The Crucible: Act 2 and 3 Quiz

What does Giles Corey accuse Mr. Putnam of? Is this a logical accusation? a) What will Corey be arrested for? Do you agree with his decision to be "mute"?

Giles is accusing Mr. Putnam of killing his neighbors for their land. This is a logical conclusion because this has happened before. He won't give the name of his informant. He is arrested for condemning the court. I agree with his decision because it is very easy to get arrested for just trying to give evidence.

On pg 98, we see a change in Hale's character. Explain it.

Hale was proven wrong by Danforth and started to be more humble. He said that there is a fear of the court in this country, suggests that Proctor should get a lawyer, and that the witches should be listened to. He feels guilty for putting people to death because he was not sure of his decisions.

What complaint does Proctor make about Parris?

He complains that Parris is greedy and makes people fear Hell too much by the way he preaches.

On page 71, Hale says, "Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven." What is he trying to say?

He is trying to say that one does not always know who is involved with malpractice or witchcraft until they are exposed. Even though Rebecca may seem nice, she could very well still be a witch.

What does Proctor mean when he exclaims, "God is Dead"?

He means that God is no longer controlling Salem, the devil is. He believes the devil is controlling the girls to act so ridiculously by accusing innocent people of witchcraft. He believes they are welcoming the devil in, not God as they say.

What is ironic about John's recitation of the Ten Commandments?

He remembers all but the one about adultery, which is what he committed.

Why won't Proctor have his youngest son baptized?

He won't have his youngest son baptized because he doesn't trust Parris with his son.

How does Proctor explain not going to church?

His excuse is that Elizabeth was sick so he couldn't leave her to go to church.

Infer Herrick's and Cheever's job/title.

I think that Herrick checks on prisoners or works in the prison/jail. I think Cheever works for the court.

What do you think of Danforth after reading to pg 91? Explain your answer.

I think that he will believe the victims first because he's seen ridiculous things happen before.

What is the setting of Act II?

In the common room of Proctor's house in Salem, Massachusetts. Occurs 8 days after Act 1.

Why doesn't John Proctor just accept this? Do you see any change in his attitude from the beginning of the play?

John Proctor doesn't just accept this because he wants to save the others that are accused. He seems more compassionate now because cared about the others that were accused. He also realizes that his wife will still be condemned because his wife will get killed after she gives birth. He is now more assertive, because at the beginning he did not want to even go to court, but now he is defending others.

Explain the conversation that takes place between Mary Warren and John Proctor at the end of Act II.

John Proctor is forcing Mary Warren to go to court and accuse Abigail of witchcraft because she accused Elizabeth. Mary really does not want to do this. John is pretty justified because Abigail is the one who tried to get Elizabeth accused. Mary Warren also does not want to confess because she made the poppet because she could be accused as a witch.

What is the reason that Martha Corey has been accused of witchcraft?

Martha Corey was accused because she was reading fortunes.

Who is Mary Warren and why does she go to Salem?

Mary Warren is a consultant to help in the trials. The Proctors do not like that she is leaving. She goes to Salem because she wants to inform the Proctors of this fact.

Whom does Mary Warren accuse now? Why?

Mary Warren now accuses Proctor of interacting with the devil. She does this because she knows that she will no longer be against Abby, who has threatened her in the past. She is afraid of Abby, and also knows she is fighting a losing battle by defending John Proctor.

Describe Mary Warren's relationship with John Proctor.

Mary and John's relationship is tense and strained.

What gift does Mary give to Goody Proctor?

Mary gives Goody Proctor a doll.

What does Parris suggest the judges do with the people who signed the testament? How do his actions so far in Act III connect to what we know about him as a character?

Paris says these people should be condemned. Danforth says the people who signed should be arrested. He thinks everyone is against him.

What does Parris ask Mary to do to prove herself?

Parris asks Mary to faint on demand. He does this because he wants to see if she was really faking it when she did so in the court before. She fails to do this.

How does Parris react while Mary and John are speaking to Danforth?? Why do you think he reacts this way?

Parris reacts by accusing others of being bad Christians. He is also very defensive and dismissive. He does this to make himself look better and assert his religious authority.

What do Proctor, Giles, and Francis Nurse give to Danforth?

Proctor, Giles and Francis Nurse give Danforth evidence to prove their wives' innocence -- 91 people confirmed this.

Why does Reverend Hale leave? Do you think he is justified? Explain the irony of his actions.

Reverend Hale believes the girls are lying and that Proctor is being honest because he believes he is a good person. I think it is good that he believes Proctor because he is, in fact, telling the truth. However, it is odd that he left out of frustration instead of using his religious authority to his advantage to defend Proctor. Him believing Proctor is ironic because he was heavily questioning him and his wife, which is what got her actually sent to court in the first place.

Why is Elizabeth Proctor temporarily saved from being hanged?

She announced that she is pregnant, so the judge allowed her to live at least until her baby is born.

In a tense moment, Elizabeth Proctor is called in to testify that her husband is an adulterer. What does she say when confronted with the question? Why?

