The Crucible Study Guide

Remember you can use your PowerPoint Notes on

the test!!
1. What is the setting of the play (time and place)?
2. Who is (are) the protagonist(s) of the play?
3. Who is (are) the antagonist(s) of the play?
4. Who is the author of the play?
5. What was the play a reaction to?
6. How is Reverend Hale different from the other priests?
7. List at least TWO of the themes in The Crucible:
8. What aspects of Puritanism allowed the Salem Witch Trials to take
place?
9. What characters choose to protect their integrity?
10. What is a ‘crucible’? Why did Arthur Miller choose to name his
play “The Crucible”?
11. Know who says the following quotes:

A. John Proctor
B. Elizabeth Proctor
C. Abigail
D. Danforth
E. Hale
F. Parris

12. “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my

life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth
the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my
name? I have given you my soul; leave my name!”
13. “There are many others who stay away from church these days
because you hardly ever mention God any more.”
14. “I never sold myself! I’m a good girl! I’m a proper girl!”
15. “He has his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!”
16. “There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my
head!!”
17. “And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I
cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love
me yet!”
18. “All innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in
Salem! These people are gloomy for it.”
19. “It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is
God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify
the taking of it… it may well be God damns a liar less than he that
throws his life away for pride.”
20. “You must understand, Sir, that a person is either with this court
or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.”
21. “I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem—vengeance is walking Salem.
We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy
children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common
vengeance writes the law!”
22. “I say—I say—God is dead!”

Review ALL of your Act questions—there will be short answer

questions on the test taken DIRECTLY from these worksheets.

Short Essay Questions. Practice answering each question with

5-7 sentences:

1. What similarities are there between the Communist witch hunts of

the 1950s and “The Crucible?” Write about at least 3 similarities.
Make sure to EXPLAIN:

2. Pick ONE of the following themes, and write 5-7 sentences

explaining how this theme is present in the novel: Puritanism and
Individuality, Hysteria, The Danger of Ideology, and
Reputation and Integrity.