CRUCIBLE ACT 1, ACT 3, ACT 4

Why is Tituba's entrance during Hale's questioning of Abigail is a turning point in Act I?

Abigail diverts the blame for Betty's condition to Tituba.

Which phrase best describes the relationship that Abigail has had with the Proctors?

Abigail has worked as a servant for the Proctors; had an affair with John Proctor; been dismissed by Goody Proctor.

What development causes Mary Warren to recant her confession and rejoin Abigail and the other girls?

Abigail's pretending to be attacked by Mary's spirit

From the comments of Parris in Act I, his concern for his daughter seems primarily based on his

Anxiety about his reputation

Why does Reverend Parris send for Reverend Hale?

Hale is considered an expert in matters of witchcraft and the Devil.

What motivates Hale's attempt to intervene on behalf of Proctor?

Hale's commitment to the truth

Select the sentence that best describes why Danforth allows Elizabeth to speak to John Proctor in Act IV of The Crucible.

He hopes she will convince him to confess so that he will not hang.

In Act I, how does Reverend Parris's belief in the supernatural affect his response to his daughter's illness?

He seeks help from Reverend Hale.

Select the best description of how Elizabeth Proctor has changed during her imprisonment.

Her judgment of others has been tempered.

What can the audience infer from the brief scene involving Tituba, Sarah Good, and Herrick that opens Act IV?

Herrick is drinking in order to dull his anguish at the injustices being done.

What is Reverend Parris upset about at the opening of Act I?

His daughter's condition and the possible connection to her inappropriate activities in the woods

Choose the best explanation of why John Proctor anguishes over having his signed confession made public in Act IV of The Crucible.

His name represents who he is as a man and who he is to his descendants.

What idea about the law is conveyed by Danforth's determination to proceed with the executions immediately?

Injustice may be committed in the name of the law.

Why is Parris's charge of conspiracy effective?

It appeals to Danforth's fears of subversion.

Why is the phrase "out of her infinite charity" in the following passage an example of verbal irony? MARY WARREN, screaming at him: No, I love God; I go your way no more. I love God, I bless God. Sobbing, she rushes to ABIGAIL. Abby, Abby, I'll never hurt you more! They all watch, as ABIGAIL, out of her infinite charity, reaches out and draws the sobbing MARY to her, and then looks up to DANFORTH.

It contradicts the audience's knowledge about Abigail's true nature.

How does Mrs. Putnam justify sending Ruth to Tituba?

Mrs. Putnam feels she deserves to know why she has had to endure the deaths of seven children.

When Proctor refuses to condemn others to save himself, his behavior contrasts most strongly with the behavior of

Parris

Which character represents the tactic of making personal attacks on the integrity of witnesses?

Parris

Which theme is reflected by Proctor's decision to tear up the confession?

Personal honor determines the worth of one's self.

Which of the following is a consequence of Mary's going back to the side of the girls?

Proctor is arrested.

The climax of Act IV occurs when

Proctor refuses to sign the confession.

This passage is from the background information at the opening of Act I. For what detail that comes out later in Act I does this information prepare you? Long-held hatreds of neighbors could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken, despite the Bible's charitable injunctions. Land-lust which had been expressed before by constant bickering over boundaries and deeds, could now be elevated to the arena of morality . . .

Putnam arguing with Proctor about a piece of land to which both men lay claim

In The Crucible, at the beginning of Act I, what is wrong with Betty?

She is ill and the doctor doesn't know what is wrong with her

Given this piece of information from the stage directions, what can readers conclude about Tituba's behavior at the end of Act I? She enters as one does who can no longer bear to be barred from the sight of her beloved, but she is also very frightened because her slave sense has warned her that, as always, trouble in this house eventually lands on her back.

She is so sure that trouble will befall her that she plays along with Hale as he pushes her for information.

Considering Tituba's state of mind when she began naming names, what can you infer about her motivation?

She was afraid of Reverend Hale and thought naming names would save her from punishment.

What is ironic about calling the confessions of witchcraft "coming to God"?

The confessions are lies and therefore sins against God.

What can the audience infer from Judge Hathorne's questioning of Martha Corey at the beginning of Act III?

The court presumes that anyone accused of witchcraft is guilty.

Parris hopes that Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor will confess because he believes that

Their confessions will confirm the justice of all the trials and executions.

What can be inferred from Act I about the attitude of Puritans toward their slaves?

They saw their slaves as being only a step removed from paganism.

What does Proctor mean when he tells Danforth, "God dams our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together"?

We who commit wrongs knowingly are the most guilty of all.

Someone who has a predilection has

a preexisting preference.

Mrs. Putnam's comments suggest that her primary motivation in hunting for witches is

anger at having lost her children.

Thomas Putnam's attitude toward Reverend Parris is one of

contempt

From Act I, it can be inferred that the Puritans associated the forest with

disorder and evil.

Francis Nurse tells the judges that the girls are frauds. Hathorne's response is, "This is contempt, sir, contempt!" What is this an example of?

dramatic irony

Hathorne's comments to Giles Corey and Francis Nurse imply that he wants to arrest them because

he believes they are challenging his authority.

Danforth treats Parris with contempt because

he sees that Parris is motivated by fear for his own safety and reputation.

From the scene in which the girls are alone, what can be inferred as the basis of Abigail's influence over the other girls?

her social position as the minister's niece

Which word best describes John Proctor's words and actions in Act I?

independent

Which phrase best describes Abigail Williams's character?

proud and manipulative

Proctor's determination to preserve his good name speaks to the McCarthy era of the 1950's in that

reputations were ruined by irresponsible accusations.

During the presentation of the evidence, Proctor's behavior toward Danforth can best be described as

respectful.

Abigail has an "endless capacity for dissembling," which means

she frequently conceals her true motives from those around her.

What lesson has Elizabeth Proctor learned during her three months' imprisonment?

that one should not judge human frailty too harshly

The setting of Act IV is

the Salem jail, the autumn after the trial.

Which type of figure is represented by Ezekiel Cheever?

the naive witness who harms others by cooperating in an unjust process

A theme represented by Danforth's behavior is that

those in power tend to act in the interest of preserving power.

Why does Hale want Proctor to confess to witchcraft?

to save Proctor from execution

What is Proctor's main purpose in bringing Mary Warren to court?

to save his wife from condemnation

After Proctor is taken off to execution, Parris urges Elizabeth to go to her husband in order to

try once more to persuade him to confess.