Since she is not aware that Proctor admitted to adultery, she lies and says that while he was tempted by Abigail, he never had sex with her. She cannot look to Proctor for help because the judge made him turn his back to her. The judge knows that what she said is untrue, and she is taken away for lying.

What are some motifs that have been seen so far? What themes could they be leading to?

Some motifs we have seen so far are reputation, jealousy, pettiness, greed, and loss. -Someone will take any means necessary to save their reputation, morally just or not. -Jealousy can cause people to take violent and unethical routes to get what they desire. -Many arguments happen because of unimportant or petty disputes in the past. -People want more things like land and commodities and will go so far to argue to get it. -Loss of a loved one can cause people to act irrationally, even being jealous of those who have not experienced that kind of trauma.

What other event that evening is the poppet connected to?

The poppet is a girl with a needle in her stomach, which happened to Abigail earlier that day.

What triggers the argument between John and Elizabeth? Who do you think is more justified?

Their argument is about the affair. I believe Elizabeth is more justified because John was the one who cheated on her, lied about it, and then continued to talk to Abigail. John is merely using her anger to build his.

List some of the major conflicts that are evident so far in the play (both internal and external).

-Parris vs. Proctor -Abigail vs. Elizabeth Proctor -Proctor vs. himself -Mary Warren vs. Proctor -Reverend Hale vs. the Proctors -Proctor vs. society -Putnam vs. Proctor -Ann Putnam vs. Rebecca Nurse -John Proctor vs. Abigail

It appears the community has been turned upside down. List three motifs and their possible themes at this point.

-Reputation: People will go to extremes to preserve their reputation, even if it means sacrificing other's needs in the process. -Punishment: Accusations can lead to harsh punishments from authorities, sometimes even without proper evidence to prove their guilt. -Denial: Many will deny true assumptions that others make to save themselves or others from severe consequences.

Look up the definition of "crucible" and write its meanings below. How does this tie in with the events that have happened so far in the play?

-The word "crucible" has three meanings. One applies to the book literally, meaning "a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development" (Marriam-Webster Dictionary). This quite literally applies to the Salem witch trials, in which the supposed witches and people who defend them are fighting against the girls. Each side is trying to prove their point -- the girls are playing victim and want to get innocent people arrested and hanged while the accused are trying to prove their innocence. They each want to influence change in their direction. - A crucible can also be a severe test, which also applies very clearly to the play, as the "witches" are being almost tested to see if they are guilty. -The last definition of a crucible is "a vessel of a very refractory material (such as porcelain) used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat" (Marriam-Webster Dictionary). One could say this has a metaphorical meaning in the book -- the tense or hot situation is occurring in the vessel, the Salem witch trials.

List some motifs

-reputation -jealousy -loss -pettiness -greed -purity -paranoia -denial -passion -integrity -infatuation -punishment -tension -confession

How many people have been arrested as witches so far?

39 people have been arrested as witches so far..

What do Abby and the girls do to Mary Warren? Summarize the scene.

Abby and the girls pretend Mary is witching them. They back away in fear of Mary, begging her to spare them. Susana Walcott even says Mary has claws. They even repeat what she said like she is controlling them, when really they are just mimicking her. Danforth asks Mary questions about whether or not she has interacted with the devil, which she denies. Mary is obviously frustrated with the girls. Abigail keeps pretending Mary the bird is flying down unto them. It ends in Mary leaving Proctor to repent to God with the girls.

What ploy (tactic/strategy) does Abigail use to disrupt the court? How does it backfire?

Abigail pretends that Mary conjured a spirit bird to try to hurt her. Mary Warren framed John and Abigail's greatest fear is losing John, which is why it backfired.

What is the setting of Act III?

Act III takes place in the Salem meeting house, which is now the anteroom of the General Court.

Why does Danforth refuse to have a lawyer present in Proctor's case? What does this tell you about Danforth?

Danforth does not want to have Proctor obtain a lawyer because the evidence is invisible (as there is only the victim and witch to listen to), and the lawyer would only bring in faulty evidence. This shows that Danforth is close-minded and does not want to listen to people's opinions if they do not fit his narrative, and uses that it is an invisible crime to justify this.

Who are the two judges? Describe them each.

Danforth: perhaps is more reasonable, full of himself, wants to speed the process up, doesn't need lawyers present and wants to win, biased: doesn't listen to some sides, constricted by his beliefs/laws of the time. Hathorne: quick to judge (pg86)

Who are the women who are falsely accused of witchcraft at the end of Act II? Why is each accused?

Elizabeth Proctor and Giles Correy's wife were falsely accused of witchcraft. Goody Proctor was accused because she had the doll with a needle through it just like Abigail had happened to her. They thought this was some type of voodoo so this is why she was accused. In actuality, it was Mary's doll that Abigail gave her. In other words, Elizabeth was set up. Giles Correy's wife was accused because anytime she would read, Giles would forget his prayers.

What convinces Proctor to agree with his wife's request?

Elizabeth being accused of witchcraft finally convinces Proctor to go tell off Abigail.

What does Elizabeth Proctor want John to do regarding Abigail?

Elizabeth wants John to go to court to publicly put Abigail in her place so that she leaves her family alone and Elizabeth is no longer accused of witchcraft.