Week 1: The Crucible

Mon:
"The Dying Girl that No One Helped" - followed by Focus Question 1 and FQ2

Tues: 5 Definitions
Literary Element: propaganda
Literary Element: allegory. 
What is Communism? Answer one Americans don't know humor
Who was Joseph Stalin? "Biography 1/2" (4:12) 
Joseph Stalin Declassified (9:43)
Who was Joseph McCarthy?  "McCruciblism" (9:37)  "He May be a Communist"  (3:18)

Wed-: "How to Write a Summary" 
Miller, Arthur.  "Why I Wrote the Crucible: An Artist's Answer to Politics" 
Answer Focus Q3:
Write a summary according to the handout. 
Music video
For teachers: Chart of where characters appear in play

Thurs (Day 11): read Arthur Miller's The Crucible  to Page 14 (to "did burst out in the general revenge"). 
Focus Q4: How does Miller describe Puritan Beliefs in Salem?

Fri (Day 12):  Print off the sheet for character notes and fill them in as we read the play.   
Read Arthur Miller's The Crucible beginning with "Rev. Parris is praying now…" on pg 14 and read until pg 24, "He goes out with Putnam." 
Focus Question 5: Describe Reverend Parris, his beliefs, and the motivations for his beliefs. 
Fill in character notes for Parris . 
Watch the video "Characters of the Crucible: Rev. Parris". 

Continue reading until pg 26, enter John Proctor. 
Focus Question 6: What have we learned about Abigail Williams?
Fill in character notes for Abigail. 
Watch the video "Characters of the Crucible: Abigail Williams".

Big Ideas of The Crucible
powers of the individual,
individual vs. religious
authority, individuals
as members of a community,
willingness to make sacrifices for the truth, dealing with powerful accusers,
Puritanism resentment, hysteria, hypocrisy

Essential Questions
• What is the importance of individuality?
• How can people use their power to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others?
• What are the risks and rewards of using the power of the individual?

Week 2: The Crucible

Vocabulary:
ameliorate
base
begrudge
conceding
condemnation
deference
dote
falter
pallor
scoffing

Mon (Day 13):
Read Arthur Miller's The Crucible pages 26-37, beginning with the description of John Proctor.
Focus Q7: Explain how John Proctor sees himself. 

Fill in character notes for the rest of the front page. 

Tues (Day 14):
Continue reading/performing Act One of The Crucible, pages 38-47.  Begin with description of John Hale.

Focus Question #8: Describe Reverend John Hale's background, beliefs, and purpose. 

Fill in character notes for John Hale. 
Video: "John Hale in Act 1".   

Wed (Day 15): Continue reading Act One of The Crucible, pages 48-53.  Focus for Listening: Why does Abigail accuse Tituba? Why does Tituba confess? Why do the other girls do likewise? 
Focus Question # 9: Why did Tituba, Abigail, and Betty confess?

Thurs (Day 16): Read The Crucible pages 47-68.  (Begin at Act Two and end "you will tear it free!")
FQ10: Is Eliz right to continue to mistrust John even though his affair with Abigail has been over for seven months?  Or is John right in believing that by now Elizabeth should have forgiven and forgotten his affair with Abigail and come to trust him again?  Choose to support either Elizabeth's or John's viewpoint in your answer. 
Fill in character notes for Elizabeth. 
Video: "The Crucible: The Proctor's Fractured Relationship".

Fri no school

Week 3: The Crucible

Mon (Day 17):  Read Arthur Miller's The Crucible pages 68-86 (the end of Act II). 
Focus Q11 Why is John Proctor hesitant to expose Abigail's lies?
1. Introduce the answer by restating and beginning to answer the question.
2. Write several reasons why Proctor is hesitant to testify in court.
3. Conclude with a sentence or two predicting whether or not you think Proctor's testimony would be believed.

Video: Elizabeth Proctor Arrested

Tues (Day 20): Miller, Arthur.  The Crucible.  Pages 87-98 (to stage direction "Marshal Herrick returns"), followed by Focus Q12: Why does Francis Nurse fear he has brought trouble to the ninety-one people who signed their names to the document presented in court?
Answer Plan
1. Introduce the answer by restating the question.
2. Based on previous events of the play, write several sentences that predict possible consequences that may come to these people.
3. Conclude with a personal observation of the way that witnesses have been handled so far in the play.

