The Crucible Study Guide
Act I
1.Why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor as the play begins?
2.What advice does the doctor send back?
3.What does Parris question his niece Abigail about?
4.What is Parris’ main concern?
5.What did Parris see in the woods the previous night?
6.What has Elizabeth Proctor said about Abigail?
7.Why does Abigail say the Proctors dismissed her?
8. What rumors have circulated the town about Betty Parris? What proof later
occurs that "proves" that she is a witch? What do these rumors say about the
community of Salem?
9. Why did Mrs. Putnam contact Tituba?
10.Who does Abigail accuse of conjuring spirits at this point?
11.What does Betty Parris reveal about what happened in the woods?
12.What threat does Abigail make to the other girls?
13.What happened in the past between John Proctor and Abigail? How does each
of them feel about it now?
14.What is the function of Rebecca Nurse in the play?
15.How does John Proctor feel about Reverend Parris?
16.What is the dispute between John Proctor and Thomas Putnam? What does
this dispute foreshadow?
17.Why is Reverend Hale in Salem? Why is he considered an "expert" in his
field?
18.What does Giles Corey reveal to Reverend Hale?
19.When Reverend Hale questions Abigail, whom does she blame? What proof does
she offer?
20.What ultimatum is Tituba given?
21. What is the true meaning behind Tituba's confession?
22.Who does Tituba accuse of being a witch?
23.Why do Abigail and Betty start accusing people at this point?
24. List the conflicts that are introduced in Act I. Which do you think is
the major conflict? Give reasons for your answers.
Act II
1. Explain the dual causes of Proctor's guilt.
2. At the beginning of this act, John Proctor says, "It is winter in here
yet." Why is this pertinent to what is going on?
3. Why has Mary Warren disobeyed her employers and gone to Salem? How does
she justify herself?
4.What did Abigail Williams reveal to John Proctor? Elizabeth reminds him of
this.
5.Why hasn’t John told the court what he knows? What does Elizabeth attribute
his not telling to?
6. What lie did John Proctor tell to Elizabeth that makes her more suspicious
of him?
7. What news does Mary Warren reveal to John and Elizabeth about the trials?
8. How does Mary Warren behave towards her employers?
9. What does Mary Warren mean when she says, "I saved her life today!"?
10. What does Elizabeth realize when she finds out that she has been accused?
11. What does Elizabeth ask John to do?
12. Why does Reverend Hale visit the Proctors?
13. How does John Proctor respond to questions about why he has not been to
church?
14. What does Reverend Hale ask Proctor to do?
15. Discuss the meaning of "Adultery, John." (page 67)
16. What information does John Proctor reveal to Reverend Hale?
17. What does Reverend Hale want John to do with this information?
18. Why does Elizabeth say that she doesn’t believe in witches at this point?
19. What news does Giles Corey reveal to the Proctors and Reverend Hale?
20.What has Rebecca Nurse been accused of?
21. Why has Martha Corey been accused?
22. Why do Ezekiel Cheever and Marshal Herrick arrive at the Proctor home?
23. Explain why Cheever is both astonished and afraid when he finds the
poppet with the needle in it?
24. What does Proctor claim is "walking Salem"? How does this change the
accusations?
25.What does John ask Mary Warren to do?
26.Why is Mary so afraid to do as he asks?
27.Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail?
28.What does John decide to do?
Act III
1.As this act opens, what accusation does Giles Corey make? Why is he not
allowed to present his evidence in court?
2. What is Danforth's title? Hawthorne's?
3.What news do we learn about Rebecca Nurse?
4.When John Proctor arrives at court with Mary Warren, what does Reverend
Parris accuse him of?
5.What two pieces of evidence are brought out against Proctor in regard to
his Christian nature?
6. What news does Danforth tell John Proctor about Elizabeth? What deal does
he try to make with him?
7. What is going to happen to the 91 people who signed the testament stating
a good opinion of Elizabeth, Martha Corey, and Rebecca Nurse?
8. Discuss the irony in the biblical quote "Do that which is good , and no
harm shall come to thee."
9. What is Giles Corey’s proof that Thomas Putnam is "reaching out for land"?
Why won’t he reveal his source?
10. What happens to Giles Corey?
11. What is Reverend Hale’s advice to John Proctor as he is about to read his
disposition before the court?
12. What does Danforth think Mary Warren’s appearance in the court might be?
13. How does Hawthorn intend to disprove Mary Warren's deposition?
14. What does Abigail do when suspicion that she might be pretending falls on
her?
15. What is the nature of Proctor's sacrifice? What could it mean for all
involved?
16. Explain how Danforth decides to test John's accusation of Abigail and
discuss the irony of what happens.
17. What happens when Reverend Hale states that Abigail has always seemed
false to him?
