The Crucible Act 2 Quiz

What gift did Mary give Elizabeth?

Mary gave Elizabeth a "poppet" (doll) she had made while sitting in court.

Who comes to ask questions about the Christianity of John Proctor's household?

Reverend Hale

What does Mary Warren give to Elizabeth that later gets her in trouble?

A hand-sewn doll.

Explain the significance of the needle in the "poppet."

Abigail had accused Elizabeth of sticking a needle in her (Abby's) stomach through the use of a "poppet" (doll). Cheever asked to see the doll that was in Elizabeth's house (the one that Mary had given her). When he looked under the dress, there was a needle stuck in the abdomen of the doll. On the basis of this evidence, Cheever determined that witchcraft was possible and did, in fact, take Elizabeth to prison.

Which commandment does John forget?

Adultery

Why does Elizabeth think Abigail wants to kill her?

Elizabeth knows of John's affair with Abby. She believes that Abby wants to take her place as John's wife.

What does Elizabeth Proctor report to her husband about the trials in Salem? What does she urge John to do?

Elizabeth tells John that fourteen people are in jail for witchcraft and that there is talk of hanging the accused. She wants John to go and tell Ezekiel Cheever that Abigail told him that witchcraft has nothing to do with the chaos in Salem.

Why did Hale come to Proctor's house?

Hale came out to question all accused persons for himself, so that he would have some knowledge of the people before they appeared in court or jail. He came to Proctor's house to question them to see if either of them had any suspicious activities which would relate to witchcraft.

What theological argument does John Hale use to explain the causes of the events in Salem?

Hale claims that "The Devil is alive in Salem" and that God is testing the faith of the citizens of Salem or God is punishing the citizens for some really bad thing that they've done and won't admit.

Why doesn't Proctor want Mary to go back to court?

If she goes back, that makes him further involved. Also, he believes that the accusations are false and the girls are frauds. It isn't a just court in Proctor's eyes.

Where does Mary Warren, apprentice in the Proctor household, spend most of her days recently?

In court with all the other girls.

What was the "evidence" against Sarah Good?

She confessed to witchcraft. The girls said she nearly choked them to death (and they acted so) in court. She mumbled when after begging for cider and bread, she had been turned away. She could not recite the commandments in court.

What is John's response to her prodding?

He is reluctant to go. He understands that he probably should go, but he does not want to get personally involved with the activity.

Why does Cheever come to the Proctor house?

Cheever comes to arrest Elizabeth.

Where does Elizabeth want John to go, and what does she want him to do there?

Elizabeth wants John to go into Salem to tell the authorities that the girls are not telling the truth.

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?

First, Hale questions why John has rarely been seen in church and John replies that Elizabeth was sick all winter so he needed to be home. Second, Hale asks why the Proctor's third son is not baptized and John explains that he does not want Rev. Parris to baptize his son because he doesn't respect him as his minister. Finally, Hale asks Elizabeth and John if they know the Ten Commandments. John recites them all, except he forgets the one about adultery.

Hale asks Elizabeth if she believes in witches. What is her reply?

If she is accused of being a witch, she cannot believe in witches. However, if the Bible says that witches exist, she cannot dispute the Bible.

The end of this act hints that the most important conflict in the play, will take place between two specific characters—a protagonist and an antagonist. Who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist?

John Proctor is the protagonist and Abigail Williams is the antagonist.

What conflict does John Proctor face at the end of the act?

John Proctor is torn because he needs to speak out against Abigail and he knows that if he does, she will reveal that they had an affair to everyone.

What ominous revelation does Mary Warren make about Elizabeth's reputation? How does this disclosure serve to make the quarrel between Elizabeth and John even more heated?

Mary Warren claims that Elizabeth's name has been "mentioned" in court. Elizabeth is known as being outspoken and sometimes harsh. Abigail is the one bringing Elizabeth up in court because she wants to get rid of her and be with John.

What gift does Mary Warren present to Elizabeth?

Mary Warren gives Elizabeth a poppet (small doll) that she made while in court.

What duty has Mary Warren been performing in Salem?

Mary Warren is "an official of the court" - she is witnessing accusations and testifying against people.

What things are "suspicious" about Proctor and his family?

Proctor does not go to church regularly. His youngest son has not been baptized. He does not have total faith in Parris, the minister. It takes both Parris and Elizabeth to remember all of the commandments. (He significantly forgot adultery.)

Explain John Proctor's allusion as he tells Hale, "Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this!"

Proctor equates John Hale to Pontius Pilate, the infamous traitor, and wants Hale to feel guilty for not standing up and stopping Elizabeth's arrest when he could have vouched for her.

Why doesn't Mary want to testify about the doll?

She doesn't want to testify because she is afraid of Abigail. She knows Abigail will "get her" if she goes against her.

On what charge(s) was Rebecca Nurse arrested?

She was arrested for the "marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam's babies."

What will happen to Proctor if he tries to discredit Abby?

She will tell that they had an affair; she will discredit his name by calling him a lecher.

Why does Elizabeth want John to go see Abigail?

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

Explain how each of the following is an example of verbal, situational, or dramatic irony: The one Commandment out of ten that John Proctor can't remember -

dramatic irony because the audience knows that John and Abigail had an affair but the characters in the play (aside from Elizabeth) do not.

Explain how each of the following is an example of verbal, situational, or dramatic irony: Mary's gift of a poppet to Elizabeth -

situational irony because it was supposed to be a gift but it ends up condemning Elizabeth as a witch

Explain how each of the following is an example of verbal, situational, or dramatic irony: Proctor's statement about Abigail at the end of the act, "Good. Then her saintliness is done with." -

verbal irony because Abigail is the furthest thing from a saint.