English Midterm Study Guide

I. Vocabulary

abhor: (verb) to detest, lothate, hate strongly
adamant: (adj.) unyielding; firm in opinion
altercation: (noun) a heated argument
ambivalent: (adj.) being uncertain, unable to decide between two opposing points of view; indecisive
amicable: (adj.) friendly; peaceable
apathy: (noun) lack of interest
appease: (verb) to make calm or quiet; to give in to the demands of
arduous: (adj.) difficult; requiring much effort; strenuous
audacity: (noun) insolence; rude boldness
avarice: (noun) excessive greed; desire for wealth
avid: (adj.) eager; extremely interested
bawdy: (adj.) indecent; humorously obscene
befuddle: (verb) to confuse; to perplex
cajole: (verb) to persuade with promises and flattery, coax
candid: (adj.) outspoken, blunt; straightforward, honest
caustic: (adj.) biting, sharp, sever, sarcastic; able to burn or corrode
chaos: (noun) complete disorder
chastise: (verb) to punish severely
circumvent: (verb) to bypass o go around; to avoid by cleverness
clandestine: (adj.) secret
cliche: (noun) a worn-out idea or overused expression
coerce: (verb) to force a person to do something against his or her will; compel, force
collaborate: (verb) to work with another toward a goal/to cooperate with an enemy invade
complacent: (adj.) pleased with oneself or one’s deeds; contented
concur: (verb) to be of the same opinion; to agree with
condone: (verb) to forgive or overlook an offense by treating the wrongdoer as if there had been nothing wrong
connive: (verb) to cooperate secretly in a wrongdoing
connoisseur: (noun) an expert; an authority
contrite: (adj.) showing regret and sorrow, usually for having committed some wrongdoing; remorseful, repentant
copious: (adj.) abundant; large in number or quantity
crass: (adj.) coarse, stupid, tasteless
credence: (noun) belief or trust)
culmination: (noun) the apex, highest point; completion, finish
cult: (noun) a fad-like devotion to a person, thing or idea; a group of people bound together by the same thing, person or ideal
cynical: (adj.) inclined to distrust or deny the goodness or sincerity of human motives; distrustful
decorum: (noun) conformity to accepted standards of conduct proper behavior; etiquette
destitute: (adj.) extremely poor; lacking necessities like food and shelter
dilemma: (noun) a difficult choice; especially a choice between two equally undesirable alternatives
divulge: (verb) to reveal something private or secret
docile: (adj.) easy to teach or manage; submissive, compliant
dogmatic: (adj.) stating an opinion in an authoritative, superior, or arrogant manner
emaciated: (adj.) extremely thin, wasted away
emulate: (verb) to imitate; to try to equal or better
enamored: (adj.) to be in love with
enhance: (verb) to increase; to raise to a higher degree or quality
enigma: (noun) a puzzling or seemingly inexplicable situation, person, etc.
enraptured: (adj.) to be delighted, thrilled
enunciate: (verb) to pronounce words clearly and distinctly
ethnic: (adj.) of or having to do with races or classes of people and their language, culture, history, etc.
evoke: (verb) to call forth; to draw forth

