The Crucible Literary Elements

Allegory Allegory—A narrative in which the characters and settings stand for abstract ideas or moral qualities. In addition to the literal meaning of the story, an allegory contains a symbolic, or allegorical, meaning.

Allegory Allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, stand for some greater idea. The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas such as evil, greed, or envy. Ex: Jack and his tribe represent the potential for evil inside of all men.

Allegory Thus, an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning. The main purpose of an allegory is to tell a story that has characters, setting, etc. that have both literal and figurative meanings.

The Crucible and Communism Allegory: work of literature that tells one story on the surface while referring to another sub textually Comparing the play to the Red Scare Can you see how these historical events are similar to those of the Salem Witch Trials?

Allusion A reference to another work of literature/art/music, an historical event or figure, or stories/people from the Bible. All the girls hope that the new student becomes their Romeo. A reference to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Foil Where the author creates a character whose primary purpose is to create a contrast to another character by laying emphasis or drawing attention to the latter’s traits and characteristics through the former’s obviously contradictory ones Examples: Proctor/Hale Elizabeth/Abigail

Tragic Hero A “good” character with a tragic flaw who is doomed to fail despite his/her good intentions & best efforts. John Proctor is the tragic hero as he has many positive traits about him, such as his noble characteristics and his honorable and righteous qualities. He however also had a darker side to his otherwise pure nature, his affair with Abigail Williams, leading to his eventual fatal downfall and the downfall of others as a result of one action.

Tragic Flaw The character defect that causes the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy.

Comic Relief The inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension. Giles’s bragging about going to court dozens of times and his use of the word “fart” in court offers a little comic relief.

Elements of Drama Review Soliloquy: An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, esp. by a character in a play Aside: A remark or passage by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play Monologue: A long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast program Dialogue: Conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie Stage Directions: An instruction in the text of a play, esp. one indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor, or the sound effects and lighting

Irony Review Dramatic Situational Verbal

Characterization Review Direct vs. Indirect Flat Round Static Dynamic