Wed (Day 21): Read Arthur Miller's The Crucible pages 98-110 (to "Danforth peers at her"), followed by Focus Q13: Discuss Mary's inability to faint on demand for the members of the court.
Answer Plan
1. Introduce your answer by predicting why you think Mary could not faint.
2. Write a number of sentences to support your prediction.
3. Conclude by predicting the possible consequences of her inability to prove she was simply pretending

Thurs (Day 22): Miller, Arthur.  The Crucible.   Pages 111-122 (to end of Act III), followed by Focus Q14: Why did John Proctor disclose his affair with Abigail?
Answer Plan
1. Restate the question.
2. Write a number of sentences that detail what John hoped to achieve by disclosing the affair.
3. Conclude by giving your opinion of his decision.

Characters of The Crucible: Elizabeth in Court

Fri (Day 23): Read Arthur Miller's The Crucible pages 123-130  (when Hale enters), followed by Focus Q15: Hathorne indicates that Parris is overreacting to the scheduled hanging of Rebecca and Proctor because "at every execution [he has] seen naught but high satisfaction in the town."  What would happen to a townsperson who protested the hangings or appeared dissatisfied in any way with the court's proceedings and decisions?
Answer Plan
1. Introduce the answer by restating the question.
2. Write several sentences in which you provide examples of the result of challenging the authorities. As often as possible, use the text to support your claim.
3. Conclude by predicting what you think will happen.

Video: Reverend Hale in Acts 3 & 4

Week 4: The Crucible

Tues (Day 22): Miller, Arthur.  The Crucible.   Pages 111-122 (to end of Act III), followed by Focus Q14: Why did John Proctor disclose his affair with Abigail?
Answer Plan
1. Restate the question.
2. Write a number of sentences that detail what John hoped to achieve by disclosing the affair.
3. Conclude by giving your opinion of his decision.
Characters of The Crucible: Elizabeth in Court

Thurs (Day 24):  Read Arthur Miller's The Crucible pages 130-146, the end of the play. 
Answer Focus Question #16 (After Day 24) FQ16 Why do Parris and Hale ask for postponement?.
Both Parris and Hale ask Danforth to postpone the executions, but their reasons for wanting a postponement are vastly different. What motivates each one?
Answer Plan
1. Introduce the answer by restating the question.
2. Write several sentences in which you assert Parris's reasons for wishing the executions postponed.
3. Write a sentence or two where you reveal Hale's motivation.
4. Conclude with a prediction about whether Danforth will oblige either one.

Wed (Day 23): Read Arthur Miller's The Crucible pages 123-130  (when Hale enters), followed by Focus Q15: Hathorne indicates that Parris is overreacting to the scheduled hanging of Rebecca and Proctor because "at every execution [he has] seen naught but high satisfaction in the town."  What would happen to a townsperson who protested the hangings or appeared dissatisfied in any way with the court's proceedings and decisions?
Answer Plan
1. Introduce the answer by restating the question.
2. Write several sentences in which you provide examples of the result of challenging the authorities. As often as possible, use the text to support your claim.
3. Conclude by predicting what you think will happen.
Video: Reverend Hale in Acts 3 & 4

Is The Crucible still relevant today?
This is an essay that gives you the opportunity to show what you have learned and to show that you have thought about the issues here.  Compare the events in the play to a twenty-first century crucible, an issue in which people overreact, accuse those that you don't believe should have been accused, or get hysterical.  Choose one modern issue and make comparison between it and the play. 

"The New McCarthyism."' Maclean's Magazine
"Political Correctness Gone Wild" (video)
Indoctrinate U (full-length film)
Goldberg, Jonah.  "Two Cheers for McCarthyism? Taking it Back - A Little".
XXX The National Review. 

Narrative Text
Characteristics of
XXX Romanticism
XXX American Colonial Poetry
XXX American Renaissance Poetry
XXX American Renaissance Essays
XXX Post World War II Drama
XXX Political Allegory

carpe diem
conformity
imagination
inspiration
neoclassic
romantic
intuition

reason

Review materials to help prepare for the exam on Friday:
XPowerPoint show contrasting romantic and classic styles through art
XPowerPoint show reviewing the contrast between romantic thought and classic thought
XHelpful notes (on a Microsoft Word document)
Xillustration reinforcing the difference that the word "Romanticism" now and then.

Literary Devices
alliteration (see the glossary entry on pg 1189).
folklore (see the article on pg 162)
setting (see the glossary entry on pg 1200).   

Historical/Cultural


Critical Perspective
characteristics of literary critique
quotations from the text to illustrate themes, motives, or author's purpose

carpe diem
conformity
imagination
inspiration
neoclassic
romantic
intuition
reason