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The Crucible Act II
Questions about Act II for the Crucible
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| In what location does Act II take place? How long after the end of Act I? | The common room of the proctor’s house; 8 days later. |
| Explain the meaning when John says, “This farm’s a continent when you go foot by foot droppin’ seeds in it.” This is an example of what two types of figurative language? | He means it is large/vast. Hyperbole & metaphor. |
| According to the Deputy Governor, anyone one charged with witchcraft will be hanged unless he/she __________________. | Confesses. |
| On p.193, Elizabeth’s description of what occurs when Abigail leads the other girls into court includes a reference to the crowds parting “like the sea of Israel.” This is an example of what two (2) literary terms? | Allusion & simile. |
| Why doesn’t John think the people of Salem will believe him if he reveals that Abigail told him the girls are not bewitched, bit only playing?? | It would be hard to prove as she is looked on as a “saint” & he was alone in the room with her when she told him (i.e. no witnesses). |
| Describe the relationship between Elizabeth and John at the beginning of this scene? | Tense/distant. |
| John states: “…like a Christian, I confessed. Confessed!” How is this statement an example of verbal irony? | Because unlike a Christian, he committed adultery (which is what he was confessing). |
| What does Mary Warren give as a gift to Goody Proctor? Why does she give this? | A poppet. To apologize for disobeying and leaving the house to go to court. |
| According to Mary, how many people have now been arrested for witchery? | Thirty-nine. |
| How did Mary Warren save Elizabeth Proctor’s life in court? | Mary said that she has never seen any sign of the devil upon Goody Proctor. |
| How has Mary Warren’s attitude changed now that she is an official of the court? | She is more self-assured; she has more confidence & talks back. |
| Who does Elizabeth fear wants her dead? Why does she think this? | Abigail. Because she knows she loves John Proctor & she suspects Abigail wants to take her place as his wife. |
| Why is mentioning Elizabeth’s name in court a more dangerous and serious proposition than naming Goody Good or Goody Osburn? | Because Elizabeth is a respected wife of a farmer, not a town drunk/bum/nut. |
| Why does Rev. John Hale visit the Proctor farm? | To investigate those who have been mentioned in court (i.e. Elizabeth Proctor). |
| In addition to Elizabeth Proctor, who else has been mentioned in the courts as potentially being a witch? | Rebecca Nurse. |
| What evidence does Hale present that questions the Christian character of John Proctor? | That John is rarely in Church on the Sabbath Day. |
| What does Proctor think of Rev. Parris? What reason does Proctor give for one of his sons being unbaptized? | He dislike him, has no respect for him; he believes Parris to be greedy. That he does not see the light of God in Rev. Parris & doesn’t want him to touch his child. |
| When asked to recite the Ten Commandments, which does Proctor fail to remember? This is a fair example of ______________ in the story. | Adultery; Irony. |
| Why do you suppose John can’t remember that particular one? | Guilt or shame. |
| Does Hale agree (at least to himself) with Proctor that the reason so many are confessing to witchcraft is because they are afraid of being hanged, of death? | Yes. |
| On p.201, Francis Nurse says, “My wife is the very brick and mortar of the church.” This statement contains a fair example of what type of figurative language? | Metaphor. |
| What charge has been brought against Rebecca Nurse? Against Martha Corey? | Rebecca for the supernatural murder of Goody Putnam’s seven babies. Martha for bewitching Mr. Walcott’s pigs, preventing him from keeping them alive for more than four weeks. |
| Who has charged Elizabeth Proctor? | Abigail. |
| What “evidence” does Cheever find that incriminates Elizabeth Proctor? How does it implicate Elizabeth for the crime for which she is accused? | A poppet with a pin stuck in its belly; Abigail fell in pain from a pin stuck in her stomach. She said it was Elizabeth Proctor’s spirit that did it. |
| How would Abigail have known about the poppet and needle? | She was sitting next to Mary Warren in court when she sewed it. |
| According to Proctor, what is “walking Salem” and “writes the law”? | Vengeance (revenge/spite). |
| On p.204, Proctor says to Elizabeth, “I will fall like an ocean on that court!” This statement contains a fair example of what type of figurative language? | Simile. |
| Elizabeth agrees to go to jail. What does she tell Proctor to tell the children in order to explain her absence and not frighten them? | That she is visiting a sick friend. |
| What does Mary Warren tell John Proctor will happen if he forces her to tell the truth about Abigail to the court? | Abigail will charge lechery on him; she will reveal the affair. |
| At the end of Act II, what does Proctor mean when he says, “[W]e are only what we always were, but naked now.” | The people of Salem are now being revealed for who they always were – bitter, vengeful, jealous sinners. |