The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Journaling Assignment for AP Language and Composition

As you read The Crucible, please keep a dialectal journal in which you answer the following prompts.

A. Please enter 3 journal entries for each of the following prompts. Be sure you cite the passage and respond to it.

*The idea of name and reputation

*The idea of authority

*Truth and deceitfulness

*Criticism of the institution of religion

*Criticism of the Red Scare and McCarthyism

B. Close Reading Questions

Please answer 30 of the following questions as fully as you can, using complete sentences. (Choose 10 questions from
Act One, 10 questions from Act Two, and 10 questions from Act 3 &4 combined.) Be sure to label your answers.

Act One

1. (1217)– Comment on Miller’s diction in this paragraph, particularly his use of the phrases “parochial snobbery” and
“Salem folk”.

2. (1217) – What does the “candle” metaphor mean? Is it positive or negative? Explain.

3. (1218) – Explain the juxtaposition between order and freedom in this paragraph.

4. (1218 – “the witch-hunt was not…) – What speaker bias does this paragraph illuminate?

5. (1223 – “Now look you…”) – How does Miller use telegraphic sentences to create tone in this “speech”?

6. (1224-introduction of Proctor) - How does Miller use description to present Proctor as a universal voice in this play?

7. (1225) - Abigail is called “child” throughout the play by Proctor and Danforth. How is this ironic?

8. (1225-Abigail begins with “I look for John”) - How does Miller use repetition in this paragraph?

9. Miller uses the archaic title “Goody” throughout the play. How does this contribute to the occasion of the work?

10. How is the charge made by Mrs. Putnam against Rebecca that she “tempt[ed] her to iniquity” ironic? (You may need
to read further into the play before answering this.)

11. 1228-Proctor: “I like not the smell of this ‘authority’.” Explain how the use of the metaphor “smell” is effective here.

12.1229-introduction of Hale-para2 – Explain how the juxtaposition of the devil and “respectable view of cosmology” is
effective.
13. 1229-(begins “Our difficulty believing”)- What is implied by Miller’s use of the phrase “political inspiration of the
Devil”?

14. same para. – Why is “Devil” capitalized?

15. same para. – How does Miller use allusions in this paragraph to support the idea of the necessary invention and
maintenance of a devil figure?

16. 1230- Explain the significance of the juxtaposition of the relationship between God and the Devil and Communists
and Capitalists. What universal proclamation is Miller making here?

17. 1230- How does Miller’s description of Hale create tone? What is the tone?

18. 1229-30- List the different titles of the Devil Miller uses and note what character speaks them. What does this
imply?

19. 1231 Hale (begins with “Here is all the invisible world”) – How does Miller use diction to create tone in this
paragraph?

20. same passage- How does the metaphorical verb “crush”, “rip and tear” add to the arrogance of Hale?

21. 1232, Parris (begins with “How can it be the Devil?”) – How does Miller use questioning here?

22. 1233-35, Tituba – How does Miller use diction and syntax to create Tituba’s character? Why is it important that her
language be “set apart”? Think more than “because she’s from Barbados”.

Act Two

23. 1236, Proctor- “It’s warm as blood beneath the clods.” – Why does Miller choose this particular metaphor? How
does this add to tone? How does it add to foreshadowing?

24. 1236- Proctor repeats his desire to please Elizabeth. How is this use of repetition significant to his relationship with
his wife?

25. 1236-Proctor- “It’s winter in here yet”- How does Miller use winter as a symbol in this passage? What picture does it
paint of the relationship between John and Elizabeth?

26. 1238-Proctor- (begins with “You will not judge me more”) – How does Miller use repetition of the word “judge”?
How is that word significant to Miller’s construction of the motif of judgment in the play?

27. 1238- Proctor- (begins with “Spare me!”) – Pay attention to how many times Proctor uses “I” in this paragraph.
What effect is Miller creating with this parallel structure through the use of the word “I”?

28. 1238-Elizabeth- (begins with “I do not judge you.”) – Explain how the metaphor “the magistrate sits in your heart
that judges you” contributes to the motifs of judgment and authority.

29. 1240-Proctor- “But the proof, the proof!” – What is the tone? What is the purpose of this exclamation?

