1. Do it Now:
True or False:
Mary Warren is executed after being accused of witchcraft.
“We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment” – This line was spoken by Danforth.
3) Mary summoned a black crow to threaten Abigail and the other girls.

2. True or False: Do it Now:
1)Mary Warren is executed after being accused of witchcraft.
False. She takes back her confession that she and the other girls were pretending, and instead accuses Proctor.
2)“We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment” – This line is spoken by Danforth.
True. Danforth is referring to the court’s interrogation. It is also an allusion to the title of the play.
Mary summons a black crow to threaten Abigail and the other girls.
Doubly False. She cannot summon anything, not even a yellow bird.

3. Hypocrisy in The Crucible
Hypocrisy is used to show the weaknesses of many characters, particular those who are most concerned with their reputation.
Hypocritical behaviour is mostly expressed by characters who represent the authoritative positions in Salem, such as the Court.
Miller is commentating on the abuses and lack of accountability for those in power, who were condemning others in the name of God.
Reverend Parris is considered to be an incredibly hypocritical character. Would you agree with this statement? Why/why not?

4. Hypocrisy in The Crucible
Reverend Parris
Likes to present himself as a pious man.
Criticises others such as John Proctor, for supposedly engaging in un-Christian behaviour, and preaches sermons about damnation.
This is despite the fact that he is very greedy, and looks down on others.
For example, his getting rid of the pewter candles in the church and replacing them with golden ones.
‘I am not a preaching farmer with a book under my arm; I am a graduate of Harvard College.’
(Act I)

5. Danforth is another character focused on his own reputation and the reputation of the court.
As a judge, he declares that ‘God damns all liars’ (Act III p. 97), even though he is part of a procedure that is forcing accused people into making false confessions. He also tries to persuade Proctor into making a false confession so that the trials are seen as legitimate.
Claims to be trialling people fairly, when he does not accept any form of challenge to the court; he rejects any defence for those accused.
Some of his quotes can be described as verbal irony, as they contradict other statements or actions that he makes in the play.

6. Abigail Williams
Calls Elizabeth Proctor a liar (Act I), despite the fact that she herself is a continuous liar.
Claims that she is ‘God’s finger’ and has a holy purpose, but she is willingly putting people to death to save herself.
She also steals her uncle’s life savings and runs away.
‘Oh Mary, this is a black art to change your shape! No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do.’
(Act III)

7. (Consider themes such as power, hypocrisy and reputation)
Group Read-aloud task
You will soon form groups and perform a read-aloud with your group members.
When reading through the text, please consider the following questions:
What dramatic techniques (e.g. foreshadowing/dramatic irony) are being used? Take a note of examples.
ii) What themes can you identify? How are these reflected in the characters/events in this scene?
(Consider themes such as power, hypocrisy and reputation)

8. READ ALOUD
ACT IV
Pages 107 – 119 (until Hathorne appears)

9. Written response activity:
Compare two characters from the play (e.g. Elizabeth and John Proctor; Parris and Hale). To what extent do their ideas of integrity differ from each other? What evidence in the text supports this? Write a response paragraph ( words).

10. EXIT SLIPS https://padlet.com/misslahawkins/13caotm2c92c
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