The Crucible By Arthur Miller Journaling Assignment For AP

the crucible by arthur miller journaling assignment for ap language and composition as you read the crucible, please keep a dialectal journ

The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Journaling Assignment for AP Language and Composition
As you read The Crucible, please keep a dialectal journal in which you
answer the following prompts.
A. Please enter 3 journal entries for each of the following prompts.
Be sure you cite the passage and respond to it.
*The idea of name and reputation
*The idea of authority
*Truth and deceitfulness
*Criticism of the institution of religion
*Criticism of the Red Scare and McCarthyism
B. Close Reading Questions
Please answer 30 of the following questions as fully as you can, using
complete sentences. (Choose 10 questions from Act One, 10 questions
from Act Two, and 10 questions from Act 3 &4 combined.) Be sure to
label your answers.
Act One
1. (1217)– Comment on Miller’s diction in this paragraph, particularly
his use of the phrases “parochial snobbery” and “Salem folk”.
2. (1217) – What does the “candle” metaphor mean? Is it positive or
negative? Explain.
3. (1218) – Explain the juxtaposition between order and freedom in
this paragraph.
4. (1218 – “the witch-hunt was not…) – What speaker bias does this
paragraph illuminate?
5. (1223 – “Now look you…”) – How does Miller use telegraphic
sentences to create tone in this “speech”?
6. (1224-introduction of Proctor) - How does Miller use description to
present Proctor as a universal voice in this play?
7. (1225) - Abigail is called “child” throughout the play by Proctor
and Danforth. How is this ironic?
8. (1225-Abigail begins with “I look for John”) - How does Miller use
repetition in this paragraph?
9. Miller uses the archaic title “Goody” throughout the play. How does
this contribute to the occasion of the work?
10. How is the charge made by Mrs. Putnam against Rebecca that she
“tempt[ed] her to iniquity” ironic? (You may need to read further into
the play before answering this.)
11. 1228-Proctor: “I like not the smell of this ‘authority’.” Explain
how the use of the metaphor “smell” is effective here.
12.1229-introduction of Hale-para2 – Explain how the juxtaposition of
the devil and “respectable view of cosmology” is effective.
13. 1229-(begins “Our difficulty believing”)- What is implied by
Miller’s use of the phrase “political inspiration of the Devil”?
14. same para. – Why is “Devil” capitalized?
15. same para. – How does Miller use allusions in this paragraph to
support the idea of the necessary invention and maintenance of a devil
figure?
16. 1230- Explain the significance of the juxtaposition of the
relationship between God and the Devil and Communists and Capitalists.
What universal proclamation is Miller making here?
17. 1230- How does Miller’s description of Hale create tone? What is
the tone?
18. 1229-30- List the different titles of the Devil Miller uses and
note what character speaks them. What does this imply?
19. 1231 Hale (begins with “Here is all the invisible world”) – How
does Miller use diction to create tone in this paragraph?
20. same passage- How does the metaphorical verb “crush”, “rip and
tear” add to the arrogance of Hale?
21. 1232, Parris (begins with “How can it be the Devil?”) – How does
Miller use questioning here?
22. 1233-35, Tituba – How does Miller use diction and syntax to create
Tituba’s character? Why is it important that her language be “set
apart”? Think more than “because she’s from Barbados”.
Act Two
23. 1236, Proctor- “It’s warm as blood beneath the clods.” – Why does
Miller choose this particular metaphor? How does this add to tone? How
does it add to foreshadowing?
24. 1236- Proctor repeats his desire to please Elizabeth. How is this
use of repetition significant to his relationship with his wife?
25. 1236-Proctor- “It’s winter in here yet”- How does Miller use
winter as a symbol in this passage? What picture does it paint of the
relationship between John and Elizabeth?
26. 1238-Proctor- (begins with “You will not judge me more”) – How
does Miller use repetition of the word “judge”? How is that word
significant to Miller’s construction of the motif of judgment in the
play?
27. 1238- Proctor- (begins with “Spare me!”) – Pay attention to how
many times Proctor uses “I” in this paragraph. What effect is Miller
creating with this parallel structure through the use of the word “I”?
28. 1238-Elizabeth- (begins with “I do not judge you.”) – Explain how
the metaphor “the magistrate sits in your heart that judges you”
contributes to the motifs of judgment and authority.
