Question

1. read as you read lines 1 - 40, begin to collect and cite text evidence.

• underline details that describe reverend samuel parris.
• circle details that describe the setting.
• in the margin, explain the purpose of the exposition. for whose benefit does miller include this text?

act one
an overture
(a small upper bedroom in the home of reverend samuel parris, salem, massachusetts, in the spring of the year 1692.

there is a narrow window at the left. through its leaded panes the morning sunlight streams. a candle still burns near the bed, which is at the right. a chest, a chair, and a small table are the other furnishings. at the back a door opens on the landing of the stairway to the ground floor. the room gives off an air of clean spareness. the roof rafters are exposed, and the wood colors are raw and unmellowed.

as the curtain rises, reverend parris is discovered kneeling beside the bed, evidently in prayer. his daughter, betty parris, aged ten, is lying on the bed, inert.)

a t the time of these events parris was in his middle forties. in history he cut a villainous path, and there is very little good to be said for him. he believed he was being persecuted wherever he went, despite his best efforts to win people and god to his side. in meeting, he felt insulted if someone rose to shut the door without first asking his permission. he was a widower with no interest in children, or talent with them. he regarded them as young adults.

his house stood in the \town\—but we today would hardly call it a village. the meeting house¹ was nearby, and from this point outward—toward the bay or inland—there were a few small - windowed, dark houses snuggling against the raw massachusetts winter. salem had been established hardly forty years before. to the european world the whole province was a

¹ meeting house: the most important building in the puritan community, used both for worship and for meetings.

Explanation:

Details describing Reverend Samuel Parris: In his middle - forties, believed he was persecuted, easily insulted, widower with no interest in children, regarded children as young adults. Details describing the setting: A small upper bedroom in Parris' home in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 spring, with a narrow window, a burning candle near the bed, basic furnishings, and an air of clean spareness. The purpose of the exposition is to introduce the main character (Parris) and the setting to the audience/reader, setting the stage for the events to follow. Miller includes this text for the benefit of the audience/reader to understand the context and characters at the start.

Answer:

Details about Reverend Samuel Parris: "At the time of these events Parris was in his middle forties. In history he cut a villainous path... He believed he was being persecuted... In meeting, he felt insulted... He was a widower with no interest in children... He regarded them as young adults."
Details about the setting: "A small upper bedroom in the home of Reverend Samuel Parris, Salem, Massachusetts, in the spring of the year 1692. There is a narrow window at the left... A candle still burns near the bed... A chest, a chair, and a small table are the other furnishings... The room gives off an air of clean spareness."
Purpose of the exposition and for whose benefit: The purpose is to introduce characters and setting. It is for the benefit of the audience/reader to understand the context at the start of the story.