18. What is Mary Warren’s reaction to Abigail’s performance?
19. Why do the girls repeat Mary's words? What does this say about the trial
in general?
20. What does John Proctor mean when he says, "God is dead!"?
21. What does Hale do when Proctor is arrested? How does Act III serve as
Hale's turning point?
Act IV
1. What has become of the women imprisoned in jail?
2. Why has Reverend Hale returned to Salem?
3. What is Reverend Hale advising the condemned to do?
4. What does Reverend Parris reveal about his niece Abigail?
5. What is the condition of Salem at this point?
6. How does Andover differ from Salem?
7. How do the proposed hangings of Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor differ from
the past executions?
8. What does Reverend Parris want Danforth to do?
9. What does Reverend Hale want Danforth to do?
10. What does Reverend Hale mean when he says, "there is blood on my head!"?
11. Why does Danforth refuse to postpone the hangings? What does this say
about the logic of the court?
12. What do Hale and Danforth request of Elizabeth Proctor?
13. What happened to Giles Corey? How does this end the land dispute between
the Putnams and the Coreys?
14. What is John’s excuse for confessing?
15. What is Elizabeth’s proof that John is a good man?
16. How has Elizabeth changed since we first met her?
17. Why does Danforth bring Rebecca to hear Proctor's confession?
18. After John confesses, what does Danforth want him to do?
19. Discuss "I am John Proctor! You will not use me!"
20. What does Hale attribute Proctor’s willingness to hang to?
21. What does Elizabeth attribute it to?
22. How does religion influence the end of The Crucible?
Kindred by Octavia Butler
Kindred means a similarity in quality or character including by blood. “And
by the way, I wanted to point out that Kindred is not science fiction. You'll
note there's no science in it. It's a kind of grim fantasy but yet it was
reality”- Octavia Butler
Prologue
1.Who is the narrator?
2. What happened to Dana on her last trip home?
3. How did her husband Kevin find her?
4. What did the doctors do to her arm?
5. Why did the police arrested Kevin?
6. Why did the police release Kevin?
7. Why didn’t Dana tell the police the truth?
The River
1.What is the current year in the book and how old is Dana?
2. While unpacking, what happens to Dana?
4. What is happening to Rufus?
5. what does Dana do for Rufus?
6. What do the mother and father do to Dana?
7. What happens to Dana after this incident?
8. What does Kevin say happened?
9. Why is Dana worried about returning to the scene?
The Fire Part I and II
1.Whose bedroom does Dana find herself in and what is the boy doing?
2.How does Rufus connect with The River?
3. What does Rufus say that he remembers before he began to drown?
4. Why did Rufus think that Dana was a man?
5. What does Rufus say his mother thought Dana was and what does Dana tell
Rufus to refer to her as?
6. Why did Rufus set fire to the drapes?
7. What state does Rufus tell them they are in and what is the year?
8. What is Rufus last name and what is his young black friend’s name?
9. Who is Rufus and Alice Greenwood to Dana?
10. What was Alice Greenwood?
11. Where is Rufus guiding Dana to?
The Fire Part III
12. What happens to Alice’s mother and what does Dana do for her?
13. Who is Alice’s husband to Tom Weylin?
14. Why does Dana not tell Alice’s mother that she is from California?
15. When Dana goes outside to get the blanket that Alice left behind, what
does the patrolman do to her?
The Fire Part V and VI.
16. Why has Kevin packed a bag for Dana? What has he put in this bag?
17. What do Kevin and Dana do to help her to avoid trouble?
The Fall Part I
1. How did Dana meet Kevin and why were they teased?
The Fall Pt. 2
2. When Dana becomes dizzy and Kevin holds on to her, what happens to
the two of them?
3. What has happened to Rufus?
4. Why is Rufus so shocked about Dana and Kevin?
5. What does Rufus call Dana that makes her mad?
6. What do they show Rufus to make them believe that they come from
California in 1976?
7. What does Rufus agree to?
The Fall Pt. 3 and 4
8. what does Weylin offer to Dana and Kevin?
9. What does Nigel’s father warn Dana?
10. When Margaret sends Dana out to cookhouse, she meets Sarah, how does
Sarah feel about Margaret?
10. What is Dana so worried about?
11. What has Weylin hired Kevin to do?
12. What did Kevin tell Weylin about he and Dana?
13. What does KEvin Warn Dana?
14. What Dana and Kevin hope they may prevent?
The Fall Pt. 5
15. What does Margaret throw on Dana?
16. Why does Dana refuse to leave the Weylins?
17. What does Kevin suggest that Dana do?
18. What does Dana and Kevin begin to do and what has Margaret been
doing to Kevin?
19. What Kevin and Dana noticed about the female slaves children?
20. Whose books is in the library that Dana reads to Rufus?
21. What has Dana learned about Alice’s father?
22. What has Rufus told his mother?
23. What does Weylin tell Dana and what is her response? After this
response, what does Weylin tell Dana?