II. Literary Devices

1st person point of view: when a character narrates the story with pronouns I-me-we-my-mine-us-ours in his or her speech; the advantage of this POV is that you get to hear the thoughts of the narrator and see the world depicted in the story through his or her eyes
2nd person point of view: when the author uses you and your; this is rare; authors seldom speak directly to the reader
3rd person limited point of view: employs the reader to enter only one character’s mind
3rd person objective point of view: employs a narrator who tells a story without describing any character’s thoughts, opinions, or feelings; instead, it give an objective, unbiased point of view; the story is narrated by the author as if he is a mere spectator of events and it only reports what can be seen and heard
3rd person omniscient point of view: is that of an outside looking at the action in which the thoughts of every character are open to the reader
act: a major division; a group of scenes that form an important part of the play
allegory: an extended metaphor in which the characters, places, and objects in a narrative carry figurative meaning; often an allegory’s meaning is religious, moral, or historical in nature
allusion: a reference to an historical event or movement; Biblical, mythological, or literary characters and incidents with which the reader is assumed to be familiar; literary, Biblical, mythological, and historical
ambiguity: the use of language and images to suggest more than one meaning at the same time
anagnorisis: the startling discovery that produces a change from ignorance to wisdom and knowledge; the tragic hero makes a critical discovery about his circumstances in which he is immersed; it is a heightened awareness and enlightened moment in which he comes to realize his true fate as to the nature and cause of his demise, downfall, and destruction
antagonist: a person or opposing force that rivals the main character (protagonist) in a literary work
auditory imagery: a word or group of words in a literary work which appeals to sound
biblical allusion: a reference to a Biblical event or movement
character vs character: external; is a conflict between two characters dealing with differences of opinion such as disagreements and verbal disputes, physical altercations, battles of will, competitive business endeavors, or acts of war
character vs God: external; is a conflict between a character and God the Almighty; the character struggles with life and questions God’s presence
character vs nature: external; is a conflict between a character and forces of nature, like natural disasters
character vs self: internal; is a conflict that occurs in one’s mind; a character may have to decide between right and wrong; he/she may be trying to seek a solution to a dilemma in which they are experiencing
character vs society: external; is a conflict that deals with struggles between a character and social norms, customs, practices, mores, traditions, and ideologies; it deals with economic and social status, institutional rules and government policies
character vs supernatural: is a conflict between a character and some science fictitious characters, fantastic, mythological gods and goddesses, monsters, aliens from outer-space
character vs technology: is a conflict between a character and some technological force
characterization: a literary device in which authors use to convey information about their characters; it highlights and explains details about a character(s) in a story; it is the act of creating and developing imaginary persons so they seem lifelike; an author can use 2 approaches to deliver information about a character and build an image of it either directly or indirectly stating the traits of a character; descriptions of a character’s appearance, behavior, interests, way of speaking, and other mannerisms are all part of characterization
cliche: a word or expression used so often that it has lost its freshness and effectiveness
climax: the decisive, highest point in the plot of a story in which reaches its greatest emotional impact
comedy:
conflict: provides interest and suspense; when there is conflict, there must be an opposing force; the opposing force is usually a person known as the antagonist who directly has a conflict with a protagonist; there may be more than one conflict in a story; the protagonist may be in a conflict of 6 different kinds - character vs. nature, character, society, technology, supernatural, self, and God
connotation: the non-literal, implied, or suggested meaning of a word; it is the feelings, attitudes, images, and associations of a word; connotations are usually said to be positive or negative
context clues: hints and clues found within a sentence, paragraph that a reader can use to understand the meaning of an unfamiliar word
denotation: the dictionary, strict, literal meaning of a word
diacope: uninterrupted repetition or repetition with only one or two words between each repeated phrase (oh, horror, horror)
dialogue: a conversation between characters
drama: “imitated human action;” essentially drama is told through action, by actors who impersonate the characters on a stage in a theater; three categories consist of comedy, tragedy, and history
dramatic irony: is the difference between the facts known to a character and the facts known to us the reader, audience, or other characters in the story
dynamic character: a dynamic character is a person who changes over time, usually as a result of resolving a central conflict or facing a major crisis; most dynamic characters tend to be central rather than peripheral characters, because resolving the conflict is the major role of central characters; a dynamic character, in contrast, is one that does undergo an important change in the course of that story; more specifically, the changes that we are referring to being “undergone: here are not changes in circumstances, but changes in some sense within the character in question - changes insight or understanding (of circumstances, for instance), or changes in commitment, in values; the change (or lack of change) at stake in this distinction is a change “in” the character (nature) of the character (fictional figure)
ellipses: a device that is used in narratives to omit some parts of a sentence or event, which gives the reader a chance to fill in the gaps while actively reading
erotema: asking a rhetorical question to the reader as a transition or as a thought-provoking tool before proceeding
euphemism: is the substitution of a harsh word or expression of one that is softer more agreeable and pleasant sounding
