| Why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor as the play begins? | Betty is sick (or is she?) |
| What advice does the doctor send back? | No medicine, she’s not “sick” Look to something unnatural |
| What does Parris question his niece Abigail about? | Parris questions Abigail about what the girls were doing in the woods. |
| What is Parris’s main concern? | Parris’s main concern is his career and reputation. He’s more worried about himself |
| What did Parris see in the woods the previous night? | Parris saw the girls dancing around in the woods the previous night. He also noticed that one of the girls was naked. |
| What has Elizabeth Proctor said about Abigail? | That Abigail is “soiled”, she’s disgusting |
| Why does Abigail say she was dismissed by the Proctors? | Abigail says she was dismissed by the Proctors because she claims that Elizabeth hates her and Abigail refuses to be their “slave.” |
| What rumors have circulated the town about Betty Parris? What proof later occurs that “proves” she’s a witch? | Rumors have spread that Betty had flown. Later, Mrs. Putnam says that someone saw her flying over a barn. |
| Why did Mrs. Putnam contact Tituba? | Mrs. Putnam contacted Tituba because Mrs. Putnam wanted Tituba to conjure up her dead babies to find out who killed them |
| Who does Abigail accuse of conjuring spirits at this point? | Tituba and Ruth Putnam |
| What does Betty Parris reveal about what happened in the woods? | Betty Parris reveals that the girls did more than just dance- Abigail had drunk chicken blood and placed a spell or charm to kill Elizabeth Proctor |
| What threat does Abigail make to the other girls? | Abigail threatens to kill the girls if they say anything more about what they did in the woods |
| What happened in the past between John Proctor and Abigail? How does each of them feel about it now? | John Proctor and Abigail had an affair when she worked for him. Abigail wants to get back together with him, and she thinks he’s in love with her. However, while John is attracted to her, he feels guilty and doesn’t want to be with her. He says he would cut off his hand before he reaches for her again |
| What is the function of Rebecca Nurse in the play? | Nice old lady that everybody loves. The voice of reason |
| How does John Proctor feel about Reverend Parris? | John Proctor doesn’t like him. |
| What is the dispute between John Proctor and Thomas Putnam? | They are fighting about land- |
| Why is Reverend Hale in Salem? | to see if there is witchcraft |
| What does Giles Corey reveal to Reverend Hale? | Corey tells Hale that his wife, Martha, reads books. |
| When Abigail is questioned by Reverend Hale, whom does she blame? What proof does she offer? | Tituba. For making her laugh during church. gives her bad dreams and makes her walk naked |
| What ultimatum is Tituba given? | Tell us your a witch or die |
| Who does Tituba accuse of being a witch? | Goody Osburn and Goody Good |
| Why does Abigail start accusing people at this point? | she sees all the attention that Tibuba is getting and she wants attention. She wants to be the hero |
| Why does Betty Parris start accusing people? | She wants to be the hero, she wants the attention so she can get out of trouble. |
The Crucible Act 1 – Study Guide questions
February 26, 2020