1. The Crucible
Act III

2. Inference
What can the audience infer from Judge Hathorne’s questioning of Martha Corey at the beginning of Act III?
The court presumes that anyone accused of witchcraft is guilty.

3. Imply
What do Hathorne’s comments to Giles Corey and Francis Nurse imply?
He believes they are challenging his authority.

4. Irony Francis: We come here three days now and cannot be heard.”
Why is this statement ironic?
The accusers have no trouble being heard; only the defenders of the accused are not listened to.

5. Characterization
Why is Parris so afraid of Mary Warren’s confession being heard in open court?
Parris knows that Mary’s testimony will show that he has been a party to the fraud all along.

6. Legal Terms “deposition”
The word comes from the French deposer, which means “to set down.”
A witness sets down his testimony in writing, to be used when the case comes for trial.

7. Characterization
Which characters in the play up to this point would you consider villains?
Abigail
The Putnams
Parris
The young girls
Judge Hathorne

8. Verbal Irony
What is ironic about Danforth saying to Hale, “ I judge nothing”?
Danforth is a judge who makes life and death decisions.

9. Plot What is Proctor’s main purpose in bringing May Warren to court?
To save his wife from condemnation

10. Plot What document does Proctor present to the court?
The document says that Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Martha are all good Christian women.
It is signed by 91 people.

11. Plot
During the presentation of the evidence, Proctor’s behavior toward Danforth can best be described as respectful.

12. Dramatic Irony
What is ironic about Parris’s insistence that the signers of the deposition be summoned to the court?
By signing the deposition, these people were trying to tell the truth and help others.
Their punishment for this is that they are now all in danger from the court.

13. Dramatic Irony Why is Parris’s reaction to the deposition ironic?
Proctor says that all the signers are members of the church.
Parris’s livelihood depends on these people.
He should treat them well rather than suggesting that their actions are suspicious.

14. Verbal Irony
Danforth: But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or against it, there be no road between.
Why is this statement ironic?
The court’s job is to be impartial, not to assume the guilt of the accused as this court does.
Those who try to present actual evidence are ignored, but they are the ones trying to work by the rules of the court.

15. Verbal Irony
Proctor: “Do that which is good and no harm will come to thee.”
In what sense is this quotation from the Bible ironic?
It is ironic because so far in the play, harm has come to several characters who have nothing but good.

16. Characterization Danforth A true Puritan
Believes in the idea of demonic possession
Takes it for granted no one would lie
Innocent and naïve about human nature
Only wants to protect the reputation of the court

17. Verbal Irony
Why is Danforth’s insistence that lawyers are unnecessary ironic?
Since the court is so unwilling to listen to defenders of the accused or to accept their evidence, they need the legal protection that the court insists no innocent person needs.

18. Dramatic Irony
Danforth: …children, the law and Bible damn all bearers of false witness.
In what ways is Danforth’s statement ironic?
The play is filled with people who lie against their neighbors.

19. Dramatic Irony
Describe the difference between the judge’s interrogation of Abigail and his interrogation of the defenders.
He takes Abigail’s unsupported word as hard evidence, whereas he expects the defenders to bring more proof.

20. Tragic Hero
A tragic hero is a significant character who is brought down by a tragic flaw or weakness in his character. He eventually redeems himself but usually dies in the process.
Who is the tragic hero?
John Proctor
What is his flaw?
His failure to truly understand the repercussions of his adultery.

21. Plot What threat does Abigail level at Judge Danforth?
She implies that she may accuse him of witchcraft.

22. Dramatic Irony
When Elizabeth is questioned about John’s affair with Abigail, she lies. What is ironic about her defense of him?
Elizabeth believes that defending her husband requires her to lie, but the audience knows that, in this case, defending him requires her to tell the truth.

23. Situational Irony
Elizabeth is an honest woman who finds it very difficult to lie. The one time that the truth is most essential is the time she decides she must lie to protect someone. Once again in Salem, lies to the court have hurt the innocent and protected the guilty.

24. Dramatic Irony
What does the audience know about the girls that Danforth does not know?
The audience knows the girls are pretending.
Why does Abigail scream at the moment that Hale tries to speak?
She knows that Danforth may listen to Hale, and she needs a distraction.

25. Motive
What motivates Hale’s attempt to intervene on behalf of Proctor?
Hale’s commitment to the truth.

26. Plot
What development causes Mary Warren to recant her confession and rejoin Abigail and the other girls?
Abigail’s pretending to be attacked by Mary’s spirit.

27. Dramatic Irony Why is Mary Warren’s accusation of John Proctor ironic?
Proctor is the only person who tried to help her crush the fraud.