in Act One. At this stage, what seems to be the playwright’s opinion about each of these character’s claims to possessing authority?
30. In two long segments of this act, Miller establishes a dominant form for many of the subsequent scenes in the play: the question and answer of interrogation. The playwright implies that both interrogations in this act are flawed in their methods and results. Who questions whom in the interrogation scenes in this act? Why does each interrogation fail?
Act II
1. What duty has Mary Warren been performing in Salem?
2. What does Elizabeth Proctor report to her husband about the trials in Salem, and what does she urge John to do?
3. What gift does Mary Warren present to Elizabeth?
4. What are some of the ways in which John Hale questions Proctor and his wife about their religious faith? How do the Proctors answer each of the questions and allegations?
5. Compare and contrast the setting of this act with that of Act 1. How are the two settings different? How are they similar in atmosphere or mood?
6. One of Miller’s most powerful devices in the play is his use of irony. Irony is the contrast or discrepancy between expectation and reality. In verbal irony, a writer or speaker says one thing but really means the opposite. In situational irony, what actually happens in the opposite of what is expected or appropriate. In dramatic irony, the audience or the reader is aware of something important that a character does not know. Explain how each of the following is an example of verbal, situation, or dramatic irony.
A. John’s words to Elizabeth at the beginning of the act, “Pray now for a fair summer.”
B. Mary’s gift of a poppet to Elizabeth
C. Proctor’s reliance, early in the act, on the good offices of Ezekiel Cheever
D. The one Commandment out of ten that John Proctor can’t remember
E. Proctor’s statement toward the end of the act about Abigail, “Good. Then her saintliness is done with.”
F. Hale’s statement about Parris, “The man’s ordained, therefore the light of God is in him.”
7. Explain John Proctor’s allusion as he tells Hale, “Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this!”
8. The scenes in this act are calculated to produce a rising surge of suspense or tension revolving around Elizabeth’s safety. How does the introductory conversation between John and Elizabeth establish suspense? How does the scene with Mary increase the tension? What further increase in suspense results from Hale’s visit and the reasons for it? Where does the tension peak in this act?
9. John Hale is one of the most important characters in the play. Do you find any hints in this act that suggest he will develop into a dynamic character (one who changes under pressure of events and conflicts)?
10. In what way has Mary Warren changed and what changed her?
11. How would you describe the relationship of John and Elizabeth Proctor at the beginning of the scene?
12. Why can’t John probe what Abigail told him? Why does Elizabeth pick up on this?
13. Of what does John accuse Elizabeth?
14. As he is about to whip Mary Warren, John stops short. What was it she told him?
15. Who does Elizabeth think called out her name and why?
16. What does Elizabeth want John to do now?
17. Why is he reluctant to do so?
18. Why has the Rev. Hale come to their house?
19. As proof of witchcraft, Rev. Hale pints out that a number of people have already confessed to being witches. What is Proctor’s response?
20. Who stuck the pin in Abigail’s belly and why?
21. To what does Hale attribute the calamity that has befallen Salem?
22. Why does this hit home with Proctor?
23. What does Mary say Abby will do if Proctor goes into court to denounce her?
24. What is Proctor’s response?
25. Why is Mary afraid to say anything in court?
Act III
1. What is Mary Warren now prepared to tell the court?
2. What two facts about John Proctor does Ezekiel Cheever feel compelled to reveal to Danforth?
3. What compromise, or deal, does Danforth offer to Proctor? What is Proctor’s response?
4. At what pint does John Hale begin to show that he is less than satisfied with the court’s procedures?
5. What device do Abigail and the other girls use to drive Mary Warren over the brink of hysteria?
6. What happens to John Proctor at the end of the act? How does John Hale show his disapproval?
7. This act contains much irony. Explain how the following are ironic:
A. John Proctor’s confession
B. Proctor’s passionate outburst at the end of the act, together with the court’s interpretation of his remarks
C. Miller’s comment in the stage directions that Abigail, “out of her infinite charity, reaches out and draws the sobbing Mary to her
8. Although this act centers on the subjects of hypocrisy and hysteria in the court proceedings, we are also presented with several examples of courage and the assertion of integrity. Howa re the following characters linked with the subject of courage in this act: Mary Warren, John Proctor, Giles Corey, John Hale?
