Native American/Puritan/The Crucible Facts to Know

information required for the BSHS Honors English II Midterm regarding Native Americans, Puritans, and The Crucible

Reservation

land set aside for Natives to live

Sovereignty

self-rule

Creation Myth

myth that explains how something came to be and to instill awe

What are some terms that can be used to describe America’s indigenous people?

in Canada they are called “First Nations People,” but in America they can be called “Native Americans,” “Indigenous People,” or “American Indians”

Were Native Americans enslaved? If so, did they continue to be?

yes, Native Americans were slaves, but since they were highly susceptible to European diseases, settlers switched to using African Americans as slaves

Why do most Native American tribes believe they were put on the Earth?

they believe that the Great Spirit put them on the Earth

How was the first Native American literature passed down through generations?

cultures kept their stories alive by passing them down through oral tradition

What are the four functions of myths?

to explain the mysteries of the universe, to instill awe, to support customs, and to guide people’s moral behavior

What are the Native American culture’s important attributes?

recognizing nature as spiritual, instilling care and honor for the tribe, showing loyalty, honesty, obedience, and peacefulness, and respecting elders

Rhyme Scheme

the pattern in which words rhyme

Meter

the pattern in which words or syllables create a beat

How did the Puritans get their name?

they left England because they wanted to “purify” the Church of England, hence their name

What piece of Puritan literature did Anne Bradstreet write?

she wrote the poem, “Verses Upon the Burning of My House”

How does “Verses Upon the Buring of My House” demonstrate Puritan values?

the poem discusses how Anne feels that her house burning was God’s will, and not something to be upset over, which aligns with the Puritan belief that God has a plan for everyone

What piece of Puritan literature did Mary Rowlandson write?

she wrote the memoir, “A Narrative of the Captivity”

How does Mary Rowlandson summon the courage to survive captivity?

She places her trust and faith in God

By giving her daughter a proper burial and by King Phillip offering her tobacco, what do the Native Americans demonstrate to Mary Rowlandson?

they show her compassion and humanity

What is the best word to describe the Puritan lifestyle?

strict

Why is the title of “The Crucible” appropriate?

the definition of “crucible” is a severe test or trial, and in the story, not only is there an actual court trial to unpack the witchcraft accusations, but some of the characters experience their own person tests and trials of their character

Why is it significant that Ruth Putnam was bewitched?

she is the only Putman child to survive past birth, and it is speculated that Mrs. Putman resorted to witchcraft to figure out what hapened to her other babies

How does Abigail feel about her adulterous relationship with John Proctor?

she has fallen in love with him, and wants to get rid of his current wife, Elizabeth, so that she can marry him instead

What has Abigail done with the poppet Mary Warren gave Elizabeth?

she stabbed herself with a neddle in the same spot that there is a needle in the poppet, so that she could accuse her of being a witch

Who says, “You will not judge me more, Elizabeth. I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail, and I will think on it?”

the quote is stated by John Proctor in Act II

Who says, “I never said my wife were a witch, Mr. Hale; I only said she were reading books?”

the quote is stated by Giles Corey in Act II

What are the ways in which John Proctor shows he isn’t the most devout follower of the Puritan Church?

he committed adultery, he didn’t attend church often, and he was unable to recite the ten commandments

How does Abigail try to deflect the suspicion away from herself when Mary Warren accuses her of lying?

she makes it seem like Mary Warren is a witch by pretending to see her specter, in the form of a bird

What significant lie does Elizabeth Proctor tell before the court?

she says that John Proctor never had any relations with Abigail and did not cheat on her

How is John Proctor’s quote, “Do that which is good and no harm shall come to thee,” to Mary Warren an example of irony?

those who are doing good in this situation are being condemned

Why do Abigail and Tituba both start accusing other women of witchcraft?

to deflect suspicion from themselves and to get themselves out of trouble

What’s the relationship between John and Elizabeth like?

there is a gap in their relationship as John had cheated on Elizabeth; Elizabeth is trying to forgive him, and John is trying to earn her forgiveness

According to Mary Warren, what will Abigail do if John accuses the girls of lying in their accusations of witchcraft?

she says, “She’ll kill me for sayin’ that! Abby’ll charge lechery on you, Mr. Proctor!”

Why does Parris continually insist that everyone is trying to undermine the court?

because he is in a position of power and cares deeply about his reputation; he doesn’t want anyone else to harm it

Of what does Giles Corey accuse Thomas Putnam?

he accuses Putman of lying and “reaching out for land”

Hale claims that there is a “prodigious fear of the court in the country.” Why are people scared of the court?

people are scared that they or someone they love will be accused of being a witch and be hanged

Why won’t Danforth pardon the accused women or postpone their executions?

he believes the children’s accusations against them, and believes it is best if they are executed then; additionally, he had already executed some women, so he saw no reason to pardon the rest

Why will John Proctor not sign the testimony of his confession?

he believes that his confession to the judges should be enough proof for them and that there is no need to write it down

What influence does Rebecca Nurse ultimately have on John Proctor’s decision to rescind his confession?

she states that it is a lie and not worth denying, which influences John to follow her example

Who says, “I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church?”

the quote is stated by John Proctor in Act IV