| Why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor as the play begins? | Because his daughter (Betty) is sick |
| What advice does the doctor send back? | To look for the “un-natural reason” of Betty’s sickness |
| What does Parris question his niece Abigail about? | He questions if her name is still “white” as in pure |
| What is Parris’ main concern? | His reputation as a minister and natural posessions |
| What did Parris see in the woods the previous night? | He saw Abigail and Betty dancing in the woods along with other girls and one was naked. |
| What has Elizabeth Proctor said about Abigail? | That Elizabeth spreads rumors about the affair |
| Why does Abigail say she was dismissed by the Proctors? | Because she refused to be treated like a slave |
| What rumors have circulated the town about Betty and Abigail? | That Abigail was flying over the barn and Betty is so stricken with evil that she can’t even hear God’s word |
| Why did Mrs. Putnam contact Tituba? | She wanted to know who killed her seven kids. |
| Who does Abigail accuse of conjuring spirits at this point? | Tituba |
| What does Betty Parris reveal about what happened in the woods? | That Abigail drank blood as a charm to kill Elizabeth Proctor |
| What threat does Abigail make to the other girls? | To kill them or hurt them if they tell |
| What happened in the past between John Proctor and Abigail? How do each of them feel about it now? | John and Abigail had an affair while she was working for them. John tries to put a stop to it. |
| What is the function of Rebecca Nurse in the play? | She is the voice of reason and common sense. |
| How does John Proctor feel about Reverend Parris? | He doesn’t like him and doesn’t trust him as a Reverend. |
| What is the dispute between John Proctor and Thomas Putnam? | They fight over land and boundaries. |
| Why is Reverend Hale in Salem? | Parris called him to stop the rumors of witchcraft. |
| What does Giles Corey reveal to Reverend Hale? | That his wife has been acting strange by reading books which keep her from prayer |
| When Abigail is questioned by Reverend Hale, who does she blame? What proof does she offer? | Tituba, she says that Tituba causes her to laugh during prayer. |
| What ultimatum is Tituba given? | That in order to avoid being hanged she must confess, praise the Lord, and give other witnesses |
| Who does Tituba accuse of being a witch? | Sarah Good & Goody Osborn |
| Why does Abigail start accusing people at this point? | She wants to save herself and the only way to do is it is by accusing others which would draw the attention away from herself. |
| Why does Betty Parris start accusing people? | She follows Tituba and Abigail’s lead. |
| At the beginning of this act, John Proctor says, “It is winter in here yet.” Why is this pertinent to what is going on? | He uses it to symbolize their relationship as being a cold one because she (Elizabeth) doesn’t trust him (John). |
| Why has Mary Warren disobeyed her employers and gone to Salem? | Since she has been named an official she must go and also she likes feeling important. |
| Why hasn’t John told the court what he knows? What does Elizabeth attribute his not telling to? | He worries it wouldn’t be easy proving that she is lying. |
| What lie did John Proctor tell to Elizabeth which makes her more suspicious of him? | At first he tells her that he talked to Abigail out in the open then he says that they had a private conversation. |
| What news does Mary Warren reveal to John and Elizabeth about the trials? | That Elizabeth has been convicted |
| How does Mary Warren behave towards her employers? | She demands their respect because now she is an “official of the court”. |
| What does Mary Warren mean when she says, “I saved her life today!”? | When Abigail accuses Elizabeth of Witch Craft, Mary Warren defends her. |
| What does Elizabeth realize when she finds out that she has been accused? | That Abigail accused her because she wants John all to herself |
| What does Elizabeth ask John to do? | To tell the courts what Abigail has said to him |
| Why does Reverend Hale visit the Proctors? | To investigate the stories on his own |
| How does John Proctor respond to questions about why he has not been to church? | He says his wife has been sick and doesn’t agree with Parris’ teachings. |
| What does Reverend Hale ask Proctor to do? | Testify in court |
| Discuss the meaning of “Adultery, John.” (page 67) | As John tries to prove to Hale that he knows the 10 Commandments he forgets the only commandment he has broken and therefore his wife reminds him. |
| What information does John Proctor reveal to Reverend Hale? | “That there is no love for Satan in this house” |
| What does Reverend Hale want John to do with this information? | Tell it to the Court |
| Why does Elizabeth say that she doesn’t believe in witches at this point? | Because if she would confess to believing in witches then they might think that she is a witch |
| What news does Giles Corey reveal to the Proctors and Reverend Hale? | His wife, Martha, and Rebecca have been sent to jail |
| What has Rebecca Nurse been accused of? | For murdering Goody Putnam’s unborn babies |
| Why has Martha Corey been accused? | Walcott says that she has killed his pigs she gave him. |
| Why do Ezekial Cheever and Marshal Herrick arrive at the Proctor home? | They have a warrant to arrest Elizabeth. |
| Explain why Cheever is both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it? | Abigail was complaining of a sharp pain in her stomach and Parris finds a doll with a needle in it’s stomach. |
| What does John ask Mary Warren to do? | To explain to the court why she has the doll and Elizabeth doesn’t |
| Why is Mary so afraid to do as he asks? | She says that Abigail swore she would kill the girls if anyone told. |
| Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail? | If he testifies against her she will charge lechery and ruin him. |
| What does John decide to do? | That both him and Mary Warren will testify against Abigail together |
| Why did Tituba first accuse those two specific women? | Because they weren’t respected in the town so it was believable |
| Why is Rebecca Nurse accused of murdering Mrs. Putnam’s babies? | Because she helped Mrs. Putnam deliver them |
| Who is the “base of the church”? | Rebecca Nurse |
The Crucible Acts 1 and 2
March 3, 2020