9. Why does Giles say that he “broke charity” with his wife?
10. How has Rev. Hale changed since we last saw him?
11. Why is Mary Warren’s testimony critical for Hale, Proctor, Nurse and Corey?
12. What does Mary Warren tell Governor Danforth?
13. Why does Proctor say that his wife must be pregnant is she has said so?
14. What happens to the ninety-one people who signed the petition in support of the accused?
15. What is the charge that Giles Corey makes against Putnam?
16. What is Giles Corey’s proof for his charge, and why will he not supply the proof to the court?
17. Why does Danforth find it hard to believe that Abigail could be pretending and, and in effect, be a murderer?
18. How does the questioning of Mary Warren differ from the questioning of Abigail? Why?
19. Why can’t Mary give a show of pretense when asked by the court?
20. When Abigail is questioned by Danforth, how does she respond?
21. In calling Abigail a whore, what charge and punishment does Proctor open himself for? Why has he made this confession?
22. What test is Elizabeth given, and how does he fail it? Why?
23. What causes Mary Warren to crack?
Act IV
1. What is the setting of this act? How much time has elapsed since the end of Act 3?
2. Immediately after his entrance Governor Danforth remarks on a “prodigious stench.” What is the apparent cause of the odor in the jail?
3. What does Samuel Parris report about Abigail Williams and Mercy Lewis? Why is Parris afraid for his personal safety? What is Danforth’s reaction?
4. Why is Danforth especially nervous about rumors concerning events in Andover? What are his reasons for receiving no pleas or pardons or for postponement of the executions?
5. According to John Hale, what is the present condition of the countryside?
6. According Elizabeth, how did Giles Corey die?
7. For what does Elizabeth ask John to forgive her?
8. Why does Proctor refuse to sign his confession?
9. At the end of the play, when Hale urges Elizabeth to make a last-minute appeal to her husband, how does he respond?
10. Why do you think Danforth is said to be alarmed at the news that Abigail and Mercy Lewis have fled? What inner conflict may this news rouse in him? How does this conflict affect the course of his decisions in this act?
11. In the critical scene between Elizabeth and John Proctor, we gain insight into John’s actions at the climax of the play. How are Elizabeth and John both tortured by guilt? Why does Elizabeth refuse to influence John’s decision?
12. What structural parallel in Act 2 is recalled by John’s tearing up of his confession near the end of this act?
13. Why is Parris upset?
14. Why is Proctor calling himself a fraud?
The Crucible
The most obvious of these we will not cover in class; we will discuss questions that deal with setting and its importance, irony, theme, human nature, and dramatic license. The final will cover those topics, perhaps more.
Act I
1. Where and when is the opening scene of the play set?
2. In his stage directions, what are some of the good and bad points that Miller observes about the Puritans?
3. Why is the Rev. Samuel Parris so distraught at the beginning of Act One? What unnerves him about the report Susanna Walcott brings from Doctor Griggs? What negative aspect of his own character does this reveal?
4. Why has Parris sent for Rev. Hale of Beverly?
5. What do we learn in the exposition of the play about the events in the forest?
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? What has been Abigail’s past connection with the Proctor family?
6. What innuendo does Rev. Parris make about Abigail’s character?
7. How does Abigail respond?
8. What do we learn from the conversation that Mercy, Abigail, and Mary Warren have while alone?
9. How do we see Abigail as the acknowledged leader of this group?
10. In his stage directions, Miller tells us that despite, or perhaps because of, his upright appearance, John Proctor feels he is a fraud because he knows he is a sinner. What does his conversation with Abigail tell us about the nature of his sin?
11. As Abby flirts with John Proctor, what is her opinion of Betty’s illness?
12. What information about Thomas Putnam does Arthur Miller tell us in his expository aside? What does Ann Putnam claim in the play about her dead babies?
13. What seems to be attitude of Giles Corey and the others gathered in the house?
14. Rebecca Nurse, who walks to Betty’s bed and quiets her with her presence, is a voice of reason and rationality. To what does she attribute Betty’s condition?
