Crucible Essay
1. One of Miller's most powerful devices in the play is his use of irony. Irony is a contrast or discrepancy between expectation and reality. In verbal irony, a writer or speaker says one thing but really means the opposite. In situational irony, what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate. In dramatic irony, the audience or the reader is aware of something important that a character does not know. Discuss the use of irony.
2. Only for students who attended the play. One big difference between a play and other forms of literature is the ability of directors, actors, stage designer, etc. to interpret or influence the play. Compare or contrast the differences between the experience of reading the play, watching the movie, and seeing the live production. The focus here is not so much changes in plot, but in characterization, tone, and the interpretation of the playwright’s vision.
3. By comparing or contrasting the following characters, Abigail Williams v. Hester Prynne and
John Proctor v. Dimmesdale, discuss the connection between The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible.
4. Discuss the reasons The Crucible is an effective social force, even today, by using historical references to the HUAC committee and McCarthyism as well as the current political and social climate. If selecting this topic, please see me for a handout on how to avoid plagiarism.
5. Discuss the following paradox Miller cites in Act I.
“It is a paradox in whose grip we still live, and there is no prospect yet that we will discover its resolution. Simply, it is this: for good purposes, even higher purposes, the people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material of ideological enemies. … But all organization is and must be grounded on the idea of exclusion and prohibition, just as two objects cannot occupy the same space. Evidently, the time came in New England when the repressions of order were heavier then seemed warranted by the dangers against which order was organized…It is still impossible for man to organize his social life without repressions, and the balance has yet to be struck between order and freedom. “
6. A tragic hero is a character in a work of fiction (often the protagonist) who exhibits a tragic flaw, also known as fatal flaw, which eventually leads to his or her demise or defeat. The concept of the tragic hero was created in ancient Greek tragedy and defined by Aristotle (and others). Usually, this includes the realization of fatal flaw, which results in catharsis or epiphany. The tragic flaw is sometimes referred to as an Achilles' heel after the single fatal flaw of the Greek warrior Achilles.
Some other common traits characteristic of a tragic hero:
Hero must suffer more than he deserves.
Hero must be doomed from the start, but bear no responsibility for possessing his flaw.
Hero must be noble in nature, but imperfect so that the audience can see themselves in him.
Hero must have discovered his fate by his own actions, not by things happening to him.
Hero must see and understand his doom, as well as the fact that his fate was discovered by his own actions.
Hero's story should arouse fear and empathy.
Hero must be physically or spiritually wounded by his experiences, often resulting in his death.
Ideally, the hero should be a king or leader of men, so that his people experience his fall with him.
The hero must be intelligent so he may learn from his mistakes.
Discuss how John Proctor could be considered a tragic hero.
2. Only for students who attended the play. One big difference between a play and other forms of literature is the ability of directors, actors, stage designer, etc. to interpret or influence the play. Compare or contrast the differences between the experience of reading the play, watching the movie, and seeing the live production. The focus here is not so much changes in plot, but in characterization, tone, and the interpretation of the playwright’s vision.
3. By comparing or contrasting the following characters, Abigail Williams v. Hester Prynne and
John Proctor v. Dimmesdale, discuss the connection between The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible.
4. Discuss the reasons The Crucible is an effective social force, even today, by using historical references to the HUAC committee and McCarthyism as well as the current political and social climate. If selecting this topic, please see me for a handout on how to avoid plagiarism.
5. Discuss the following paradox Miller cites in Act I.
“It is a paradox in whose grip we still live, and there is no prospect yet that we will discover its resolution. Simply, it is this: for good purposes, even higher purposes, the people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material of ideological enemies. … But all organization is and must be grounded on the idea of exclusion and prohibition, just as two objects cannot occupy the same space. Evidently, the time came in New England when the repressions of order were heavier then seemed warranted by the dangers against which order was organized…It is still impossible for man to organize his social life without repressions, and the balance has yet to be struck between order and freedom. “
6. A tragic hero is a character in a work of fiction (often the protagonist) who exhibits a tragic flaw, also known as fatal flaw, which eventually leads to his or her demise or defeat. The concept of the tragic hero was created in ancient Greek tragedy and defined by Aristotle (and others). Usually, this includes the realization of fatal flaw, which results in catharsis or epiphany. The tragic flaw is sometimes referred to as an Achilles' heel after the single fatal flaw of the Greek warrior Achilles.
Some other common traits characteristic of a tragic hero:
Hero must suffer more than he deserves.
Hero must be doomed from the start, but bear no responsibility for possessing his flaw.
Hero must be noble in nature, but imperfect so that the audience can see themselves in him.
Hero must have discovered his fate by his own actions, not by things happening to him.
Hero must see and understand his doom, as well as the fact that his fate was discovered by his own actions.
Hero's story should arouse fear and empathy.
Hero must be physically or spiritually wounded by his experiences, often resulting in his death.
Ideally, the hero should be a king or leader of men, so that his people experience his fall with him.
The hero must be intelligent so he may learn from his mistakes.
Discuss how John Proctor could be considered a tragic hero.
posted by MrGarland at 9:29 AM
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