exposition: the introduction and opening scenes in a work of literature; it introduces the characters, identifies the setting and sets the tone for the story
falling action: the series of events which takes place after the climax and leads to the resolution
flashback: a literary device in which the main action is interrupted and takes the narrative back to a past time
foil character: a foil is any character (usually the antagonist or an important supporting character) whose personal qualities contrast with another character (usually the protagonist)
foreshadowing: a literary device in which the author gives hints and clues of a future outcome or event that will take place in the future of the narrative
genre: the major category into which a literary work fits
gustatory imagery: taste imagery
historical allusion: a reference to a historical event or movement
history:
hubris: excessive pride; dangerously over-confidence in a tragic hero in which will ultimately suffer grave consequences as a result
hyperbole: a deliberate exaggerated expression
imagery: a word or group of words in a literary work which appeals to the five senses (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory)
inference: drawing conclusions based on information and details in a story
interjection: a part of speech that demonstrates the emotion or feeling of the author or the narrator in a story
irony: a mode of expression and makes a visible contrast between appearance and reality; it exposes what is stated and what is rally meant, what is presented and what it should be or expected to be; there are 3 types - situational, verbal, and dramatic
literary allusion: a reference to a literary event or movement
memoir:
metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things without using like or as
MLA Format:
monologue: a prolonged speech by a single speaker in narrative
mood: the emotional feeling created in a literary work
motif: a literary technique that consists of a repeated element that has symbolic significant to a literary work; sometimes, a motif is a recurring image; other ties, it’s a repeated word, phrase, or topic express in a language; a motif can be a recurring situation or action; it can be a sound or smell, a temperature, even a color; the key aspect is that a motif repeats, and through this repetition helps to illuminate the dominant ideas, central themes, and deeper meaning of a story
mythological allusion: a reference to a mythological event or movement
narrative: a story told or written
narrator: the teller of the story who gives an account of events and experiences; can either be a character in the story or an outside source
novel:
olfactory imagery: smell imagery
onomatopoeia: a literary device in which the sound of a word echoes the sound it represents
oxymoron: a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect; it is a combination of contradictory words; the common oxymoronic phrase is a combination of an adjective preceded by a noun
paradox: a statement or situation containing apparently contradictory or incompatible elements but upon closer inspection might be true
personification: a comparison that is made by giving animals and inanimate objects human characteristics
plot: the sequence of events that make up a story as it unfolds, develops in which each event affects the next one through the principle of cause and effect; it is made up of 5 main elements - exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution
prologue: the opening scene of expository dialogue or monologue
protagonist: the chief, main, and central character in a literary work
resolution: part of the plot in which the central conflict is resolved; it is the final stage of the plot
rising action: the part of the plot in which deals with the mounting complication of actions and intensifies the suspense that builds toward the climax
round character: anyone who has a complex personality; he or she is often portrayed as a conflicted and contradictory person
sarcasm: from the Greek meaning “to tear flesh,” involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something
scene: a small portion of action and division in a play; multiple scenes make up and entire act in a play
setting: the environment, time, and place
short story:
simile: a figure of speech in which a similarity between two objects is directly expressed; a simile is introduced by using like or as; a simile is generally the comparison of two essentially unlike things, on the basis of a resemblance in one aspect; it is however, no simile to say, my house i slike your house, although of course a comparison does exist, it is no simile; a similar consists of three components - tenor, vehicle, and ground
situational irony: the difference between a situation that one would logically anticipate, seem appropriate, what is expected or ought to be and the situation that actually occurs and turns out to be; it is the reverse and opposite of what common sense indicates it is and will be; situational irony depends on a great deal of surprise
soliloquy: a form of monologue found most often in drama; it differs from dramatic monologue in that the speaker is alone, revealing thoughts and feelings to or for oneself that are intentionally unheard by other characters
static character: someone who does not change over time; his or her personality does not transform or evolve; a static character is one that essentially remains the same at the end as he or she was at the beginning
stock character: someone who has become conventional or stereotypical through repeated use in particular types of stories (ie the faithful sidekick)
suspense: anticipation as to the outcome of events, particularly as they affect character for whom one has sympathy; it is a major device used for maintaining interest interest i
symbol: anything that represents and stands for something else
symbolic character
synesthesia: figurative language device that includes a mixing of the senses; some come as a metaphor and a simile (ie “he wore a loud yellow shirt”)
tactile imagery: touch imagery
theme: the central idea, message, and universal truth that a literary work illustrates
tone: describes the author’s attitude towards his or her material, the audience or both (ie “sarcastic, angry, happy, humorous, somber”)
tragedy: a category of drama; Aristotle defined tragedy as having six elements
tragic flaw: in drama, the theory that there is a flaw or weakness in the tragic hero that causes his/her downfall
verbal irony: the difference between what a character says and what the character actually means
visual imagery: sight imagery

