Crucible Act II - Study Guide

When Hale appears at the Proctors' door in Act II of The Crucible, he is described as "different now—drawn a little, and there is a quality of deference, even of guilt, about his manner now." What internal conflict accounts for this change?

He feels guilty for allowing events to spiral out of control in Salem.

In Act II of The Crucible, why does John Proctor forget to mention the commandment forbidding adultery when Hale questions his knowledge of the Ten Commandments?

He has a guilty conscience

In The Crucible, Act II, what do you learn about John Proctor's character from the stage directions that say he "is striving against his disgust with Hale and with himself for even answering"?

He is in conflict not just with Hale but also with himself.

Why was Elizabeth suspicious of John Proctor?

He lied about being alone with Abigail

In The Crucible, Act II, when Hale appears at the Proctors' door, he is described as "different now—drawn a little, and there is a quality of deference, even of guilt, about his manner now." From these details, what do you predict Hale will feel or do as the play progresses?

He will become increasingly disturbed by what he has seen in court

Proctor's comment to Mary Warren, "It's strange work for a Christian girl to hang old women," implies that he thinks Mary's behavior is...

Hypocritical

What is the "poppet" that appears in The Crucible, Act II?

It is a tool of witchcraft.

What is John Proctor suggesting about Mary Warren when he says "It's strange work for a Christian girl to hang old women" in The Crucible, Act II?

Mary is dangerous and should rethink her actions and behavior; he thinks she's dangerous

Which word best replaces pallor in this sentence: "The pallor of her face suggested that she was frightened"?

Paleness

In Act II of The Crucible, Elizabeth compares the crowd parting for Abigail to the Red Sea parting for the people of Israel when Moses led them out of Egypt. What does she mean by this Biblical allusion?

She means that Abigail's power and influence are like the power and influence of Moses.

In The Crucible, Act II, what do the stage directions "with a smile, to keep her dignity" reveal about Elizabeth's character?

She thinks it is undignified to show anger.

Based on the remarks and behavior of John and Elizabeth Proctor in Act II of The Crucible, you can reasonably predict that as the witch hysteria deepens, the two will

Support each other

Which of the following books would an essay on the subject of theology most likely address?

The Bible

In Act II of The Crucible, why does John Proctor forget to mention the commandment forbidding adultery when Hale questions his knowledge of the Ten Commandments?

The Devil has powerful skills of deception.

Which of the following sentences best describes the relationship between John and Elizabeth Proctor at the opening of Act II?

They seem ill at ease together

Which statement best describes the relationship of John and Elizabeth Proctor in the opening scene of Act II of The Crucible?

They seem to care about each other but to be ill at ease and not fully reconciled.

Why did Hale come to Proctor's house?

To question them about their Christian nature

Hale's interview with John Proctor in The Crucible, Act II, reveals Hale to be

Troubled but rigid

What is the climax in Act II?

When they got the poppet because that symbolized Abigail

At the beginning of The Crucible, Act II, what is the source of the conflict between the Proctors? a. John has been unfaithful to Elizabeth, and she has not forgiven him. b. The two suspect each other of engaging in witchcraft. c. Elizabeth suspects that John has been unfaithful, but John refuses to admit his sin. d. John fears that Elizabeth will be accused of witchcraft, but she does not believe him.

a. John has been unfaithful to Elizabeth, and she has not forgiven him.

What will happen to Proctor if he tries to discredit Abby or tell everyone she's lying? a. She will tell that they had an affair b. She will claim that she has seen him with the devil c. She will bewitch Elizabeth d. She will end their affair.

a. She will tell that they had an affair

What is the deciding factor in Elizabeth's arrest? a. Her inability to recite the ten commandments b. Her possession of the doll with a needle in it c. The fact that she has not had her son baptized d. Abby's testimony

b. Her possession of the doll with a needle in it

In The Crucible, Act II, what does John Proctor mean when he says that no matter what he does, "an everlasting funeral marches" around Elizabeth's heart? a. He fears she wishes he were dead. b. She is always unhappy with him, whatever he does. c. He wants to move away from Salem, but she does not. d. She goes to too many funerals.

b. She is always unhappy with him, whatever he does.

1. _____Where did Elizabeth ask John to go? a. Help Reverend Parris with Betty b. To apologize to Abigail c. Go into Salem and tell the authorities Abigail is lying d. To convince Tituba to have the girls tell the truth.

c. Go into Salem and tell the authorities Abigail is lying

In the Act II of The Crucible, John Proctor calls Hale "Pontius Pilate." With this allusion, Proctor implies that a. Hale shares the religious beliefs of ancient Rome. b. Hale needs to consult the Bible for study and thought. c. Hale has been manufacturing evidence. d. Hale is guilty of doing injustice by doing nothing.

d. Hale is guilty of doing injustice by doing nothing.