30. 1241-Mary- (begins with “The Devil’s loose”) – How does Miller create irony here?

31. 1241-Hale- “You are Goodwife Proctor.” – Why does Miller use the word “Goodwife” here instead of “Goody”?
32. 1243-Elizabeth- “Adultery, John” (after he had forgotten that commandment in his recitation) – Miller never explains
to his reader outright the affair between John and Abigail; rather, he alludes to and hints at it through the dialogue of his
characters. How is this effective? What mood is created by Elizabeth’s reminder?

33. 1244-Hale- “Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven.”- How does
Miller use this religious allusion to create effect?

34. 1245- How does Miller use poppets as a symbol? (Proctor-“What signifies a poppet?”)

35. 1246-Proctor (begins with “If she is innocent!”)- How does Miller use diction here to refer to McCarthyism?

36. -same passage- How does Miller use metaphors in this passage?

37. -same passage-How does Miller use questioning here? What effect does it create?

38. 1247-Proctor-“Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this!” – Explain the significance of the religious
allusion. How is it an appropriate metaphor for Rev. Hale?

39. 1248-Proctor-“My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for
me!”
-Several times in the play John and Elizabeth refer to each other as “good” or “goodness”. What does this
choice of words suggest about their relationship? Is it reflective of the time or culture?
-How does Miller use repetition in this quote?

Act Three

40. 1251-Danforth-“We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.” – How is this statement ironic? How is
Miller using this irony to comment on more contemporary issues?

41. 1252-Proctor- Proctor repeats the word “never”. How is this significant? Why that word?

42. 1253-Parris-(Begins with “All innocent and Christian people”)- Miller uses syntax to create a juxtaposition between
two groups of people. What are the two groups? What is being said about them?

43. 1253-Proctor-(Begins with “No, she’s not, sir”)- Miller uses another religious allusion here. Explain how the allusion
is significant and how it accomplishes the purpose of Miller’s attack on religious dogma.

44. 1254-Danforth-(“No uncorrupted man may fear this court, Mr. Hale!”)- Comment on the use of the word “man”
here.

45. 1255-Hale (Begins with “I have this morning”) – Discuss the significance of the metaphor “hand” here and in other
passages in the play. How does this contribute to the idea of responsibility and guilt?

46. Abigail again is referred to as a child. How is this ironic in this situation? Why does Miller choose to have the
characters refer to her as a child? As he is making a critical commentary on McCarthyism, what is he suggesting?
(Consider the supposed nature of a child as you are answering this question.)

47. 1257-Parris-“this man is blackening my name” – What is the significance of the word “blackening” here? (Consider
his criticism of contemporary issues.)
48. 1262-Proctor-(begins with “A fire, a fire is burning!”)- Why does Miller have John use first-person plural pronouns
here?

49. same passage- Explain the significance of the metaphor of burning. How does it add to the motif of guilt in this play?

Act Four

50. 1266-Parris-“Excellency—a dagger—“ – Explain the purpose of the dashes.

51. same passage- Why does Miller use a dagger here? What is he communicating?

52. 1268-Hale- (begins with “Let you not mistake your duty”) – What ideas is Miller juxtaposing through Hale’s
exhortation to Elizabeth? How does he do this?

53. 1268-Proctor and Elizabeth- stage directions – “Alone.” – What meaning is achieved in this one-word telegraphic
sentence?

54. 1268-9-Proctor and Elizabeth’s dialogue- There is a shift here in that John and Elizabeth are not speaking to each
other in paragraphs, as has been the pattern of discourse throughout the play. What effect does Miller create through
his use of short sentences and quick dialogue here?

55. 1269-Elizabeth- “Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it” and 134- “He have his goodness now. God forbid I
take it from him.” – Why does Miller use the word good here? What does it mean in this context? What is its
connotation?

56. 1272-Proctor- (Begins with “Because it is my name!”) – How does Miller use parallel structure in this passage to
create effect?

57. same passage- What does “name” mean here? Why does Miller repeat that word?

58. same passage- Miller uses subordination in the last sentence – “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” What
does this say about the relationship between “soul” and “name”?