III. The Devil and Tom Walker

Where does the story take place? A few miles from Boston, Massachusetts, there is a deep inlet winding several miles into the interior of the country from Charles Bay, and terminating in a thickly wooded swamp or morass.
What was buried under one of these gigantic trees in the inlet and who buried it? There was a great amount of treasure buried by Kidd the pirate.
What did the inlet allow? A facility to bring the money in a boat secretly, and at night, to the very foot of the hill.
What formed good landmarks by which the place might easily be found again? The remarkable trees.
Who presided at the hiding of the money? The devil.
Who never returned to recover his wealth? Kidd the pirate.
What happened to him after he buried the treasure? Being shortly after seized at Boston, sent out to England, and there hanged for a pirate.
What year were earthquakes prevalent in New England? 1727.

What key characteristic does Tom Walker and his wife share? Tom Walker had a wife as miserly as himself.

What did Tom Walker and his wife conspire to do? To cheat each other.
Describe what the narrator is trying to express about Tom walker’s wife in the following statement: “Whatever the woman could lay hands on, she hid away…” Tom Walker’s wife is greedy and hungry for any wealth of valuables, just like himself.
What was Tom Walker continually prying about? To detect her secret hoards.
When describing the place Tom Walker and his wife live, the narrator emphasizes its sense of emptiness and give 2 examples of phrases used to add to this sense of poverty and emptiness. “They lived in a forlorn-looking house that stood alone and had an air of starvation.” “A few straggling savin trees, emblems of sterility, grew near it; no smoke ever curled from its chimney; no traveller stopped at its door.”
What altogether had a bad name? The house and its inmates.
Identify 3 characteristics of Tom’s wife? A tall termagant, fierce of temper, loud of tongue, and strong of arm.
What does the line, “…and his face showed signs that their conflicts were not confined to words” suggest about Tom and his wife’s disputes? Tom Walker’s wife physically abuses him.
On page 1, why is The lonely wayfarer shrunk within himself and what does he witness? At the horrid clamor and clapper-clawing; eyed the den of discord askance.
Why does The lonely wayfarer rejoice at being a celibate bachelor? He saw the great conflict, terror, and harm that takes place in the Walker marriage, something nobody would wish to undergo.
Where did Tom take a short cut and was it a good decision? Through the swamp. Like most shortcuts, it was an ill-chosen route.
Identify the specific type of allusion in the following lines: “It had been one of the strongholds of the Indians during their wars with first colonists.” Historical allusion.
Identify what the narrator is trying to emphasize in the following lines: "Nothing remained of the old Indian fort but a few embankments…”
When did Tom reach the old fort? The old Indian fort has been wiped out and its remains are almost nonexistent.
Why did the common people have a bad opinion of the old fort? From the stories handed down from the times of the Indian Wars, when it was asserted that the savages held incantations here and made sacrifices to the Evil Spirit.
What did Tom discover when his staff struck against something hard? A cloven skull with an Indian tomahawk buried deep in it.
How is the stranger Tom encounters depicted? Give 3 examples. He was dressed in a rude Indian garb, and had a red belt or sash wathed around his body; but his face was neither black nor copper-color, but swathy and dingy.
What does the stranger say to Tom in a hoarse growling voice? “What are you doing on my grounds?”
Who does Tom claim the grounds belong to? Deacon Peabody.
What did Tom notice was scored on the bark of the tree? The name of Deacon Peabody.
When Tom now looked round, what did he find? Most of the tall trees marked with the name of some great man of the colony, and all more or less scored by the axe.
Who was Crowninshield? A mighty rich man of that name, who made a vulgar display of wealth, which it was whispered he had acquired, by buccaneering.
What reason does the Black Man claim the woodland belonged to him? It belonged to him long before one of Tom’s white-faced race put foot upon the soil.
What 5 names does the Black Man have? What is the real name for the black man? Wildhuntsman, black miner, black woodsman, Old Scratch, grandmaster of the Salem witches.
Who are red men and who did they roast? The Native Americans. They roasted a white man.
Who exterminated the red men? White savages.
How does the Devil amuse himself? By presiding at the persecutions of Quakers and Anabaptists.
According to the narrator, why isn’t Tom fearful of the Devil? Tom was a hard-minded fellow, not easily daunted, and he had lived so long with a termagant wife that he did not even fear the devil.
According to the Devil, who buried great sums of money and where? Kidd the pirate under the oak trees on the high ridge, not far from the morass.
What was under the devil’s command and protected by his power? Under the oak trees on the high-ridge, not far from the morass.
When they had reached the edge of the swamp, what did the stranger (Tom) ask the Devil? “What proof have I that all you have been telling me is true?”.
How did the Black Man (Devil) respond to Tom’s question? “There’s my signature.”
What did Tom find when he reached home? The black print of a finger burned, as it were, into his forehead, which nothing could obliterate.
What was the first news that Tom’s wife had told him? The sudden death of Absalom Crowninshield, the rich buccaneer.
What was announced in the papers with the usual flourish? A great man had fallen in Israel.
What information awakened Tom’s wife avarice? The mention of hidden gold.
What did she urge her husband Tom to do? Comply with the black man’s terms, and secure what would make them wealthy for life.
Why does Tom flatly refuse to comply with the devil? Out of the mere spirit of contradiction.
What does the narrator reveal about Tom’s wife in the following statement? “At length she determined to drive the bargain on her own account, and if she succeeded, to keep all the gain to herself.” Tom’s wife will take any measurements needed to satisfy her greed and become wealthy, even if it means selling her soul to the devil.
Why does Tom now grow uneasy for her safety? She had carried off in her apron the silver tea-pot and spoons, and every portable article of value.
Identify the 4 assumptions made by others in reference to the whereabouts of Tom’s missing wife? She lost her way among the tangles mazes of the swamp, and sank into some pit or slough.She eloped with the household booty, and made off to some other province. The temper had decoyed her into a dismal quagmire, on the top of which her hat was found lying. A great black man with an axe on his shoulder was seen late.
What was seen late that very evening coming out of the swamp? A great black man with an axe on his shoulder was seen.
Where does Tom set out at length to seek them both? At the Indian Fort.
What does Tom find when he looks up at a cypress tree? A bundle tied in a check apron and hanging in the branches of the tree, with a great vulture perched hard by, as if sleeping watch upon it.
When Tom scrambles up the tree what is but woeful sight? He found nothing but a heart and liver tied up in the check apron.
What is generally considered a match for the Devil? A female scold.
What does Tom notice? (page3) Many prints of cloven feet deeply stamped about the tree, and found handfuls of hair, that looked as if they had been plucked from the coarse black shock of the woodsman.
What is Tom suggesting about his wife in the following statement? “Old Scratch must have had a tough time of it!” His wife put up a good fight against the devil and gave him a tough time.
How does Tom console himself for the loss of his property? He even felt something like gratitude toward the black woodsman, who, he considered, had done him a kindness.
Why does Tom feel something like gratitude towards the black woodsman? Who, he considered, had done him a kindness.
What does Tom sought to cultivate? A further acquaintance with the devil.
What does the Devil propose that Tom should employ? Employ it in the black traffic; that is to say, that he should fit out a slave ship.
Complete the following sentence. The Devil himself could not tempt him to: “turn slave-trader.”

