THE CRUCIBLE 
REVIEW QUESTIONS  

Act I:

1.Why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor as the play begins?

2.What advice does the doctor send back?

3.What does Parris question his niece Abigail about?

4.What is Parris’ main concern?

5.What did Parris see in the woods the previous night?

6.What has Elizabeth Proctor said about Abigail?

7.Why does Abigail say she was dismissed by the Proctors?

8. What rumors have circulated the town about Betty Parris? What proof later occurs that "proves" that she is a witch?

9. Why did Mrs. Putnam contact Tituba?

10.Who does Abigail accuse of conjuring spirits at this point?

11.What does Betty Parris reveal about what happened in the woods?

12.What threat does Abigail make to the other girls?

13.What happened in the past between John Proctor and Abigail? How do each of them feel about it now?

14.What is the function of Rebecca Nurse in the play?

15.How does John Proctor feel about Reverend Parris?

16.What is the dispute between John Proctor and Thomas Putnam?

17.Why is Reverend Hale in Salem?

18.What does Giles Corey reveal to Reverend Hale?

19.When Abigail is questioned by Reverend Hale, who does she blame? What proof does she offer?

20.What ultimatum is Tituba given?

21.Who does Tituba accuse of being a witch?

22.Why does Abigail start accusing people at this point?

23.Why does Betty Parris start accusing people?

Quotations from Act I:

1. You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor.---page 19

2. But I will cut off my hand before I ever reach for you again.---page 23

3. There is a prodigious danger in the seeking out of loose spirits.---page28

4. You think that is god’s work that you should never lose a child and I bury all but one?---page 28

Act II:

1.At the beginning of this act, John Proctor says, "It is winter in here yet." Why is this pertinent to what is going on?

2.Why has Mary Warren disobeyed her employers and gone to Salem?

3.What did Abigail Williams reveal to John Proctor? Elizabeth reminds him of this.

4.Why hasn’t John told the court what he knows? What does Elizabeth attribute his not telling to?

5.What lie did John Proctor tell to Elizabeth which makes her more suspicious of him?

6.What news does Mary Warren reveal to John and Elizabeth about the trials?

7.How does Mary Warren behave towards her employers?

8.What does Mary Warren mean when she says, "I saved her life today!"?

9.What does Elizabeth realize when she finds out that she has been accused?

10.What does Elizabeth ask John to do?

11.Why does Reverend Hale visit the Proctors?

12.How does John Proctor respond to questions about why he has not been to church?

13.What does Reverend Hale ask Proctor to do?

14.Discuss the meaning of "Adultery, John." (page 67)

15.What information does John Proctor reveal to Reverend Hale?

16.What does Reverend Hale want John to do with this information?

17.Why does Elizabeth say that she doesn’t believe in witches at this point?

18.What news does Giles Corey reveal to the Proctors and Reverend Hale?

19.What has Rebecca Nurse been accused of?

20.Why has Martha Corey been accused?

21.Why do Ezekial Cheever and Marshal Herrick arrive at the Proctor home

 BACK to ENGLISH II HONORS HOME