E3H Unit One Summative Test Overview
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| E3H Unit One Summative Test Overview | |
| Format | |
| 30 Multiple-Choice Questions | |
| Cold Reads from Act 3 and Act 4 | |
| 100 point summative/major | |
| Skills: | |
| Literary Analysis: Analyzing character motivations, internal conflicts, and how literary devices like metaphor and symbolism are used. | |
| Thematic Understanding: Identifying and explaining the major themes of the play, such as hysteria, self-preservation, intolerance, and integrity. | |
| Historical/Social Context: Understanding the Puritan worldview, including their beliefs about nature, society, and government, and how these beliefs influenced the events of the play. | |
| What to Study & How | |
| 1. Character Analysis and Motivation | |
| Focus on the core characters: John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, Elizabeth Proctor, and Reverend Hale. | |
| Study their motivations: Why do they act the way they do? For example, the questions highlight Abigail's desire for control and Proctor's internal conflict. | |
| Track their development: How do characters like Reverend Hale change throughout the play? Note how his initial arrogance is replaced by remorse. | |
| Look at their relationships: Understand the complex dynamics between characters, such as the tension between John and Elizabeth, and the history between John and Abigail. | |
| 2. Themes and Symbolism | |
| Hysteria: The questions repeatedly touch on the theme of mass hysteria and its dangers. Understand how fear and rumor can override reason and justice. | |
| Integrity and Self-Preservation: This is a major theme, particularly for John Proctor. Study why he refuses to give up his name, connecting it to the theme of integrity versus self-preservation. | |
| Revenge and Greed: The questions point to the motivations of characters like Abigail (revenge) and Thomas Putnam (greed). Know how these personal failings fuel the trials. | |
| Symbolism: Pay close attention to key symbols. The dagger is a strong example. Another is the title itself, The Crucible, which refers to a severe test or trial. | |
| 3. Puritan Beliefs and Society | |
| Society and Government: Understand that the Puritans sought to establish a theocracy, where the church and state were inseparable. | |
| Nature and the Supernatural: Be aware of the Puritan view of the natural world as "dangerous and fallen" in contrast to Native American beliefs. | |
| Core Values: Know what the Puritans valued, such as hard work and church attendance, and what they did not, such as individual freedom. | |
| Stage Directions: Understand the importance of stage directions. They provide critical information about a character's emotions, tone of voice, and physical actions, which are essential for understanding the play's meaning. | |
| 5. Key Questions to Consider | |
| Hysteria vs. Reality: How does the play blur the lines between genuine belief in witchcraft and the hysteria that drives the accusations? | |
| The Power of Reputation: How does a person's reputation, or "good name," influence the events of the play? Why is John Proctor's reputation so important to him? | |
| Corruption of Authority: How do figures of authority, like Judge Danforth and Reverend Parris, use their power? What are their motivations? | |
| Individual vs. Community: How does the Puritan value of community obedience clash with the need for individual integrity? | |
| Symbolism of the Title: Why is The Crucible an appropriate title? What does the word "crucible" mean, both literally and figuratively, in the context of the play? | |
| 6. Important Characters | |
| John Proctor: The protagonist. A farmer with a tarnished past who values his integrity and good name above all else. | |
| Abigail Williams: The main antagonist. A young, manipulative girl who orchestrates the witch trials for personal gain. | |
| Reverend Parris: The town minister. Vain, insecure, and obsessed with his reputation and authority. | |
| Reverend Hale: A minister and an expert on witchcraft. He initially believes in the trials but later becomes remorseful and tries to save the accused. | |
| Elizabeth Proctor: John's wife. A virtuous and honest woman who struggles to forgive her husband's past infidelity. | |
| Judge Danforth: A rigid and arrogant judge. He sees himself as a bastion of justice and is unwilling to compromise his authority. | |
| Giles Corey: A cantankerous old man known for his legal challenges and his refusal to cooperate with the court, ultimately dying for his integrity. | |
| Mary Warren: The Proctors' timid servant. She tries to do the right thing but is easily manipulated by Abigail. | |
| 7. Key Vocabulary and Terms | |
| Theocracy: A government ruled by religious authority. This term is fundamental to understanding Puritan society. | |
| Witch-hunt: A campaign directed against a person or group holding unpopular views. This is the central metaphor of the play, linking the Salem trials to McCarthyism. | |
| Hysteria: Exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people. | |
| Crucible: A severe test or trial. Also, a pot in which metals are melted at very high temperatures. | |
| Internal Conflict: A struggle within a character's own mind. John Proctor's battle with his guilt is a prime example. | |
| External Conflict: A struggle between a character and an outside force. The trials themselves are an external conflict. | |
| Foreshadowing: A literary device that hints at future events. | |
| Paradox: A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement that, when investigated, may prove to be true. Reverend Hale's statement that "theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small" is an example of a paradox that turns out to be very true in the play. | |