What does Tom propose instead? That he should turn usurer.

What does the black man say that Tom shall open? A broker’s shop in Boston next month.
In a few days time, where is Tom Walker seated? Behind his desk in a counting-house in Boston.
What soon spread abroad? His reputation for a ready-moneyed man.
During this propitious time of public distress what does Tom Walker set up? As usurer in Boston.
What is the narrator saying about Tom in the following statement? “He accumulated bonds and mortgages; gradually squeezed his customers closer and closer, and sent them at length, dry as a sponge, from his door.” Tom was sly and over time cleaned his customers dry of all their money. He stole.
What reason does Tom build a vast house? Out of ostentation.
As Tom waxed older what did he feel anxious about and what did he regret? About those of the next, aka the afterlife. He thought with regret of the bargain he had made with his black friend.
What was Tom rigid in? In religious as in money matters.
What did Tom talk of reviving? The persecution of Quakers and Anabaptists.
What does Tom have a lurking dread of? That the devil, after all, would have his due.
What does Tom always carry in his coat pocket? A small Bible.
Why did some say that Tom grew a little crack-brained in his old days? Fancying his end approaching, he had his horse new shod, saddled, and bridled, and buried with his feet uppermost, because he supposed that at the last day the world would be turned upside-down; in which case he should find his horse standing ready for morning.
On page 5, explain what the following statement illustrates about Tom Walker’s character: “He was on the point of foreclosing a mortgage, by which he would complete the ruin of an unlucky land-spectator for whom he had professed the greatest friendship.” Tom’s character is selfish, deceptive, greedy, and conniving. Tom would gain the trust of people and his clients to just cheat them out of all their money, out of selfishness and utter greed.
What does the poor land jobber beg him (Tom) for? To grant a few months’ indulgence.
What is Tom’s reply to the land jobber’s request? “Charity begins at home. I must take care of myself in these hard times.”
What does Tom say when he loses his patience and piety with the speculator? “The devil take me. If I have made a farthing.”
Who gave 3 loud knocks at the street door and what does he say to Tom? The black man (the devil).
Describe what happens to Tom Walker after he realizes he left his little Bible at the bottom of his coat pocket? The black man whisked him like a child into the saddle, gave the horse the lash, and away he galloped with Tom on his back, in the midst of the thunder-storm.
What did a countryman who lived on the border of the swamp report? In the height of the thunder-gust, he had heard a great clattering of hoods and a howling along the road, and running to the window caught sight of a figure.
What had the good people of Boston been so accustomed to? To witches and goblins and tricks of the devil, in all kinds of shapes, from the first settlement of the colony, that they were not so much horror-struck as might have been expected.
What happened to Tom’s bonds and mortgages? They were reduced to cinders.
What was discovered in place of his gold and silver? His iron chest was filled with chips and shavings.
What lied in his stable and what happened to his great house? Two skeletons lay in his stable instead of his half-starved horses, and the very next day his great house took fire and was burned to the ground.
What is to be seen to this day? The very hole under the oak-trees, whence he dug Kidd’s money.

