Puritans & The Crucible (80+ Q&A) – English III – 2026 Exam Prep – Jonathan Edwards, Anne Bradstreet, Salem Themes

This document provides over 80 fully answered exam questions on key Puritan literature and historical context for English III, with a focus on Jonathan Edwards’ sermons, Anne Bradstreet’s poetry, and foundational ideas related to The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Students are guided through deep theological and literary themes, including predestination, divine wrath, poetic inversion, biblical allusion, and Puritan ideology. The content includes Jonathan Edwards' influential sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” examining rhetorical strategies (e.g., metaphors, repetition, parallel structure) used to portray human sinfulness and God’s power. It also covers Anne Bradstreet’s pioneering role as the first published American poet, her shift from public verse to deeply personal spiritual themes, and specific analysis of her poem “Upon the Burning of Our House.” The packet explores Enlightenment thinkers like Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau in contrast to Puritan ideals, and reinforces key concepts from the Salem Witch Trials era that inform The Crucible’s backdrop. Perfect for: High school juniors studying American Literature or AP English Language Students preparing for literature or thematic essay exams on Puritanism, early American texts, or The Crucible Teachers and tutors seeking an exam-ready breakdown of Puritan literature and 17th-century American context Learners analyzing rhetorical and poetic devices in early religious texts Keywords: Puritanism, The Crucible, Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Anne Bradstreet, predestination, wrath of God, biblical allusion, poetic inversion, extended metaphor, Enlightenment thinkers, American literature, English III, sermon analysis, early colonial poetry