The Crucible Lecture Notes

Flashcards for The Crucible review

Arthur Miller

American playwright, born in New York City on Oct. 17, 1915, known for plays such as Death of a Salesman and The Crucible.

McCarthyism & The Second Red Scare

Period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s.

The Salem Witch Trials

Trials held in Massachusetts where over 200 people were accused of witchcraft, resulting in 19 hangings and several deaths in prison.

Tragedy

A play or story in which the protagonist's choices lead to a negative ending.

Stage Directions

Instructions written into the script of a play that describe the setting, characters' actions, or how lines should be delivered.

Protagonist

The main character in a story or play.

Antagonist

A character that opposes the protagonist.

Dramatic Irony

A literary device where the audience knows something the characters do not.

Allegory

A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

False Premise

A mistaken belief or idea.

Motif

A recurring symbol, image, or idea in a literary work

Paradox

A statement that appears self-contradictory but contains a deeper truth.

Theme

The underlying message or idea that the author is trying to convey.

Catharsis

An emotional release experienced by the audience at the end of a tragedy.

Monologue

A long speech given by a character in a play.

Diction

The author's choice of words.

Connotation

The emotions or associations connected to a word.

Denotation

The basic dictionary definition of a word.

Mood

The overall feeling or atmosphere created in a literary work.

Colloquial Language

Informal language used by a particular group of people.

4 acts

Number of Acts

Scenes

Event within acts

3rd person Ominiscient

Girls dancing in the woods; we know it is silly, but Tituba explains it is witchcraft

Foil

Elizabeth and Abigail; another character that highlights differences in one particular character.

Dynamic Character

John Proctor changes

Flat Character

Abigail stays villainous

Situational Irony

We expect Elizabeth Proctor to tell the truth in court. She does not.

Verbal Irony

Elizabeth Proctor says Abigail was a good nanny.

Dramatic Irony

We know the girls are lying, but the characters do not.

Allegory

represented through symbolic characters, events, or objects.( McCarthy Trials from the 1950s)

Allusion

Biblical references

Abigail Williams

Antagonist; accuses people of being witches. Stands by her lie.

John Proctor

Protagonist; had an affair with Abigail; he decides to tell the court about his talk with Abigail. He refuses to sign his name and admit he is a witch. 

Values his name/honor

Archetype: hero/rebel

Elizabeth Proctor

John Proctor’s wife; defends him

Reverend John Hale

called to town to help with witchcraft in the community. He originally sides with the girls; however, he changes once he hears Abigail in the courtroom. He wants John Proctor to lie

Reverend Parris

Thinks the town will rebel if John Proctor is hanged.

Betty Parris

won’t wake up in the morning

Tituba

Abigail “rates her out” by saying she convinced them to practice witchcraft. Servant to Rev. Parris; from Barbados

The Putnams

The Putmans are worried about their daughter being overtaken by the devil.

The Coreys

refused to be tried for witchcraft and was hung

Mary Warren

Wants to admit what they have done.

Judge Hathorne

Runs the trials; a strict judge

person vs. person (conflict)

Abigail vs. Elizabeth Proctor

Hale vs. Danforth

person vs. self (conflict)

John Proctor vs. his honor/reputation

Elizabeth vs. her husband’s reputation

Mary Warren vs. telling the truth

person vs. society (conflict)

the accused witches vs. the community