15. Why do Putnam and Proctor get into an argument?
16. How does Proctor’s subsequent comment on hellfire and damnation cause an outburst from Rev. Parris?
17. In this argument, the theme of authority explicitly arises. What are the two points of view?
18. In what way do Putnam and Parris find themselves aligned on this question?
19. How is Putnam’s materialistic ambition further revealed in his argument with Proctor?
20. According to the stage the directions, how does John Hale enter for the first time?
21. Why does Rebecca Nurse tell Parris that Hale should be sent home rather than allowed to see Betty?
22. Who is Tituba and of what does Abigail accuse her? Why has Abigail turned on Tituba and accused her of these things?
23. What does Putnam say that terrifies Tituba and causes her to say that she told the devil that she did not want to work for him?
24. What happens when John Hale interrogates Tituba? How does the atmosphere of the scene become hysterical at the end of the act?
25. Why does Tituba come up with the name Goody Good and Goody Osburn as the two women she saw consorting with the devil?
26. What is the meaning of crucible in the title of the play? What kind of play does this title lead you to expect?
27. Consider the stage directions that describe the physical setting of the play as the curtain rises on Act One. Together with the opening lies of dialogue, what atmosphere of mood does this setting create?
28. Summarize your impressions of the Rev. Samuel Parris in this act. What are his principal flaws or moral weaknesses?
29. One of Miller’s major subjects in the play is the nature of authority. Comment on how Samuel Parris, Thomas Putnam, John Hale, and Rebecca Nurse are linked with the idea of authority in Act One. At this stage, what seems to be the playwright’s opinion about each of these character’s claims to possessing authority?
30. In two long segments of this act, Miller establishes a dominant form for many of the subsequent scenes in the play: the question and answer of interrogation. The playwright implies that both interrogations in this act are flawed in their methods and results. Who questions whom in the interrogation scenes in this act? Why does each interrogation fail?
Act II
1. What duty has Mary Warren been performing in Salem?
2. What does Elizabeth Proctor report to her husband about the trials in Salem, and what does she urge John to do?
3. What gift does Mary Warren present to Elizabeth?
4. What are some of the ways in which John Hale questions Proctor and his wife about their religious faith? How do the Proctors answer each of the questions and allegations?
5. Compare and contrast the setting of this act with that of Act 1. How are the two settings different? How are they similar in atmosphere or mood?
6. One of Miller’s most powerful devices in the play is his use of irony. Irony is the contrast or discrepancy between expectation and reality. In verbal irony, a writer or speaker says one thing but really means the opposite. In situational irony, what actually happens in the opposite of what is expected or appropriate. In dramatic irony, the audience or the reader is aware of something important that a character does not know. Explain how each of the following is an example of verbal, situation, or dramatic irony.
A. John’s words to Elizabeth at the beginning of the act, “Pray now for a fair summer.”
B. Mary’s gift of a poppet to Elizabeth
C. Proctor’s reliance, early in the act, on the good offices of Ezekiel Cheever
D. The one Commandment out of ten that John Proctor can’t remember
E. Proctor’s statement toward the end of the act about Abigail, “Good. Then her saintliness is done with.”
F. Hale’s statement about Parris, “The man’s ordained, therefore the light of God is in him.”
7. Explain John Proctor’s allusion as he tells Hale, “Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this!”
8. The scenes in this act are calculated to produce a rising surge of suspense or tension revolving around Elizabeth’s safety. How does the introductory conversation between John and Elizabeth establish suspense? How does the scene with Mary increase the tension? What further increase in suspense results from Hale’s visit and the reasons for it? Where does the tension peak in this act?
9. John Hale is one of the most important characters in the play. Do you find any hints in this act that suggest he will develop into a dynamic character (one who changes under pressure of events and conflicts)?
