Question

directions: using your knowledge of the play and the passages provided to you, answer the questions below to the best of your ability. remember to read the questions and responses carefully, and take your time while reading the passages that are new to you. section one: background and the crucible 1. initially, which type of people in salem were accused of witchcraft? a. children b. beggars and outcasts c. ministers d. criminals 2. one of the most problematic types of evidence allowed in court during the salem witch trials was spectral evidence, seen in the play as the spirit of elizabeth proctor who “stabbed” abigail or the “bird” that mary warren transforms into in the courtroom. what was particularly problematic about this kind of evidence? a. it could only be seen by the victim. b. in order to prove it, the devil had to be summoned into the courtroom. c. it could only be seen by the person practicing witchcraft. d. it could not be seen by anyone, only felt. 3. in the overture of act 1, what do we learn about the puritans’ attitudes toward the dense forests that surround their town? a. they appreciate the ability to easily find lumber for building their homes. b. they fear the woods and believe the devil exists in it. c. they hope to develop the wooded land as soon as possible to grow their community. d. they believe the woods are a peaceful place and often go there to pray. 4. what event, occurring before the play begins and described in dialogue between abigail and reverend parris during act i, is the catalyst for the conflict in the play? a. reverend parris discovering abigail and the other girls dancing around a cauldron in the woods b. elizabeth proctor not trusting her husband c. giles corey discovering his wife reading books d. ann putnam losing her children in infancy 5. john proctor’s initial characterization as “a troubled soul...a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time, but against his own vision of decent conduct” indicates that he is tormented by: a. inner conflict and shame about his affair b. dissatisfaction in his marriage c. disappointment regarding his status in the village d. a desire to overthrow the puritan system of government

Explanation:

1. In the Salem Witch - Trials, initially, beggars and outcasts were targeted as they were on the fringes of society.
2. Spectral evidence was highly problematic because it could only be seen by the victim, making it impossible to verify objectively.
3. The Puritans in the play feared the woods and believed the Devil was present there, as the woods represented the unknown and a place outside their strict religious and social order.
4. Reverend Parris discovering Abigail and the other girls dancing around a cauldron in the woods was the catalyst for the conflict, as it set off the chain - reaction of accusations and hysteria.
5. John Proctor's characterization indicates he is tormented by inner conflict and shame about his affair, which goes against his moral values and self - image.

Answer:

1. B. beggars and outcasts
2. A. It could only be seen by the victim.
3. B. They fear the woods and believe the Devil exists in it.
4. A. Reverend Parris discovering Abigail and the other girls dancing around a cauldron in the woods
5. A. inner conflict and shame about his affair