The Crucible Act II & III

verbal irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant

Mary Warren's Speaking in Court

At the beginning of Act III, what "hard evidence do Giles and Francis provide that the girls are frauds

Abigail may accuse Proctor of Adultery

Proctor knows that Abigail Williams is a fraud. What conflicts cause him to hesitate about revealing this knowledge?

Why is Elizabeth Proctor brought into the court?

To testify in favor of John Proctor, claims she was sick and thought her husband might be turning away.

They claim that the yellow bird about to attack them is Mary Warren's spirit.

What appears to happen to Abigail and the other girls after they are accused by Mary Warren of pretending?

People could be hung for witchcraft, Proctor's affair could be publicized.

What conflict confront the people who are charged with witchcraft?

John can't forgive himself for having an affair with Abigail

What conflicts do Elizabeth and John Proctor struggle with in their marriage?

admit to being a witch, give names of other witches, and apologize for practicing witchcraft

What do some of the accused, such as Sarah Good, do to save themselves from hanging?

Cheever finds a needle in the doll, which means she could have been playing voodoo

What evidence of Elizabeth's guilt does Cheever find?

Salem's witchcraft is a fraud, in attempts for people to seek vengeance on those who wronged them

What profound conflict does Proctor note when he confronts Hale with these words? "I'll tell yo what's walking Salem—vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were...but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom..."

In the vestry room of the Salem Meeting House

Where does the action of Act III take place?

Hale wishes to visit those accused of witchcraft, to get to know them and find out why.

Why does Hale visit the Proctor's home?

Proctor has not been to church in awhile, and cannot name the Ten Commandments

Why is Proctor's faith challenged by Hale?

condemnation

an expression of strong disapproval

Magistrates

elected officials

Proceedings

events in a court of law

effrontery

shameless boldness

callously

unfeelingly; insensitively

dramatic irony

when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't

remorseless

without regret or guilt