IV. The Minister’s Black Veil

The Minister's Black Veil is a parable. What does the word parable tell you about a story? The story conveys a spiritual or moral point.
How do the members of the parish react when they first see Parson Hooper wearing his black veil? They were scared and curious as to why he wore a veil over his face. They were confused and thought he was going insane.
What does Goodman Gray claim happened to Parson Hooper? “He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face. Our parson has gone mad!”
What was Mr. Hooper’s reputation as a preacher? He was a good preacher but not very energetic.
How did Parson Hooper strive to win his people heavenward? By mild, persuasive influences, rather than to drive them thither by the thunders of the Word.
Why do the parishioners have such an intense response to seeing the minister’s veil? Due to its symbolic representation of secret sins and fear of the unknown.
What is different about Parson Hooper’s sermon on the first day he wears the veil? The style was tinged and darker than usual.
What is the subject of the sermon? A reference to our secret sins.
The black veil is most likely a symbol of- Secret sin.
Mr. Hooper chooses to look physically look different from other people. This symbolic act is meant to- display that he suffers a condition shared by all people
How does “The Minister’s Black Veil” convey the Puritanical attitude toward human nature? It’s full of pessimism.
What religious lesson might Hawthorne be trying to convey to the reader? Sin separates us from God and from others.
Why do you think the parishioners walked alongside Mr. Hooper after church services on the first Sunday that he wore the black the veil? They felt ill at ease.
No one will ask Mr. Hooper why he is wearing the veil because- They are afraid of what his answer might be and they are afraid of secret sin.
What can you infer that Elizabeth means when she says to Mr. Hooper, “The veil hides a face which I am always glad to look upon. Come good sir, let the sun shine from the cloud”? She wants him to take off the veil because she wants to see him
Mr. Hooper tells his fiancée Elizabeth, “There is an hour to come... when all of us shall cast aside our veils”; He means that- Everyone dies eventually and we move on to the afterlife.
From Elizabeth’s talk with Mr. Hooper, you can infer that- Mr Hooper is doomed to be lonely
When Mr. Hooper says that he sees a black veil on everyone around him, he means that- Everyone has secret sins that they keep hidden.
How does Elizabeth react when he refuses to remove the veil? She leaves, breaking their engagement.
Why do you think Hawthorne chooses not to reveal the reason that Parson Hooper begins wearing the veil? Hawthorne kept suspense in the parable by not saying why.
Who takes care of Mr. Hooper during his final illness? Elizabeth, his former fiancee.
Why does Mr. Hooper refuse to allow Mr. Clark to remove the black veil? It represents Hooper’s ideas that everyone has secret, hidden sins.
How does Mr. Hooper die? Of old age with his black veil on his face on his deathbed, surrounded by his congregation.
How do they bury Mr. Hooper? With his black veil still covering his face.
How is the veil in the parable a symbol? Hidden, secret sin and the unacknowledged aspects of human nature.

V. The Crucible

In his stage directions, what are some good and bad points that Miller observes about the Puritans? Good - they are loyal to God and very religious. Bad - it causes them to turn on each other.
Who is Betty and what is wrong with her? Reverend Parris' daughter, she is ill and will not wake up.
When Abigail enters, she is described as “a strikingly beautiful girl…with an endless capacity for dissembling.” What does this phrase suggest? She is good at lying.
Why does Rev. Parris becomes upset at the thought that Betty’s illness is a result of unnatural causes? It will reflect badly on him as a pastor and father.
What negative aspect of his character does this reveal? He is selfish and has villainous qualities.
What innuendo does Rev. Parris make about Abigail’s character? He asks if her reputation is good.
How does Abigail respond? She says that her name is pure and there was no reason for her to lose her job.
How does Goody Putnam move the plot along? She blames Betty is sick because of witchcraft.
What motivation is Miller attributing to Thomas Putnam’s actions? He is out to get back at Parris for taking the reverend position.
What do we learn from the conversation that Mercy, Abigail, and Mary Warren have while alone? They were practicing witchcraft and conjuring spirits in the woods.
How do we see that Abigail is the acknowledged leader of the group? Everyone is afraid of her and they do what she says, because she is the eldest and they do not want her to turn on them.
In his stage directions, Miller tells us despite, or perhaps due to, his upright appearance, John Proctor feels he is a fraud because he knows he is a sinner. What does his conversation with Abigail tell us about the nature of his sin? His sin pertains to adultery.
As Abby flirts with John Proctor, what is her opinion of Betty’s illness? She thinks Betty is faking it, because she does not want to get in trouble for their actions in the woods.

