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?
