The Crucible

The Crucible

1. Characters

   • Abigail Williams
   • John Proctor
   • Elizabeth Proctor
   • Reverend Parris
   • Reverend Hale
   • Rebecca Nurse

2. Summary Of Acts

   • Act 1
     • Setting: Reverend Parris's house
       • That there may be unnatural causes involved in Betty's illness. The Girls were caught dancing in the forest screeching and swaying over the fire. Betty claims that Abigail drank chicken blood as a charm to kill Goody Proctor
   • Act 2
     • Setting: The Proctors House
       • Their relationship is strained. Elizabeth Proctor has been accused in court. Elizabeth is then arrested.
   • Act 3
     • Setting: The Courtroom
       • John Proctor enters the courtroom with Mary Warren who is confessing that the girls are lying. Abigail then pretends that Mary Warren's spirit is attacking her in the form of a yellow bird.
   • Act 4
     • Setting: The Prison
       • Abigail has disappeared with Reverend Parris's money. Proctor agrees to confess so he can save his life

3. Essay Techniques

   • The Basics
     • Knowing the content of the play
     • Must know the method
     • Must know when it takes place (timing)
   • Point
     • The answer
   • Evidence (analyse)
     • a quote or reference to the text supporting your Point
   • Explain
     • Explain how the whole quote shows you are correct
   • Writing
     • Introduction
       • Create a focused opening which answers the question directly, it may list the covered points
     • Main Body
       • 3-5 PEE Paragraphs
     • Conclusion
       • a strong conclusion might evaluate the authors overall reasons for their decisions and/or suggest which elements they felt was more important and why

4. How to Write an Extract Question

   • First Paragraph
     • •Explain where the extract happens in the play •Briefly say what happens in the extract • Explain why this is a significant moment in the play or novel •Answer the question strait away in a nutshell
   • The rest of your answer
     • •Work your way through the key quotations in the extract in order •Make sure you discuss some quotations from the beginning/middle/end •Write in paragraphs, constantly using short quotations and analysing in detail •Keep repeating the key words in the question.