10. In what way has Mary Warren changed and what changed her?
11. How would you describe the relationship of John and Elizabeth Proctor at the beginning of the scene?
12. Why can’t John probe what Abigail told him? Why does Elizabeth pick up on this?
13. Of what does John accuse Elizabeth?
14. As he is about to whip Mary Warren, John stops short. What was it she told him?
15. Who does Elizabeth think called out her name and why?
16. What does Elizabeth want John to do now?
17. Why is he reluctant to do so?
18. Why has the Rev. Hale come to their house?
19. As proof of witchcraft, Rev. Hale pints out that a number of people have already confessed to being witches. What is Proctor’s response?
20. Who stuck the pin in Abigail’s belly and why?
21. To what does Hale attribute the calamity that has befallen Salem?
22. Why does this hit home with Proctor?
23. What does Mary say Abby will do if Proctor goes into court to denounce her?
24. What is Proctor’s response?
25. Why is Mary afraid to say anything in court?
Act III
1. What is Mary Warren now prepared to tell the court?
2. What two facts about John Proctor does Ezekiel Cheever feel compelled to reveal to Danforth?
3. What compromise, or deal, does Danforth offer to Proctor? What is Proctor’s response?
4. At what pint does John Hale begin to show that he is less than satisfied with the court’s procedures?
5. What device do Abigail and the other girls use to drive Mary Warren over the brink of hysteria?
6. What happens to John Proctor at the end of the act? How does John Hale show his disapproval?
7. This act contains much irony. Explain how the following are ironic:
A. John Proctor’s confession
B. Proctor’s passionate outburst at the end of the act, together with the court’s interpretation of his remarks
C. Miller’s comment in the stage directions that Abigail, “out of her infinite charity, reaches out and draws the sobbing Mary to her
8. Although this act centers on the subjects of hypocrisy and hysteria in the court proceedings, we are also presented with several examples of courage and the assertion of integrity. Howa re the following characters linked with the subject of courage in this act: Mary Warren, John Proctor, Giles Corey, John Hale?
9. Why does Giles say that he “broke charity” with his wife?
10. How has Rev. Hale changed since we last saw him?
11. Why is Mary Warren’s testimony critical for Hale, Proctor, Nurse and Corey?
12. What does Mary Warren tell Governor Danforth?
13. Why does Proctor say that his wife must be pregnant is she has said so?
14. What happens to the ninety-one people who signed the petition in support of the accused?
15. What is the charge that Giles Corey makes against Putnam?
16. What is Giles Corey’s proof for his charge, and why will he not supply the proof to the court?
17. Why does Danforth find it hard to believe that Abigail could be pretending and, and in effect, be a murderer?
18. How does the questioning of Mary Warren differ from the questioning of Abigail? Why?
19. Why can’t Mary give a show of pretense when asked by the court?
20. When Abigail is questioned by Danforth, how does she respond?
21. In calling Abigail a whore, what charge and punishment does Proctor open himself for? Why has he made this confession?
22. What test is Elizabeth given, and how does he fail it? Why?
23. What causes Mary Warren to crack?
Act IV
1. What is the setting of this act? How much time has elapsed since the end of Act 3?
2. Immediately after his entrance Governor Danforth remarks on a “prodigious stench.” What is the apparent cause of the odor in the jail?
3. What does Samuel Parris report about Abigail Williams and Mercy Lewis? Why is Parris afraid for his personal safety? What is Danforth’s reaction?
4. Why is Danforth especially nervous about rumors concerning events in Andover? What are his reasons for receiving no pleas or pardons or for postponement of the executions?
5. According to John Hale, what is the present condition of the countryside?
6. According Elizabeth, how did Giles Corey die?
7. For what does Elizabeth ask John to forgive her?
8. Why does Proctor refuse to sign his confession?
9. At the end of the play, when Hale urges Elizabeth to make a last-minute appeal to her husband, how does he respond?
10. Why do you think Danforth is said to be alarmed at the news that Abigail and Mercy Lewis have fled? What inner conflict may this news rouse in him? How does this conflict affect the course of his decisions in this act?
11. In the critical scene between Elizabeth and John Proctor, we gain insight into John’s actions at the climax of the play. How are Elizabeth and John both tortured by guilt? Why does Elizabeth refuse to influence John’s decision?