The Fall Pt. 6
24. What does Weylin force Dana and the other slaves to do?
25. Why does Maregaret slap Dana?
26. Why does Dana not respond?
27. Why does Sarah hate Margaret?
28. What does Sarah warn Dana and what advice does she giver her?
The Fall Pt. 7
29. Why does Dana feel ashamed when Weylin winks at her after leaving
Kevin’s room?
30. What does Weylin tell Dana to do, when he catches her in the library?
31. What does Nigel asks Dana to do?
32. What about the young children horrifies Dana?
33. What does Kevin say about the plantation?
34. What is Dana’s response and how does she begin to feel about Kevin?
The Fall Pt.8
35. What does Dana find Nigel teaching Carrie?
36. Why does Sarah not want Carrie to learn how to read?
37. What does Dana agree to do?
38. As Dana gets up to burn a spelling test that Nigel has passed, what
happens to Dana?
The Fight Pt. 1
1. What happens to Dana after Weylin hits her and where is Kevin?
2. Explain how Dana and Kevin’s family felt about them marrying.
The Fight Pt. 2
3. How many months did Dana spend in Maryland and how many days had went
by since she had been home?
4. Why does Dana try to read all the books that pertain to slavery?
The Fight Pt. 3
5. How many days was Dana at home and where dis she have to go back to?
6. How old is Rufus when she returns?
7. What is going on with Rufus now?
8. What has Rufus done to Alice?
9. What does Dana wonder about this rape?
10. What does Dana tell Isacc to keep him from Killing Rufus?
11. What does Alice tell Dana about Kevin?
.
The Fight Pt. 4
12. What does Rufus say he would have done with Alice?
13. What Dana realize about Rufus’ feeling for Alice?
14. What does Rufus agree to do?
15. What does Rufus assure Dana of?
The Fight Pt. 5.
16. What is going on with Carrie?
17. What does Weylin ask Dana?
18. What has Dana learned about Kevin?
19. What does Weylin tell Dana?
20. What does Sarah learn about Margaret?
21. What does the above answer in # 20 mean for Dana?
22. What does Dana give Rufus for his fever and why is this ironic?
23. What has Nigel told Dana about he and Carrie?
24. How does Dana feel about slave marriages?
25. What does Nigel say that he and Weylin understand about Dana?
26. Please tell what Nigel and Dana say about Weylin.
27. What does Rufus question Dana about and what is her response?
28. What does Rufus show Dana and what does Rufus agree to do?
The Fight Pt. 6
29. Why did Margaret leave according to Sarah?
30. Why was Luke sold?
31. What does Rufus warn Dana and what does he say happened to Nigel?
32. What does Rufus find of Dana’s and what makes him worried about the
item? (Explain)
33. What does Rufus make Dana do?
34. Why does Dana try to hold on to the map and what does Rufus tell her?
The Fight Pt. 7
35. How long were Alice and Isaac on the run?
36. What has happened to Alice?
37. What does Rufus go to town to do?
38. Who is now in charge of the house?
39. What does Sarah warn Dana?
40. What is wrong with Alice when she is brought home?
41. Why can’t Alice have a doctor?
42. Who helps Alice?
The Fight Pt. 8
43. Alice’s injuries are mostly from what?
44. What does Rufus tell Dana?
45. What does Dana learned about what happened to Issac?
46. Why is Dana angry?
47. Where will Alice live until she gets better?
48. What does Dana explain about her realtionship with Rufus?
49. What does Sarah recommend Dana do?
The Fight Pt. 9
50. Why did people laugh at Rufus?
51. Why does Nigel have grattitude for Rufus?
52. What does Dana worry that Rufus will do?
The Fight Pt. 10
53. Who takes Sara’s position in the cookhouse?
54. What does Alice ask a Dana?
55. What does Dana tell her?
56. What does Alice ant to do and what does Dana warn her?
57. What is the relationship between Tess and Weylin?
58. What does Dana tell Alice and what is Alice’s response?
The Fight Pt. 11
59. What does Dana overhear Weylin telling Rufus
60. What does Rufus ask Alice to do?
61. At first Dana resists but what makes her worried?
62. What does Rufus tell Dana about Kevin?
63. What does Weylin think that Rufus should do with Dana?
64. What is Rufus’ response?
65. What does Alice ask Dana and what is her response? Afterwards what is
Alice’s response and her concluding remark?
The Fight Pt 12
66. How does Rufus treat Alice?
67. What does Alice show Dana?
68. What does Dana do and what happens to her?
69. How does Rufus treat Alice? What does Alice show Dana? What does Dana
end up doing? Later what happens to Dana?
