Crucible study questions
Which line best represents Elizabeth Proctor's view in the trials?
"I cannot think the Devil may own a woman's soul when she keeps an upright way."
18. What does John Proctor do, in a desperate attempt to foil Abigail? (A) He tells the court about his affair with her. (B) He accuses her of witchcraft. (C) He tries to kill her. (D) He tells the court that Abigail is a man dressed as a woman.
(A) He tells the court about his affair with her.
10. What news does Mary Warren bring from Salem? (A) That someone accused Elizabeth of witchcraft (B) That the witch trials have ended (C) That someone accused John Proctor of witchcraft (D) That Reverend Hale is ill
(A) That someone accused Elizabeth of witchcraft
13. To what does John Proctor convince Mary Warren to testify? (A) That the girls are only pretending to be possessed (B) That Abigail is a witch (C) That Hale is a warlock (D) That he and Abigail slept together
(A) That the girls are only pretending to be possessed
6. What is John Proctor's chief complaint against Parris's sermons? (A) They focus too much on fire and brimstone. (B) They are too long. (C) They are heretical. (D) They are too short.
(A) They focus too much on fire and brimstone.
8. Who is the first person that Abigail claims practiced witchcraft? (A) Tituba (B) John Proctor (C) Reverend Hale (D) Mary Warren
(A) Tituba
3. Before the play begins, what did Parris catch his daughter and other girls doing? (A) Trying to run away from home (B) Dancing in the forest (C) Reading Catholic tracts (D) Conducting a black mass in the church
(B) Dancing in the forest
14. Who is in charge of the court? (A) Giles Corey (B) Danforth (C) Hale (D) Parris
(B) Danforth
5. As the play opens, whom has Parris asked to come to Salem? (A) Judge Danforth (B) Reverend Hale (C) Tituba (D) John Proctor
(B) Reverend Hale
24. What does Abigail do at the end of the play? (A) She kills herself. (B) She flees Salem, after robbing her uncle. (C) She is hanged. (D) She is revealed as a witch.
(B) She flees Salem, after robbing her uncle.
20. What does Elizabeth do when called upon to testify? (A) Keeps silent (B) Tells a lie (C) Tells the truth (D) Kills herself
(B) Tells a lie
7. What does Mrs. Putnam blame on witchcraft? (A) Her husband's cancer (B) The death of seven of her children in infancy (C) Bad weather (D) Raids by natives
(B) The death of seven of her children in infancy
15. Why will Elizabeth not be hanged if she is found guilty? (A) Because she is a woman (B) Because the Puritans do not allow capital punishment (C) Because she is pregnant (D) Because John Proctor is well respected
(C) Because she is pregnant
22. When John Proctor is facing death, what does Hale urge him to do? (A) Kill himself (B) Blame someone else (C) Confess, even though he is innocent (D) Refuse to confess
(C) Confess, even though he is innocent
16. On what charge is Giles Corey arrested? (A) Witchcraft (B) Murder (C) Contempt of court (D) Slander
(C) Contempt of court
2. What is Parris's position in Salem? (A) Governor (B) Judge (C) Minister (D) Bailiff (D) Bailiff
(C) Minister
17. When Mary Warren testifies against them, what do Abigail and her troop of girls do? (A) They all confess. (B) They attack her. (C) They claim that Mary is bewitching them. (D) They claim that John Proctor has bewitched Mary.
(C) They claim that Mary is bewitching them.
9. In Act II, what does Mary Warren give to Elizabeth Proctor when she returns home from the trials? (A) A cake (B) A bonnet (C) A kiss (D) A little doll
(D) A little doll
4. Why did Elizabeth Proctor fire Abigail? (A) Abigail was too proud. (B) Abigail didn't work hard enough. (C) Abigail dressed like a prostitute. (D) Abigail was having an affair with John Proctor.
(D) Abigail was having an affair with John Proctor.
12. Whom do Ezekiel Cheever and Herrick, the marshal, come to the Proctor home to arrest? (A) John Proctor (B) Reverend Hale (C) Mary Warren (D) Elizabeth Proctor
(D) Elizabeth Proctor
25. What ultimately happens to John Proctor? (A) He is freed. (B) He kills himself. (C) He escapes from prison and flees to Virginia. (D) He is hanged.
(D) He is hanged.