2. _____What is John's response when Elizabeth asks him to do this? a. He tells her to mind her own business b. He goes right away c. He ignores her d. He hesitates

d. He hesitates

What is John Proctor suggesting about Mary Warren when he says "it's strange work for a Christian girl to hang old women". in The Crucible, Act II. a. Mary has become as powerful as Abigail. b. Mary is religious and worthy of praise. c. Mary is leaving the church. d. Mary is dangerous and should rethink her actions and behavior.

d. Mary is dangerous and should rethink her actions and behavior.

Which of the following words is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to avidly?

indifferently

Which of the following is the likeliest explanation for a case of extreme pallor?

lack of exposure to sunlight

Which of the following words is CLOSEST in meaning to deference?

respect

What is the setting of Act II of The Crucible?

the Proctor's home, eight days after the girls have begun to accuse people

Why does Proctor think Abigail accuses his wife of witchcraft in The Crucible, Act II?

to punish Proctor for rejecting her

Give a quote from Act II showing figurative language

" I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches around your heart."

Which type of person would most likely want to ameliorate conditions of injustice and inequality?

A social reformer

Abigail stuck a needle into her stomach in order to ... A. Accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft. B. Cast suspicion on Mary Warren. C. Claim that it was John Proctor's doing. D. Pretend that she was a witch.

A. Accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft.

When Elizabeth says to Proctor, "The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you," she means that Proctor ... A. Carries the knowledge of his own guilt. B. Is too quick to judge himself. C. Should speak more openly about his thoughts. D. Knows that she loves him and forgives him.

A. Carries the knowledge of his own guilt.

On what charge(s) was Rebecca Nurse arrested? A. The murder of Goody Putnam's babies B. Conduct unbefitting a Puritan C. Inability to say her ten commandments D. For making a voodoo doll.

A. The murder of Goody Putnam's babies

On what charge(s) was Rebecca Nurse arrested? a. The murder of Goody Putnam's babies b. Conduct unbefitting a Puritan c. Inability to say her ten commandments d. For making a voodoo doll.

A. The murder of Goody Putnam's babies

Why does Elizabeth want John to go see Abigail? A. To try and convince her to tell the court the truth about what happened in the woods. B. To break the relationship off with her once and for all. C. To question her about Parris's real estate activities. D. To tell Abigail to stop spreading lies about Elizabeth.

A. To try and convince her to tell the court the truth about what happened in the woods.

When Mary says that the crowd parted for Abigail like the sea for Israel, she makes ... A. A comparison to politics. B. An allusion to the Bible. C. Eventual trouble for Abigail. D. A bigoted joke.

B. An allusion to the Bible.

Giles Corey thinks Putnam is accusing neighbors of witchcraft because Putnam wants to ... A. Prevent his daughter from joining the witches B. Gain their land C. Avoid revelation of his secret life D. Destroy the community

B. Gain their land

What does John make Mary promise to do the next day? A. Clean the house from top to bottom. B. Go to the courts and tell the judges the truth about the poppet. C. Plead with Elizabeth to come clean about her wrongdoings. D. Sign an affidavit promising to stay away from the courts.

B. Go to the courts and tell the judges the truth about the poppet.

Why does Cheever come to the Proctor house? a. He comes to question John b. He comes to arrest Elizabeth c. He comes to talk with John about what to do about Parris d. he comes to ask John's opinion about whether the girls are lying.

B. He comes to arrest Elizabeth

What does John Proctor mean when he says, "My wife will never die for me"? A. If he baptizes his son, his wife will be freed. B. He knows his adultery has caused Elizabeth to be arrested. C. He knows Elizabeth is being punished for his quarrels with Parris. D. He will not release Elizabeth until Proctor attends church.

B. He knows his adultery has caused Elizabeth to be arrested.

At first, Mary Warren enjoys her role in court because she ... A. Thinks she has been chosen by God. B. Likes the power and status she has in the village. C. Knows she can destroy Elizabeth Proctor. D. Plans to accuse Abigail of witchcraft.

B. Likes the power and status she has in the village.

Toward the end of Act II, Giles Corey reveals that two more women were accused of witchcraft. Who were they? a. Abigail and Mary c. Betty and Abigail b. Martha and Rebecca d. Martha and Mary

B. Martha and Rebecca

By the end of Act Two, Reverend Hale has begun to worry that ... A. The villagers might rebel against his authority. B. Perhaps innocent people are being accused. C. Rebecca Nurse did murder Goody Putnam's babies. D. Most of the villagers are in league with the devil.