12. What structural parallel in Act 2 is recalled by John’s tearing up of his confession near the end of this act?
13. Why is Parris upset?
14. Why is Proctor calling himself a fraud?
Monday, November 15, 2010
THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller - a Study Guide for MSC 1102 Aiken
Important Points/Notes:
Witch hunt
Setting—both time and place –
• Miller focuses on this in the information he provides in the play; read this carefully for the atmosphere surrounding the homes & the lives of the people of Salem
• How do the citizens of Salem compare and contrast to the Puritans who first settled New England?
• Note the setting of each act of The Crucible—both the introduction and the conclusion—how does the setting in each act reflect the small, narrow-minded world of the characters
Dramatic License—what is it, how is it used, why is it used
• What significant changes did Arthur Miller make in his play?
Unknown family conflicts – BEFORE the play opens
What are the suggested “hidden” factors that may have led to controversy in Salem?
• Greed
• Jealousy
Who was George Burroughs? What does he have to do with the events in the play?
What is guilt by association? Guilt by accusation?
Why did a 20th century playwright choose to focus on the village of Salem for his play?
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
For serious information in an entertaining format, go to: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/salem/
At this interactive website, one gains important information on the atmosphere surrounding the town of Salem as well as a simulation of what happened when one was accused of witchcraft.
For a video on the Salem Witch trials, check out:
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/history/salem-witch-trials-videos-playlist.htm#video-29529
For an explanation of the real cause of the witch hunt, refer to:
http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/drugged-salem-witchtrial3.htm
There are additional websites available . . . just do a little futzing on the internet
Witch hunt
Setting—both time and place –
• Miller focuses on this in the information he provides in the play; read this carefully for the atmosphere surrounding the homes & the lives of the people of Salem
• How do the citizens of Salem compare and contrast to the Puritans who first settled New England?
• Note the setting of each act of The Crucible—both the introduction and the conclusion—how does the setting in each act reflect the small, narrow-minded world of the characters
Dramatic License—what is it, how is it used, why is it used
• What significant changes did Arthur Miller make in his play?
Unknown family conflicts – BEFORE the play opens
What are the suggested “hidden” factors that may have led to controversy in Salem?
• Greed
• Jealousy
Who was George Burroughs? What does he have to do with the events in the play?
What is guilt by association? Guilt by accusation?
Why did a 20th century playwright choose to focus on the village of Salem for his play?
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
For serious information in an entertaining format, go to: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/salem/
At this interactive website, one gains important information on the atmosphere surrounding the town of Salem as well as a simulation of what happened when one was accused of witchcraft.
For a video on the Salem Witch trials, check out:
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/history/salem-witch-trials-videos-playlist.htm#video-29529
For an explanation of the real cause of the witch hunt, refer to:
http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/drugged-salem-witchtrial3.htm
There are additional websites available . . . just do a little futzing on the internet
Monday, November 1, 2010
Poetry Analysis Rubric
Poetry Analysis Rubric
Each of the following elements of poetry analysis will be rated as:
A = Outstanding/Excellent
B = Well Done
C = Adequate
D/F = Incomplete
Title: what does it mean? Suggest? What does it lend to the poem
Opening slide (image) along with appearances suggests the tone or meaning of the poem
Poem is given, read, and vocabulary explained
Literal Meaning—based on denotative words, what is the poem about, at least superficially?
Give initial reaction and reason for this reaction.
Who is the speaker? How is this discerned?
What is the setting of the poem—or are there any other key points readers need to know?
What is the TONE of the poem? What words suggest the tone?
What other connotative words are there? Do they have a positive or negative impact on the audience/reader?
Are there any metaphors? What do they represent?
What is the style of the poem?
Are the images in the power point explained or are they appropriate to the poem?
Where does the shift in the poem? Is the shift in tone, action in the poem or other?
What does the poem seem to be saying about man or life in the poem—that is, what is the theme of the poem?
Each of the following elements of poetry analysis will be rated as:
A = Outstanding/Excellent
B = Well Done
C = Adequate
D/F = Incomplete
Title: what does it mean? Suggest? What does it lend to the poem
Opening slide (image) along with appearances suggests the tone or meaning of the poem
Poem is given, read, and vocabulary explained
Literal Meaning—based on denotative words, what is the poem about, at least superficially?
