Act III The Crucible

Vocabulary Needed for the Reading :

abundant / befuddle/ effrontery/ immaculate/ qualm/ probity/ callous/ base/ slovenly/ unperturbed/ipso facto/augur/guile/indignation/placid/sublime/gait//contentious/lechery/denounce/

Click the link to find the definitions for the words above.

Aim:  1.Why is what Elizabeth will testify in court so crucial to the development of the play?

          2. Why does John Proctor proclaim at the end of Act III that "God is dead"?

Do Now: Journal-

a. Is it fair when a wife is asked to testify against her husband? What would  the majority do under this circumstance ? Explain.

b. Visit the literary terminology website and find out : What is a turning point in a play? What is climax?

Procedure:

  1. Read Act III. Pick three lines that impress you for any reason to do double-journal entries.
  2. Based on the ending of Act II Where John Proctor dramatically spoke," ...We are only what we always were, but naked now.  Aye, naked? And the wind, God's icy wind, will blow!", what do you expect to read in the next act?
  3. As this act opens, what accusation does Giles Corey make? What happens to Giles Corey?
  4. Why is Gile considered a comic-relief character? a. What accusation does Giles Corey make about Thomas Putnam. b) What proof does he have? c)  What is he then asked to do because of that accusation? d) Why does he refuse, and what happens to him because of that refusal?
  5. What news do we learn about Rebecca Nurse?
  6. What news does Danforth tell John Proctor about Elizabeth? What deal does he try to make with him? What is going to happen to the 91 people who signed the testament stating a good opinion of Elizabeth, Martha Corey, and Rebecca Nurse?
  7. Discuss "Do that which is good , and no harm shall come to thee." (pg 95)
  8. What is Reverend Hale’s advice to John Proctor as he is about to read his disposition before the court?
  9. What does Danforth think Mary Warren’s appearance in the court might be?
  10. What does Abigail do when suspicion that she might be pretending falls on her?
  11. What does John Proctor do to discredit her?
  12. Who is called to back up John’s testimony? What happens?
  13. What happens when Reverend Hale states that Abigail has always seemed false to him?
  14. What is Mary Warren’s reaction to Abigail’s performance?
  15. What does John Proctor mean when he says, "God is dead!"?
  16. What does Hale do when Proctor is arrested?
  17. What two pieces of evidence regarding his Christian nature are presented against Proctor?
  18. Explain how Danforth decides to test John's accusation of Abigail and discuss the irony of what happens.
  19. How is Judge Danforth portrayed in Act III?
  20. What kind of judge is Hawthorne?
  21. When John Proctor arrives at court with Mary Warren, what does Reverend Parris accuse him of?
  22. In what way does Parris continuously show his antagonistic characteristics?
  23. How has Hale changed?
  24. What's the turning point of the play? What is the climax? 
  25. Why is Act III so suspenseful?
  26. How are the themes of  vengeance, honesty, conflict of authority and heroism portrayed through the development of the main conflict?
  27. Why is John Proctor a protagonist?
  28. Why can't Mary pretend to faint when asked in court?
  29. How does Abigail continuously play the role of " Lucifer" while everyone else still regards her as an "angel"?
  30. How doe Abigail get herself out of the danger of being accused when questioned by Danforth?
  31. Write any form of poem to portray Abigail. Please use the poetry site as your guide.
  32. How is Elizabeth's character further portrayed in the act?
  33. Why doe Mary Warren turn her back against John Proctor at the end of Act III?
  34. Proctor is called ?Anti-Christ" and "befouled with hell" by Danforth. What's ironic about the accusation? 

Homework:

1. Write a diary from the point of view of  Elizabeth Proctor. In the diary, explain why she lied for her husband in court and how she feels afterwards.

2. Rewrite the scene in court where John Proctor, Mary Warren and Elizabeth Proctor are questioned by Judge Danforth from the point of view of John Hale in a monologue. Let him reflect on what happened and describe how he feels about the trial, which eventually leads to her decision of quitting the court at the end of Act III.