What seems to be the attitude of Giles Corey and the others gathered in the house? They want to see the proof of witchcraft.

Rebecca Nurse, who walks to Betty’s bed and quiets her with her own calming presence, is a voice of reason and rationality. To what does she attribute Betty’s condition? She says it is a phase all children go through, and that when she is ready, she will wake up.
Who is Rev. Hale, and why was he sent for? An expert in witchcraft from Beverly who was sent to seek out witchcraft in Salem.
Why does Rebecca Nurse tell Parris that Hale should be sent home rather than allowed to see Betty? She knows Betty is just faking it.
Why are the Putnams unwilling to accept this? They don’t believe God would treat such a good family so badly.
Why do Putnam and Proctor get into an argument? Proctor is worried because Putnam never comes to meetings and Putnam says Proctor doesn’t have a right to speak because he doesn’t go to church.
How does proctor’s subsequent comment on Parris’ fiery sermons cause an outburst from Rev.Parris? He wants to make sure his salary is enough to take care of himself and his family.
In this argument the concept of authority explicitly arises. What are the two points of view? Reverend Parris says he has final authority over what happens to the people. Proctor says he has control over what he does because he is his own person.
In what way do the two men find themselves aligned regarding the congregation’s opinion on Parris? They agree that there are people who are against Parris because they don’t like the way he works at church.
Who is Giles Corey and how does Proctor treat him? Corey is a mean man whose wife was was accused of witchcraft. Proctor likes him because he allows people to be who they are and live their lives.
How is Putnam’s materialistic ambition further revealed in his argument with Proctor? Putnam wants to own all the land arround him.
Who is Tituba and of what does Abigail accuse her? Reverend Parris’ slave from Barbados, who is accused of doing witchcraft by Abigail.

