2005
Fontbonne Hall Academy
English III Trimester I
Ms. Impellizzieri Worksheet
Name:___________________________________ Sec.#_____________
Arthur Miller wrote the play The
Crucible, using the 17th-century case of witch trials
(and fictionalizing it) to comment on a 20th-century phenomenon—the hunting of
communists as if they were witches.
What is guilt by association?
- Miller was motivated to write The
Crucible in the 1950s in order to criticize the activities of Senator
Joseph McCarthy, who was leading a movement to find and prosecute
suspected communists as if he were carrying out a witch trial.
1-
McCarthyism-
Research McCarthyism
The
time period from 1946 to 1955, during which Senator Joseph McCarthy led a movement to find and prosecute suspected
communists, is often compared to the Salem witch trials.
-
How did McCarthyism begin?
-
Why did Senator McCarthy begin this witch
hunt?
-
What is communism?
-
When did McCarthyism end?
-
Why did it end?
Vocabulary you will need to understand before you read!!!
Definition: Freedom
from bigotry or prejudice.
Definition: An
unvarying form or pattern; fixed or conventional expression, notion, character,
or mental pattern; having no individuality as though cast from a mold.
Definition: A
person, group, or thing that bears the blame for the mistakes or crimes of
others or for some misfortune due to another agency
2- After we have read they play, answer the following
questions.
- How would the characters be
different in the modern-day United States?
- Which events would change?
- How would the dialogue differ?
- Might witchcraft—the issue for
which the characters in Miller’s play are being persecuted—be replaced by
some other issue? Which issue? Why?
- Analyze the role
that Reverend Parris played in the Salem witch trials.
- Brainstorm and
discuss more recent events that you might label as “witch hunts.”
- Discuss how the
witch trials came to an end in Salem and what their consequences
were. In your opinion, were
matters resolved fairly?
3- Project: After we have read the play, The Crucible
by Arthur Miller, you will have to complete one of the following along with an
essay.
1- Create
your own business card: Take a
character from the play and create a business card for that character. Decorate the business card, add any
commentary or phrase(s) and character’s name and where they can be
reached.
For
example: Mary Warren’s Poppet Shoppe
You may include phrases such as: Colorful and only the finest of
fabrics, stuffed and on premises, made in your likeness, etc. Be creative!!!!
You also must be able to explain your card and
why you chose to create a card for that character.
-or-
2- Create
your own poppet: You will need
materials such as, fabric, cotton, buttons, needle and thread or a hot glue
gun. This poppet should be made into a
character that you identified with most.
You may modernize their style.
You
must be able to explain your poppet, why you chose this character and how you
identified with this character.