1. What kind of government does Salem have in The Crucible? (A) Democracy (B) Theocracy (C) Monarchy (D) Kleptocracy
B) Theocracy
11. Which commandment does John Proctor forget when Reverend Hale quizzes him? (A) Thou shalt not kill. (B) Thou shalt not commit adultery. (C) Honor thy mother and father. (D) Thou shalt not covet.
B) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Which of the following is not matched to the person whom he/she accuses of witchcraft?
Betty Parris: George Jacobs
Why do many of the accused admit to witchcraft?
By admitting to witchcraft they guarantee that they will not be executed.
21. What does the court do with John Proctor? (A) It frees him and sends him home. (B) It orders him stoned to death. (C) It exiles him to Maine. (D) It arrests and tries him for witchcraft.
D) It arrests and tries him for witchcraft.
"More weight." What of the following is not significant about this line?
Danforth erroneously believes that Giles will admit to witchery if placed under greater torture
"Your justice would freeze beer." To whom does this line refer?
Elizabeth Proctor
Which character proclaims that Abigail Williams should be "ripped out of the world"?
Elizabeth Proctor
Which of the following characters does not support John Proctor's decision to falsely admit to witchcraft?
Elizabeth Proctor
What is the source of the tension in the Proctor household?
Elizabeth knows that John committed adultery and she cannot forgive him for that.
How does Rev. Hale change as the proceedings progress?
He begins to see that Salem's court and church are corrupt. He finally withdraws himself from the court and its proceedings.
What does Proctor reveal in Act III in an effort to discredit Abigail?
He confesses that he committed adultery and had an affair with Abigail. He calls her a "*****".
What makes John Proctor finally tear up his confession and decide it is better to hang?
He does not want his confession nailed to the church door before all to see. He claims that all he has left is his name and they won't even leave him that.
Why does Reverend Parris wish to spare Proctor?
He fears for his life if a respected man is hanged.
Who is Reverend Hale, and what does he accomplish?
He is a reverend who is summoned to Salem to identify witches. He puts the majority of Salem in jail, but later realizes that there is no witchcraft in Salem-only corruption. He leaves and returns later.
What is the likely reason that Old Giles cannot say his prayers?
He is forgetful and barely knows his prayers.
What makes Danforth anxious to obtain confessions? At the same time, why does he refuse to postpone the executions?
He knows that he made a mistake, but does not want to look like a fool after arresting and hanging so many people. He wants to look like he did what was right, so he says that John Proctor must confess and sign a document to save his life as well as Danforth's own reputation. He refuses to postpone the executions because it will appear that he is hesitating and questioning his decision.
What is unusual about Giles Corey?
He never attended church before he married his wife. He reports that his wife reads books that he does not know about. Also, he files lawsuits regularly.
Why is Thomas Putnam such a bitter man?
He wants more land and therefore, more power.
How did Giles die? Why did he refuse to answer the charge?
He was crushed to death by stones because he didn't want to subject someone else to hatred from Thomas Putnam pver key land by divulging a name. He, himself, would die either way.
What happens to Reverend Parris at the end of the play?
His reputation has been destroyed and he is fired.
"What victory would the Devil have to win a soul already bad?" What is the significance of this line?
It foreshadows the eventual charges against respectable citizens such as Rebecca Nurse.
What is significant about Giles Corey's charge against Thomas Putnam?
It is ironic, for Giles Corey is condemned for giving evidence that is hearsay, while equally invalid evidence is used to condemn persons for witchcraft.
"The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone." What is the significance of this line?
It is ironic, for Reverend Hale is using ambiguous marks to define the devil's presence.
"Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small." What is the significance of this line?
It shows that any person may be suspected of witchcraft for any small fault.
What is the significant about Danforth's support for Proctor's confession?
It shows that his interest is in preserving the court and not in actual justice.
Explain Proctor's last speech in Act III.
It was mainly about the corruption in the Puritan church. He cries that God is dead. This speech demonstrates his almost complete madness and loss of faith-"in hypocrites!!!" (Mr. Sturdevant commented)
Which of the following is not matched to their motive for promoting the witchcraft trials?
John Hathorne : superstition
Which of these characters is not condemned for witchery?
Giles Corey
Which of the following did not occur during the dancing?
Susanna Walcott murdered a frog and a rabbit for Tituba's spell.
"The Crucible" is an allegorical tale that relates most strongly to which contemporary event for Arthur Miller?
The McCarthy hearings
What grudge do the Putnams not have against the Nurses?
The Nurses own land that the Putnams covet.
What were Abigail and the girls doing in the forest when Reverend Parris saw them?