Why has Abigail turned on Tituba and accused her of these things? She does not want to get in trouble herself.
What does Putnam say that terrifies Tituba and causes her to say that she told the devil she did not want to work for him? She should be hanged for her witchcraft, so she will do anything to get the blame away from her.
Why does Tituba come up with the names Goody Good and Goody Osburn as the two women she saw consorting with the devil? Goody Putnam was blaming them earlier, so Tituba just followed what Goody Putnam said.
In your opinion, what motivates Abby and Bettty to begin denouncing everyone? To take the blame off of themselves and because of how powerful it makes them feel. Betty does it to follow Abby’s lead.
In what way has Mary Warren changed and what changed her? Mary became more willing to stand up for her own beliefs.
How would you describe the relationship between John and Elizabeth Proctor at the beginning of this scene? Very distant and predictable.
What is it she wants him to do? Elizabeth asks John to go to the court in Salem to tell them that Abigail is lying.
Why can’t John prove what Abigail told him? They were alone in a room together when she told him this.
Why does Elizabeth pick up on this? He said before that he was around a group of people with Abigail, so she is suspicious.
What does John accuse Elizabeth of? Not forgiving him for the affair.
As he is about to whip Mary Warren, John stops short. What was it she told him? She said she saved Elizabeth’s life, because someone accused her in court.
Who does Elizabeth think called out her name and why? Abigail, because she is jealous.
What does Elizabeth want John to do now? Call Abigail names.
Why is he reluctant to do so? He is ashamed and embarrassed.
Why has the Rev. Hale came to their house? Elizabeth’s name was mentioned at court.
As proof of witchcraft, Rev. Hale points out that a number of people have already confessed to being witches. What is proctor’s response? They could be claiming witchcraft to avoid being hanged.
Who stuck the pin in Abigail’s belly and why? Abigail stuck it in her own belly, to accuse Elizabeth of witchcraft.
To what does Hale attribute the calamity that has befallen Salem? It is God’s punishment that has been committed for a dark secret.
What does this mean to Proctor? He knows he is the secret sin, he knows that he has committed adultery.
What will Abby do if Proctor goes into court to denounce her, according to Mary Warren? She will charge John with adultery.
What is Proctor’s response? He wants Mary Warren to confess what she did to save his wife.
Why is Mary afraid to say anything in court? She is afraid Abby will kill her.
Why does Giles say that he “broke charity” with his wife? His statement that she reads books secretly brought the court’s suspicion on his wife, so he is feeling guilty as he hurt her and her reputation.
In what sense does the Corey’s situation reflect on John and Elizabeth Proctor? Just as Giles feels guilty about his wife, John is feeling guilty for having been unfaithful to Elizabeth.
How has Rev. Hale changed since we last saw him? He seems to be on the side of the doubters of witchcraft now and is trying to convince people to confess, even if they are innocent.
Why is Mary Warren’s testimony critical for Hale, Proctor, Nurse and Corey? If the girls are truly not seeing spirits, as Mary Warren contends, then the state’s case against the accused falls apart, and the seventy people who have been condemned to hang are innocent.
What does Mary Warren tell Governor Danforth? All the accusations she and other other girls made were pretense, meaning they were pretending to see spirits and lying.
Why does Proctor not drop the charges against the court when he hears that his wife is pregnant and will be spared for at least a year? The wives of his friends are still charged, and he feels he cannot desert them. Proctor’s refusal to drop the charges, however, seems to lend weight to Parris’ comment that Proctor has come to overthrow the court. Proctor wants to save everyone, not only his wife.
Why does Proctor say that his wife must be pregnant if she had said so? Proctor believes that his wife could not tell a lie.
What happens to the ninety-one people who signed the petition in support of the accused? They are now to be arrested and questioned.
What is the charge that Giles Corey makes against Putnam? Putnam has encouraged his daughter to cry out against neighbors who have large landholdings. The neighbors, once convicted of witchery, will forfeit their land to the state and then Putnam will be able to buy it cheaply.
What is Giles Corey’s proof for his change, and why will he not supply the proof to the court? Another person heard Putnam speak of his intention to get George Jacob’s land. Corey will not tell the person’s name, because he does not want to endanger that person by revealing his name.
Why does Danforth find it hard to believe that Abigail could be pretending and, in effect, be a murderer? Abigail looks young and innocent.
How does the questioning of Mary Warren differ from the questioning of Abigail? Why? The court questioned Mary much more sharply. It appears they do not want to or can’t believe Mary is telling the truth when she claims the prior accusations were all pretense.
Why can’t Mary faint when asked by the court? To do the pretense, she has to be caught up in the excitement in order to faint.
When Abigail is questioned by Danforth, how does she respond? As she has done in the past, Abigail goes on the attack when questioned. Then she begins the pretense again and accuses Mary of witching her.
In calling Abigail a whore, what charge and punishment does Proctor open himself to? Proctor will now be charged with lechery, punishable by death.
What test is Elizabeth given, and how does she fail it? Why? She is asked if her husband is guilty of lechery with Abigail. To protect her husband, she lies and says no. Elizabeth does not know her husband already told the truth in court, and has damned herself and her husband to death by lying.
What finally causes Mary Warren to agree with Abigail? Abigail and the girls put on such a show that Mary becomes frightened, especially of the judge. When he threatens to have Mary hanged, she accuses Proctor of bewitching her. She protects her own life and condemns Proctor to death.
On what dramatic note does Act III end? Proctor shouts that God is dead and the trial is a fraud. Reverend Hale denounces the court and walks out.
What is the relationship between the rebellion in Andover and the flight of Abigail and Mercy Lewis? The people of Andover have decided that the court is false and they will have nothing to do with witchcraft. This is important because Abigail and Mercy must leave in order to save themselves.
Why is Parris upset? Abigail stole all his savings when she left, leaving him penniless. He also fears a rebellion if all the accused are hanged.
Why is it important for the court to get one of the accused “respectable citizens,” such as John Proctor or Rebecca Nurse to confess? Their names hold a lot of weight in the community. By confessing, they will be showing to the rest of Salem that confessing will save them.
Why is Rev. Hale telling the accused to lie? Hale doesn’t believe they are guilty, but he wants them to lie and confess, so that they may save their lives.
What is that the court desires of Elizabeth Proctor? To get her husband to confess.
How did Giles Corey die? Why? He was pressed to death. By not even answering the indictment, as to his guilt or innocence, he died a Christian and his sons were able to inherit his property.
Why does Proctor call himself a fraud? If he had not committed adultery, he would feel that his dying was noble. He feels his secret sin makes a mockery of his silence.
What responsibility does Elizabeth accept for her husband’s lechery? She says that because of her own insecurities, she had not been a passionate woman and this is what caused him to sleep with Abigail.
What does Elizabeth advise him? To do what he thinks he must. Whatever his decision, she will accept it.
After Proctor confesses to witchcraft, what else does Danforth want from him? The names of other people who have been with the devil, and for him to sign the confession so it may be shown around town.

VI. To My Dear and Loving Husband

Who is the speaker’s primary audience? Her husband.
What is the overall tone of the speaker? Reverential and grateful.
What does the poem convey about heaven and the afterlife? Heaven is a paradise, people are rewarded in the afterlife for deeds done on earth.
What is the main feeling expressed by the speaker? Love and happiness for her husband.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench.” What is this quote suggesting about the speaker’s love for her husband? She will only be satisfied if her husband loves her in return.