Give initial reaction and reason for this reaction.
Who is the speaker? How is this discerned?
What is the setting of the poem—or are there any other key points readers need to know?
What is the TONE of the poem? What words suggest the tone?
What other connotative words are there? Do they have a positive or negative impact on the audience/reader?
Are there any metaphors? What do they represent?
What is the style of the poem?
Are the images in the power point explained or are they appropriate to the poem?
Where does the shift in the poem? Is the shift in tone, action in the poem or other?
What does the poem seem to be saying about man or life in the poem—that is, what is the theme of the poem?
Thursday, October 21, 2010
NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY
NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY by Robert Frost
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Poetry Analysis Worksheet
Poetry Analysis Worksheet
What does the title mean?
Take a look at the title and reflect on what it means.
2. Put it in your own words
Read the poem two or three times. You will see something different each time you read the poem. Write a brief paraphrase of the poem. Highlight or list some of the words (nouns, verbs, phrases) that are important to understanding the poem.
3. What do you think the poem means?
Now think about the meaning of the poem, not just the obvious meaning of each word but what they mean beyond the literal. Do these words suggest something else?
Answer these questions and provide evidence—lines, words, phrases from the poem--for your answers:
• Who is the speaker of the poem? • What is he/she talking about?
• Why do you think the author wrote the poem?
• When is the poem happening and where is the poem happening?
• What is the poet’s attitude or tone in the poem?
• How does the poem shift from person to person or between different times or places?
Most poems tell us about a poet’s understanding of an experience so the beginning will be different then the end. The change or shift may be in feelings, language (slang to formal), or connotation (positive to negative). Explain how these shifts convey the poem’s message.
4. Poetic devices:
Identify different poetic devices and how they convey the poem’s message.
• Simile – comparison using like or as
• Metaphor – a direct comparison
• Personification – giving human qualities to nonhuman things
• Tone – what emotion does the speaker use as he talks
• Point of view – who is the telling the poem
• Imagery – creating pictures with words
• Alliteration – repeating the same letter
5. Theme
Identify the theme (central idea) of the poem. How does the theme convey the poem’s message?
6. Look at the title again
Now look at the title again. Do you now have a different interpretation of the title?
7. Begin preparing your analysis & your powerpoint
Copyright 2009 IRA/NCTE. All rights reserved.
ReadWriteThink materials may be reproduced for educational purposes.
What does the title mean?
Take a look at the title and reflect on what it means.
2. Put it in your own words
Read the poem two or three times. You will see something different each time you read the poem. Write a brief paraphrase of the poem. Highlight or list some of the words (nouns, verbs, phrases) that are important to understanding the poem.
3. What do you think the poem means?
Now think about the meaning of the poem, not just the obvious meaning of each word but what they mean beyond the literal. Do these words suggest something else?
Answer these questions and provide evidence—lines, words, phrases from the poem--for your answers:
• Who is the speaker of the poem? • What is he/she talking about?
• Why do you think the author wrote the poem?
• When is the poem happening and where is the poem happening?
• What is the poet’s attitude or tone in the poem?
• How does the poem shift from person to person or between different times or places?
Most poems tell us about a poet’s understanding of an experience so the beginning will be different then the end. The change or shift may be in feelings, language (slang to formal), or connotation (positive to negative). Explain how these shifts convey the poem’s message.
4. Poetic devices:
Identify different poetic devices and how they convey the poem’s message.
• Simile – comparison using like or as
• Metaphor – a direct comparison
• Personification – giving human qualities to nonhuman things
• Tone – what emotion does the speaker use as he talks
• Point of view – who is the telling the poem
• Imagery – creating pictures with words
• Alliteration – repeating the same letter
5. Theme
Identify the theme (central idea) of the poem. How does the theme convey the poem’s message?
6. Look at the title again
Now look at the title again. Do you now have a different interpretation of the title?
7. Begin preparing your analysis & your powerpoint
Copyright 2009 IRA/NCTE. All rights reserved.
ReadWriteThink materials may be reproduced for educational purposes.
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