The Fight Pt. 13
70. When Dana awakes , what is wrong with her and what does Rufus tell
her?
71. What does Weylin do to Dana?
72. What does Dana try to do, but what does she realize?
73. What does Dana began to understand?
The Fight Pt. 14
74. What did Liza do and what happened to her for thiis?
75. Why did Liza tell?
The Fight Pt. 15
76. What does the letter state that Kevin sent to the Weylins?
77. How did Kevin get the news?
78. Why didn’t Rufus mail the letters?
79. What does Dana reflect about Rufus, what does she not understand, and
what does she promise herself?
80. What does Rufus say about Weylin and what is Dana’s response?
The Fight Pt 16
81. What is wrong with Dana doing the wash?
82. What has Weylin done to Tess?
83. What does Edwards threaten to do to Dana if she does not comply?
84. Who rides up and why does Alice not say goodbye to Dana?
85. Who Dana and Kevin run into while leaving?
86. What does Dana do and why?
The Storm Pt.1
1. Where do Kevin and Dana go?
2. Why does Kevin feel lost?
3. Who does Kevin’s new accent remind Dana of?
4. Why did Kevin grow his beard out?
5. Why is Kevin upset?
6. What happens to Dana?
She gets dizzy.
Pt. 2
7. Where does Dana go and what is wrong with Rufus?
8. Why does Weylin continue to let Dana stay?
9. What does Dana tell Weylin and what is his response?
Pt. 3.
10. What is wrong with Rufus?
11. What makes Dana realize that malaria isn’t Rufus’ problem?
12. Why won’t Weylin get a doctor?
13. What does Weylin tell Dana?
14. What has Dana learned about Alice and Rufus?
15. Why is Alice pained?
16. Why are the other slaves cruel to Alice?
17. What happens to Weylin?
18. Who does Rufus blame?
Pt. 4-6
19. How many children do Nigel and Carrie have and what does Nigel find
painful?
20. What does Alice tell Dana about her first two children and why does
she blame Rufus?
21. What does Rufus do to Dana for failing to save his father?
22. Why is Dana whipped?
23. Why does Dana pass out?
24. Why is Rufus’ mom coming back and what does he want Dana to do?
25. Why does Rufus give Dana a free day?
Pt. 7
26. List all the things that Margaret has Dana do?
27. Why is Dana heartbroken?
Pt. 8
28. Why is Dana crying and what is Carrie’s response?
Pt. 9
29. What does Rufus ask Dana t do?
30. Why is Rufus in debt?
31. What is the puropose of the letters?
Pt. 10.
32. What does Rufus tell Dana and Alice?
33. Explain the above answer.
Pt.11.
34. What does Rufus say he will do to anyone Dana has her eye on?
35. What does Alice convince Rufus to do?
36. What is the result of Dana telling Rufus his son is smart?
37. What does Alice want Rufus to do and what is his response?
38. What does Alice tell Dana, and what are her plans?
Pt. 12
39. Who does Alice give birth to?
40. Why is Dana elated?
41. Why does Alice say she has to escape?
42. Why does Alice say that Dana has to help her?
43. What does Sam ask Dana to do?
44. What is Dana’s response?
45. What does Sam tell Dana and what is her response?
46. What does Rufus do to Sam?
47. What does Sam’s sister call Dana?
48. Why does Rufus hit Dana?
49. What does Dana do?
The Rope and Epilogue
Pt. 1
1. Where does Dana go?
2. What does Dana tell Kevin about Carries says?
3. What does Kevin want Dana to do?
PT. 2
4. How long is Dana back in 1976?
5. What does Kevin accuse Dana of and what does he asks her?
6. What is Dana’s response?
7. Why is Dana worried about letting Rufus die?
Pt. 3
8. When does Dana return to the Weylins?
9. How long has Dana been way from Rufus?
10. What does Dana find inside of the barn?
11. What does Rufus tell Dana?
12. What does Sarah tell Dana?
13. When Dana goes to Rufus, what does she find him doing?
14. What does Rufus tell her about the children?
15. What does Dana blame Rufus for and what does she tell him?
Pt. 4
16. What does Rufus do the day after Alice funeral?
17. What does Joe call Rufus?
18. What does Dana try to convince Rufus to do and what is his response?
19. What does Rufus have nightmares about?
20. Why did Rufus sell Sam?
21. Why is Dana scared?
22. What does Rufus do?
23. What does Dana do?
24. For the first time what does Rufus do?
25. While sleeping what does Dana contemplate doing ?
26. What does she decide and what does she do?
27. Who walks in?
28. What happens to Dana?
Epilogue
29. As soon as Dana gets well, what does she and Kevin do?
30. Where is the Weylin house?
31. What does the newspaper article entail?
32. What does Dana figure?
33. What does Dana know about Hagar?
34. What happened to Carrie and Nigel?