B. Perhaps innocent people are being accused.

Who else is arrested the same night as Elizabeth? A. Giles Corey, Abigail Williams, and Rebecca Nurse. B. Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey. C. Martha Corey and Goody Putnam. D. Sarah Osburne and Dorcas Good.

B. Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey.

Why does Elizabeth think that Abigail wants to kill her? A. She's sick and a little paranoid. B. She believes Abby wants to take her place as John's wife. C. She believes Abby is bewitched and will try to destroy anything good. D. None of the above.

B. She believes Abby wants to take her place as John's wife.

Elizabeth urges John to go to Salem to ... A. Protect Mary Warren. B. Tell the court that Abigail's story is a hoax. C. Announce publicly that he believes in witchcraft. D. Ask the court for forgiveness.

B. Tell the court that Abigail's story is a hoax.

_____What did Mary Warren do that upset her employers? a. Accused Tituba of being a witch b. Put a spell on Betty c. Disobeyed them and went to Salem d. Had Martha Corey arrested.

C

What does Mary Warren give to Elizabeth that later gets her in trouble? A. A glass of wine. B. A stolen bundle of money. C. A hand-sewn doll. D. Five gallons of milk, stolen from Giles Corey's farm.

C. A hand-sewn doll.

What gift did Mary Warren give Elizabeth? A. A bible B. A flowers C. A poppet D. A pig

C. A poppet

Sarah Good is accused of witchcraft because she ... A. Was named by Elizabeth Proctor in court B. Put a curse on Goody Putnam C. Could not recite the ten commandments D. Slept in a ditch

C. Could not recite the ten commandments

Why do Cheever and Herrick come for Elizabeth? A. Elizabeth supposedly lied about Parris's real estate affairs. B. Elizabeth scolded Mary Warren by beating her and locking her in a closet for three days. C. Elizabeth stabbed Abigail in the stomach with a needle during dinner by sending her spirit out on her. D. Elizabeth confessed to having an affair with Thomas Putnam.

C. Elizabeth stabbed Abigail in the stomach with a needle during dinner by sending her spirit out on her.

Which of the following words best characterizes Mary Warren? A. Pious B. Jealous C. Gullible D. Vicious

C. Gullible

Where does Mary Warren, apprentice in the Proctor household, spend most of her days recently? A. With Abigail. B. In the Proctor household where she is supposed to be. C. In court with all the other girls. D. With her secret boyfriend.

C. In court with all the other girls.

Why is there tension between Elizabeth Proctor and her husband? A. Elizabeth is ill. B. John plans to spend more time with Abigail. C. John has had an adulterous affair. D. John is planning to leave Elizabeth.

C. John has had an adulterous affair.

Why does Mary say she cannot tell the truth in court? A. She does not want the other girls punished. B. She wants Elizabeth found guilty. C. She is afraid that Abigail will kill her. D. She too embarrassed to admit that she is a fraud.

C. She is afraid that Abigail will kill her.

What was the "evidence" against Sarah Good? a. She confessed to witchcraft. B. She mumbled when begging for food c. She could not recite the commandments d. All of the above

D - ALL OF THE ABOVE

Which commandment does John forget? A. Gluttony B. Greed C. Lust D. Adultery

D. Adultery

People "part like the seas" for Abigail because they ... A. Love and admire her. B. Believe her to be honest. C. Respect her devotion and faith. D. Fear her power to accuse them.

D. Fear her power to accuse them.

Who comes to ask questions about the Christianity of John Proctor's household? A. Reverend Parris B. Abigail C. Judge Hathorne D. Reverend Hale

D. Reverend Hale

Goody Osburn will hang, but Sarah Good will not because ... A. Goody Osburn's conjuring was much worse. B. The villagers like Sarah Good better that Goody Osburn. C. Parris spoke up for Sarah Good. D. Sarah Good confessed, but Goody Osburn did not.

D. Sarah Good confessed, but Goody Osburn did not.

What is Mary's motive in giving the "poppet" to Elizabeth? A. She wants to make friends with Elizabeth. B. She wants Elizabeth to see her as an innocent girl. C. She wants to plant evidence of witchcraft in Elizabeth's house. D. She wants to make peace with Elizabeth after disobeying her.

D. She wants to make peace with Elizabeth after disobeying her.

What things are "suspicious" about Proctor and his family? a. Proctor does not go to church regularly b. Their youngest son has not been baptized. c. He could not remember all of the commandments d. All of the above.

D. all of the above

What is the relationship between the Proctors in the beginning of Act 2?

Difficult

If one does something avidly, one does it

Eagerly

In The Crucible, Act II, Hale is in shock when the beloved Rebecca Nurse is accused. What does he mean when he alludes to the Biblical portrayal of the Devil, noting that "an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven"?

Evil can masquerade as good