1. The Crucible and 12 Angry Men
What is reading for comparison mean?

2. Crucible and 12 Angry men Reading for comparison
When we study a pair of texts we must read with a comparative focus in mind. This means we must have an understanding of each text on its own and then think about the relationship and connections between them. You will need to be able to identify the points of comparison across both texts. These points of comparison may be similarities or differences between the texts, such as the presentation of key concepts including ideas, issues and themes, or the textual features such as plot, character and setting that authors use to convey particular perspectives. Identifying points of comparison allows you to consider the ways that the intertextual connections contribute to and help to shape new and enriched meanings. Your ability to analyse the impact of these connections on the reader will form the basis of your comparative essay response

3. Intertextual meaning… What is that anyway? Is it important?
Intertextuality is VERY important! You are expected to understand and define connections between language, images, characters, topics, or themes based on similarities in languages, genres, or discourses.
The interrelationship between texts, is particularly important in this unit because you are required to write about and therefore understand how these works of literature are similar and related, or differ from each other?
An example of Intertextuality is a writers borrowing and transformation of a prior text and incorporating and aspect of it in a new text.

4. Intertextuality between the crucible and 12 angry men
The Crucible, Arthur Miller
The village of Salem contends with chaos as accusations of devilry and witchcraft cause all members of the community to take sides against each other. As representatives of the Church act as both jury and executioner, the villagers begin to doubt their authority and question the truth of the original accusations.
Twelve Angry Men, Reginald Rose
The 12 angry men of the title are jurors at the trial of a young man accused of murdering his father. Set entirely within the jury room, the play follows the deliberations as the jury members gradually change their verdict from guilty to not guilty, demonstrating that prejudice can be overcome with persistence.
Your turn – Write down a sentence or two about any comparisons you see. Note any issues, ideas or themes that may leap out at you……

5. Themes in the crucible– our first point of comparison
What is a theme?
A fundamental and often universal idea explored in a literary piece of work.
It is what lets us identify the story, even if it takes place in a world or setting we are unfamiliar with.

6. Themes in the crucible continued…..
Theme 1. Intolerance – What is it?
Unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs, persons, different religions or cultures etc….
Believing that you are right no matter what; you wont even consider other opinions to be valid.
In The Crucible Intolerance is believing that disobeying Gods Law isn’t just unlawful but it is considered Satanic and evil.
The Salem witch trials are the ultimate example of intolerance. Social deviants (those who don’t go along with all of Salem’s rules and beleifs) are branded as witches and devil – worshippers and are cast out of the Christian community.

7. Themes in the crucible continued
Now answer these questions o show your understanding.
What is intolerance?
How is Salem an intolerant society?
In Salem, what kinds of people are ‘evil’ and what kinds are ‘good’?
Which characters can you name that are intolerant and why?

8. Themes in the crucible continued…
Theme 2. Hysteria
What is it?
A uncontrollable rush or of emotion or fear, often lead by irrationality.
People are panicked often because other people are panicked and then making bad decisions based in inaccurate (and often imaginary) information.

9. Themes in the crucible continued…
Hysteria overrules logic nd enables the people in Salem to believe their neighbors are committing absurd and unbelievable crimes.
The townspeople accept the witch hunt hysteria not because they love god or genuinely care about conquering evil, but because it allows them to act on long held grudges.
Examples of people who benefit from hysteria;
Abigail – Uses the situation to accuse Elizabeth and have her sent to jail.
Parris – Strengthens his shaky position in the village by putting blame on people like Proctor who question is authority.
Thomas Putnam – Gains revenge on Francis Nurse by getting Rebecca accused of murdering his wife’s babies.
Hysteria only thrives in Salem because people benefit from it.
Hysteria breaks the rules of every day life and allows the acting out of every dark desire and hateful urge,
It allows people to feel justified when they hurt others and act selfishly.

10. Themes in the crucible continued…
Now answer these questions o show your understanding.
What is hysteria?
What does hysteria allow the townspeople to do that they wouldn’t normally have been able to do?
Why does the hysteria continue to grow?
Who benefits from hysteria and how?

11. Themes in the crucible continued…
Reputation
What is it?
The way other people view you.
Reputation is very important in Salem, because the way you behave in public says everything about your good ‘Christian’ character.
Many of the characters base their actions on their desire to protect their reputations.

12. Themes in the crucible continued…
Reputation continued….
Parris fears that Abigail's actions will cost him respect and even his job.
Proctor could have stopped the girls’ accusations early in the play, but hesitated because he was afraid of hurting his reputation. In the end his desire to keep his good name and go to his death innocent, redeems his earlier bad choice.

13. Themes in the crucible continued…
Now answer these questions o show your understanding
What is reputation?
Why is it particularly important in Salem?
Which characters are worried about their reputation?
What actions do they take to protect their reputations?

14. Themes in the crucible continued…
Empowerment
What is it?
To give power to authority to; authorize specially by legal or official means.
The witch trials empower those who were previously powerless.
In Salem, women occupy the lower social status being dominated by men ( men can only lead in the church and the church controls society). The women have few options in life, they can be a mother or servant.

15. Themes in the crucible continued…
Empowerment continued
The trials allow the servant girls to become powerful. People see them as saints and overlook their sins, taking their word to be an expression of ‘God’s will’, They can now and even manipulate the most powerful men in town. For example, Abigail threatens that Danforth will be accused nxt of he doubt her.
Even lower than women, are African slaves. The trials enable Tituba to get out of trouble, by accusing others.

16. Themes in the crucible continued…
Now answer these questions o show your understanding
What is empowerment?
Who is empowered by the trials and how?
Why is Salem the perfect place for the witch trials to happen?
What conditions needed to exist for all the craziness to happen?

17. Themes in the crucible continued….
So…. Now that we have a greater understanding of the themes in The Crucible, it is important that we now draw on some key scenes from the movie and then apply them to each of the themes.
I have provided you with an example for each of the themes on the previous slides, now you find at least 3 scenes per theme that you can identify from the movie. Reference the scene and the characters involved any most importantly expand on why it belongs to the theme you mention.