The Crucible Acts I-IV exam 2023/ 60
Question with solved Answers.
What is a Crucible? - -A container that can withstand very high temperatures; a severe
trial or test
-Who wrote the Crucible and when? - -Arthur Miller in 1953
-Why was the play called The Crucible? - -It served as an allegory for the Salem Witch
Trials, which is what the play is about, and McCarthyism and the Red Scare during
Miller's time. A crucible, not only is a container, but it can also serve as a metaphor for a
severe test or trial. In the Crucible the characters went under literal trials (witch trails),
and they were tested to see where their faith lied (God or the devil). During Miller's time
McCarthyism took place and the Red Scare in which communists fueled fear in America
during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Miller was falsely accused of being a
communist, like Proctor, and was blacklisted. The themes of the play relating to this
time period would be authority, Justice for the innocent, integrity, and questioning how
reliable the justice system really is.
-Why did Arthur Miller write the Crucible? - -He wrote the play to fictionalize and
dramatize the Salem Witch Trials which took place in 1692-1693
-What were the girls doing in the woods? - -The girls, including Ruth, Tituba, Abigail,
Mercy Lewis, and Betty, where practicing witchcraft, but they denied it and said they
were just playing around
-Why is Parris denying that Betty is bewitched? - -He doesn't want to ruin his
reputation within the town
, -What type of Minister is Parris? - -He talks a lot about damnation, hell, and not
enough about God and heaven
-Why is Thomas Putnam willing to speak of witchcraft? - -He is a bitter person because
he tends to hold grudges. He is bitter that his brother-in-law didn't get the position of
minister and he took it personally
-According to Abby, why did the Proctor's fire her? - -They wanted her to become a
slave and she didn't want to be their slave
-How does Mrs. Putnam know what Ruth is doing in the woods? - -She knows what
Ruth was doing in the woods because she went Ruth to go to Tituba to conjure the
spirits of her dead babies
-Why does Abigail admit that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits? Why is Abigail
afraid the others will confess what they were doing in the woods? - -She is afraid that
she will get in trouble for practicing witchcraft. She admits that Tituba and Ruth were
conjuring to save Betty from being accused of witchcraft
-How does Abby treat the other girls? How does she treat her uncle? - -She treats the
other girls badly, but treats her uncle well and with respect
-What are Abby's feelings towards Proctor? Why does is there tension between Abby
and Elizabeth? Why was Abby asked to leave the Proctor household? - -Abby is in love
with Proctor. Naturally, Abby is jealous of Elizabeth being Proctor's wife. Abby was
asked to leave because Elizabeth suspected that John fancied Abby and she didn't trust
her.
-Why does Ann Putnam resent Rebecca Nurse? - -She is jealous with the amount of
children Nurse has
-Why does Abby want Elizabeth dead? - -So she can have John to herself
Question with solved Answers.
What is a Crucible? - -A container that can withstand very high temperatures; a severe
trial or test
-Who wrote the Crucible and when? - -Arthur Miller in 1953
-Why was the play called The Crucible? - -It served as an allegory for the Salem Witch
Trials, which is what the play is about, and McCarthyism and the Red Scare during
Miller's time. A crucible, not only is a container, but it can also serve as a metaphor for a
severe test or trial. In the Crucible the characters went under literal trials (witch trails),
and they were tested to see where their faith lied (God or the devil). During Miller's time
McCarthyism took place and the Red Scare in which communists fueled fear in America
during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Miller was falsely accused of being a
communist, like Proctor, and was blacklisted. The themes of the play relating to this
time period would be authority, Justice for the innocent, integrity, and questioning how
reliable the justice system really is.
-Why did Arthur Miller write the Crucible? - -He wrote the play to fictionalize and
dramatize the Salem Witch Trials which took place in 1692-1693
-What were the girls doing in the woods? - -The girls, including Ruth, Tituba, Abigail,
Mercy Lewis, and Betty, where practicing witchcraft, but they denied it and said they
were just playing around
-Why is Parris denying that Betty is bewitched? - -He doesn't want to ruin his
reputation within the town
, -What type of Minister is Parris? - -He talks a lot about damnation, hell, and not
enough about God and heaven
-Why is Thomas Putnam willing to speak of witchcraft? - -He is a bitter person because
he tends to hold grudges. He is bitter that his brother-in-law didn't get the position of
minister and he took it personally
-According to Abby, why did the Proctor's fire her? - -They wanted her to become a
slave and she didn't want to be their slave
-How does Mrs. Putnam know what Ruth is doing in the woods? - -She knows what
Ruth was doing in the woods because she went Ruth to go to Tituba to conjure the
spirits of her dead babies
-Why does Abigail admit that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits? Why is Abigail
afraid the others will confess what they were doing in the woods? - -She is afraid that
she will get in trouble for practicing witchcraft. She admits that Tituba and Ruth were
conjuring to save Betty from being accused of witchcraft
-How does Abby treat the other girls? How does she treat her uncle? - -She treats the
other girls badly, but treats her uncle well and with respect
-What are Abby's feelings towards Proctor? Why does is there tension between Abby
and Elizabeth? Why was Abby asked to leave the Proctor household? - -Abby is in love
with Proctor. Naturally, Abby is jealous of Elizabeth being Proctor's wife. Abby was
asked to leave because Elizabeth suspected that John fancied Abby and she didn't trust
her.
-Why does Ann Putnam resent Rebecca Nurse? - -She is jealous with the amount of
children Nurse has
-Why does Abby want Elizabeth dead? - -So she can have John to herself
