The Crucible Socratic Seminar

Requirements:
1. Select and answer at least 3 of the questions below (write your answers on a separate piece of
paper with your original questions).
2. Create three open-ended discussion questions.
3. Thoughtfully participate in the Socratic Seminar.

Consider these open ended questions related to The Crucible. These questions do not have right or
wrong answers. They are intended to spark discussion and introduce participants to new ideas.

1. In any unfaithful marriage or relationship, who is to blame the adulterous party (John), the
counterpart or tempter (Abigail), or the distant spouse (Elizabeth)? Can someone be justified or
pushed to cheat on their partner?

2. Would you denounce your faith or beliefs to save your life? Why or why not?

3. What is the danger of being a self-serving person? When is it appropriate to protect yourself at the
expense of others?

4. People often blindly conform to organized religion, political groups, gangs, and factions. Why are
so many people willing to do this?

5. Do you believe that people who commit serious crimes (murder, assault) can change? Do you think
they should be forgiven by society?

6. Despite the lessons learned from the Salem Witch Trials, we have seen the damage of mass
hysteria repeated. Why do societies throughout history continue to react irrationally in times of fear
or panic?

7. Does this play promote the idea that its okay to lie and cheat as long as you can get away with it?

8. Is there a hero in this play? If so, who? Think about heroic actions taken by minor characters as
well as major characters. If you think the play lacks a hero, explain why you think none of the
characters actions are heroic.

9. Identify one message that Arthur Miller is trying to communicate through writing The Crucible.
Explain fully what he is attempting to communicate about the human condition, and/or about how
humans should or do behave in relationship with one another.

10. Is John Proctor right or wrong to refuse to sign the paper? Explain your answer.

11. Is justice best determined in a court of law?

12. Can a work of art such as a play/film change anything?

13. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages to uniting as a group?

14. What is meant by a mob mentality? What are some examples of the mob mentality in cinema,
literature, or the real world?

15. How is The Crucible relevant to todays world?

 Create 3 open-ended questions of your own to keep the conversation going.
An open-ended question is an insightful question about the text that will require group discussion
and construction of logic to discover or explore the answer to the question. An open-ended
question cannot be answered with yes or no.
Example: How might the story be changed if the main character was of a different culture or
ethnicity? Why? (You may not use this question!)

Socratic Seminar Participation:

A Few Sentence Frames

Frame your comments as a response to something that has already been said:

I really liked _________s point that _____. Id add that _________.

My observation is similar to ______ because ______.
I agree with _________. I also think that

To change the subject tactfully:

So far we have been talking about__________. But isnt the real issue here______?
Id like to change the subject to one that hasnt yet been addressed.

Be explicit about your train of thought:

In other words, what Im trying to get at here is ________.

My point is this: __________.
My point, though, is not _________, but __________.