The girls were dancing and some of them were not wearing clothes. There was a frog in the pot and Tituba was chanting.
What is the only way a person accused of witchcraft can save his or her own life?
They must confess to witchcraft.
What is the significance of the line "before the laws of God we are as swine! We cannot read his will."
This demonstrates the change in Reverend Hale, for at the beginning of the play he believed that he could ascertain any supernatural phenomenon.
Why will Elizabeth's life be spared for at least a year?
because she is pregnant ane the Church will not kill an innocent child
Why do Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to see John Proctor?
because their wives have been accused of witchcraft and they are concerned with the corruption in Salem
Why does Hale come to see the Proctors?
because they were not attending church and there was a needle in Abigail's abdomen
Of what does Giles Corey accuse Thomas Putnam in Act III?
of telling his daughter to accuse Corey's wife of witchcraft so that he could buy Corey's land
Why doesn't Elizabeth beg John to sign the confession?
she wants John to do what he wishes and "have his goodness"
What does Proctor demand of Mary Warren in Act II?
that she tell the court that she put the needle in the doll to free Elizabeth of accusations, but Mary refuses because she says that Abigail will kill her
Why does Hale return to Salem in Act IV?
to convince the accused to confess and save their innocent lives
What is Parris' real reason for pleading the postponement of the executions?
to save his own reputation and position
What is the relationship between Abigail and John Proctor?
John cheated on Elizabeth, his wife, with Abigail once. Abigail is now obsessed with John and wants to be his wife, but John feels guilty after commiting adultury.
Which of the following is not evidence used by Hale against the Proctors?
John's affair with Abigail Williams
How does Mary "save" Elizabeth's life, but later cause her to be accused?
Mary defended Elizabeth when she was accused of witchcraft during the trials.
What is the source of the conflict between Parris and Proctor?
Proctor questions Parris's beliefs and morals. He sees that Parris is more concerned with keeping his position as minister than with practicing his true religion and devotion to God.
What does Rebecca Nurse think is wrong with the girls?
She thinks that the girls are faking witchcraft to get attention.
What does the commandment that Proctor forgets concern?
Adultery
23. Why does Proctor retract his confession? (A) Because the officials demand that he sign his name to it (B) Because Hale asks him to (C) Because new evidence has come to light (D) Because Abigail confesses
A) Because the officials demand that he sign his name to it
19. Who is brought in to corroborate John Proctor's claims about Abigail? (A) Elizabeth Proctor (B) Rebecca Nurse (C) Mary Warren (D) Parris
A) Elizabeth Proctor
How does Abigail feel about John's wife, Elizabeth?
Abigail is jealous of Elizabeth and thus despises her.
In his introduction to the play, how does Miller explain what really motivated the people of Salem to accuse their neighbors, friends, and relatives of witchcraft?
Miller explains that everyone in Salem wanted vengeance upon others for various reasons. Because of that, witchcraft accusations flew.
According to Proctor, what concerns Parris more than his duty to God?
Parris is more concerned with keeping his position as minister. He purchased gold and candles.
Which of the following is not a complaint that Proctor has against Reverend Parris?
Parris reaches out for land at the expense of his neighbors
Why is Parris so worried about the evidence of witchcraft being discovered in his own house?
Parris wants to remain minister and fears any evidence that may harm his reputation.
Which character in the play is compared to Pontius Pilate?
Reverend John Hale
How has Salem been affected by these several months of court proceedings?
Salem is falling apart. Because so many are in jail, children and animals run free. Everyone is confused and frightened by the extent to which the trials have been taken and fear that they will be accused next.
Why does Tituba confess so readily? What does her confession initiate?
She confesses because she is being whipped. Her confession causes the women to begin accusing one another.
What does Elizabeh fear about Abigail?
She fears Abigail's instability and thinks that she will do anything to get her out of the way so that she can have John for herself.
What happens to Abigail at the end of the play?
She goes to Boston and becomes a prostitute.
How has Elizabeth changed during her imprisonment?
She has forgiven John and apologizes for keeping such a "cold house".
Why is Mrs. Putnam so eager to prove there is witchcraft in the village?
She has lost all but one of her children shortly after they were born and wants someone to blame (a scapegoat).
What happens to Elizabeth in Act II?
She is arrested for witchcraft and put in jail.
Why does Abigail Williams live with Reverend Parris?
She is his niece.
What happens to Elizabeth Proctor at the end of the play?
She is spared for at least a year bebcause she is pregnant.
Which commandment does John forget?
adultery
