1. Warm-Up: These Are My Confessions
Consider each of the three scenarios.
Respond to how you would handle the hypothetical situation:
Would you confess?
Would you snitch?
Would you remain silent?
AND WHY?

2. Review Background Information
Who was Arthur Miller?
Who was Joseph McCarthy?
What was McCarthyism?
What were the Salem Witch Trials?
How do the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism connect?
How do both relate to the warm-up questions?

3. Allegory: an extended metaphor
What’s a metaphor?
A comparison between two unlike things.
What’s an extended metaphor?
A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a paragraph, a poem, or a book.
In a story, characters, settings, and actions stand for something beyond themselves.
Symbolism

4. Why authors use allegory.
When an author uses allegory in their writing they are trying to make a point.
Allegories are intended to teach a moral lesson or make a statement about life and human action.
Using allegory…
allows authors to create characters that are not only well-rounded and multidimensional but also who stand for something larger.
Allows readers to understand the author's views and beliefs.

5. The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?“
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same.“
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.
When the winter came the Grasshopper found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing, every day, corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.
Then the Grasshopper knew…it is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

6. The Ant and the Grasshopper
How is this story an allegory?
What’s the basic level?
What’s the deeper level?
What could the ant symbolize?
What could the grasshopper symbolize?
What moral lesson is intended?

7. “Why I Wrote the Crucible” by Arthur Miller
Breakdown and annotate each paragraph.
Think about the following…
What basic information does he give about why he wrote The Crucible?
What deeper information does he give about why he wrote The Crucible?
What point is Miller trying to make?
What moral lesson or statement is he trying to offer?

8. A Dilemna – Who Will Reach Salem?
You MUST work collaboratively.
Given the descriptions of the people on the ship, determine what strengths and weaknesses each one offers.
Choose THREE people to save with the lifeboat and bring to Salem.
Choose ONE who should definitely not survive the journey.
Make sure you record and justify your choices on your lifeboat.
Be ready to share.