29. 1240-Proctor- “But the proof, the proof!” – What is the tone? What
is the purpose of this exclamation?
30. 1241-Mary- (begins with “The Devil’s loose”) – How does Miller
create irony here?
31. 1241-Hale- “You are Goodwife Proctor.” – Why does Miller use the
word “Goodwife” here instead of “Goody”?
32. 1243-Elizabeth- “Adultery, John” (after he had forgotten that
commandment in his recitation) – Miller never explains to his reader
outright the affair between John and Abigail; rather, he alludes to
and hints at it through the dialogue of his characters. How is this
effective? What mood is created by Elizabeth’s reminder?
33. 1244-Hale- “Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell,
God thought him beautiful in Heaven.”- How does Miller use this
religious allusion to create effect?
34. 1245- How does Miller use poppets as a symbol? (Proctor-“What
signifies a poppet?”)
35. 1246-Proctor (begins with “If she is innocent!”)- How does Miller
use diction here to refer to McCarthyism?
36. -same passage- How does Miller use metaphors in this passage?
37. -same passage-How does Miller use questioning here? What effect
does it create?
38. 1247-Proctor-“Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands
of this!” – Explain the significance of the religious allusion. How is
it an appropriate metaphor for Rev. Hale?
39. 1248-Proctor-“My wife will never die for me! I will bring your
guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me!”
-Several times in the play John and Elizabeth refer to each other as
“good” or “goodness”. What does this choice of words suggest about
their relationship? Is it reflective of the time or culture?
-How does Miller use repetition in this quote?
Act Three
40. 1251-Danforth-“We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all
concealment.” – How is this statement ironic? How is Miller using this
irony to comment on more contemporary issues?
41. 1252-Proctor- Proctor repeats the word “never”. How is this
significant? Why that word?
42. 1253-Parris-(Begins with “All innocent and Christian people”)-
Miller uses syntax to create a juxtaposition between two groups of
people. What are the two groups? What is being said about them?
43. 1253-Proctor-(Begins with “No, she’s not, sir”)- Miller uses
another religious allusion here. Explain how the allusion is
significant and how it accomplishes the purpose of Miller’s attack on
religious dogma.
44. 1254-Danforth-(“No uncorrupted man may fear this court, Mr.
Hale!”)- Comment on the use of the word “man” here.
45. 1255-Hale (Begins with “I have this morning”) – Discuss the
significance of the metaphor “hand” here and in other passages in the
play. How does this contribute to the idea of responsibility and
guilt?
46. Abigail again is referred to as a child. How is this ironic in
this situation? Why does Miller choose to have the characters refer to
her as a child? As he is making a critical commentary on McCarthyism,
what is he suggesting? (Consider the supposed nature of a child as you
are answering this question.)
47. 1257-Parris-“this man is blackening my name” – What is the
significance of the word “blackening” here? (Consider his criticism of
contemporary issues.)
48. 1262-Proctor-(begins with “A fire, a fire is burning!”)- Why does
Miller have John use first-person plural pronouns here?
49. same passage- Explain the significance of the metaphor of burning.
How does it add to the motif of guilt in this play?
Act Four
50. 1266-Parris-“Excellency—a dagger—“ – Explain the purpose of the
dashes.
51. same passage- Why does Miller use a dagger here? What is he
communicating?
52. 1268-Hale- (begins with “Let you not mistake your duty”) – What
ideas is Miller juxtaposing through Hale’s exhortation to Elizabeth?
How does he do this?
53. 1268-Proctor and Elizabeth- stage directions – “Alone.” – What
meaning is achieved in this one-word telegraphic sentence?
54. 1268-9-Proctor and Elizabeth’s dialogue- There is a shift here in
that John and Elizabeth are not speaking to each other in paragraphs,
as has been the pattern of discourse throughout the play. What effect
does Miller create through his use of short sentences and quick
dialogue here?
55. 1269-Elizabeth- “Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it”
and 134- “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him.” –
Why does Miller use the word good here? What does it mean in this
context? What is its connotation?
56. 1272-Proctor- (Begins with “Because it is my name!”) – How does
Miller use parallel structure in this passage to create effect?
57. same passage- What does “name” mean here? Why does Miller repeat
that word?
58. same passage- Miller uses subordination in the last sentence – “I
have given you my soul; leave me my name!” What does this say about
the relationship between “soul” and “name”?