Reading Comprehension Questions:
ACT 1
1) Why would Miller include the note on Historical accuracy?
2) Who are the Reverend Parris, Betty and Abigail? What is their relationship to each other?
3) What is wrong with Betty Parris?
4) Who is Tituba? How is she reacting to Betty's condition?
5) What news does Susanna bring from the doctor> What rumor is circulating about Betty? Why is Parris so worried about his reputation?
6) Why does Parris suggest calling Reverend Hale?
7) Who are Ann and Thomas Putnam? (Describe them) What is their suggestion as to Betty's problem? IN what condition is their own daughter? What is their motivation for their suggestion?
8) Why did Mrs. Putnam enlist Tituba's help?
9) Why did Abigail drink blood? How did Abigail threaten the other girls? What does the conversation between Abigail, Mercy Lewis, Mary Warren and Betty reveal about their recent activities?
10) Rev. Parris is worried that Abigail's actions may have jeopardized something important. What is it?
11) Describe John Proctor. Antecedent action is action that happened before the play. What events transpired between John Proctor and Abigail prior to the beginning of Act 1. Analyze the interaction between the tow when they are left alone.
12) What does Abigail say about Elizabeth Proctor? How might this effect the outcome of the play?
13) Who is Rebecca Nurse? What is her take on Betty's illness? Why don't the Putnams like the Nurses?
14) Why is Rev. Parris dissatisfied with his job in Salem?
15) Describe Giles Corey? What are his complaints about his wife? Are they valid?
16) Provide 2 examples for why Proctor, Corey ad Putnam believe that Parris is an ineffective minister.
17) What is the Putnam's grievance over land? What significance might this have?
18) Describe Rev. Hale. What is Miller's tone toward this character.
19) How does Hale confuse Tituba? What does she "confess"? What do you think of her actions?
20) What is the motivation behind the girls' actions? What does the girls' behavior tell you about the youth in Salem?
21) What were the purposes of the Salem theocracy?
20) What is the motivation behind the girls' actions? How many people are accused at the end of Act 1? What does
ACT 2
1) What is the mood at the beginning of the act? How is the mood established?
2) What does the first scene establish about the relationship between John and Elizabeth? What does this scene show about their characters?
3) What does Elizabeth encourage John to do? Why is he hesitant?
4) What gift does Mary give to Elizabeth? How does this gift become an integral part of Act 2?
5) How many have been arrested at this point? How does Mary's involvement with the court change her personality and the way she speaks to the Proctors?
6) What are Elizabeth's feelings about the relationship between John and Abigail? How does John see it from his perspective?
7) How does John feel about Rev. Parris? What information in Act 2 supports this?
8) What is Elizabeth's response to the question as to whether or not she believes in witches? What does this imply about her character? Why is her response dangerous?
9) What is Hale's reaction to the arrests and to the role of the court in the trials? Support with evidence.
10) How are Martha Corey and Rebecca nurse charged?
11) Explain the meaning of Proctor's comment, "I'll tell you what's walking in Salem-vengeance is walking in Salem."
12) Explain Mary Warren's confession at the end of Act 2. What does it reveal about the severity of the situation?
ACT 3
1) Discuss t he effects of the voices heard off stage at the start of Act 3. What information does it provide to the audience? What tone does it set for the rest of the act?
2) What does it mean to be held in contempt? How does this relate to Hale's comment "Is every defense an attack upon the court?"
3) How has Hale evolved as a character?
4) Who does John Proctor bring with him to court? Why?
5) How would you describe Danforth? What is the motive for his actions?
6) How does Cheever put his position as an "official of the court" above any previous friendship he had with Proctor?
7) What news does John receive about his wife? How does Danforth attempt to use this information in order to quiet John's accusations against the girls?
8) What has John brought to the court in defense of Martha Corey, Elizabeth Proctor and Rebecca Nurse? What are the repercussions of this?
9) Why is Giles Corey arrested? What accusations did he bring to court?
10) What logic does John provide to the court about the idea of making accusations about witchcraft? How does his statement sum up the entire proceedings of the court?
11) What is the result of the confession John makes in court?
12) Who is jailed at the end of Act 3? What is Hale's response? What predictions can you make about the conclusion of the story?
ACT 4
1) Why do you think Parris has a "mad look about him these days"?
2) Whose presence in the jail upsets Danforth? Why does Parris bring Rev. Hale to the jail?
3) What is the significance of the fact that Abigail and Mercy Lewis have fled Salem?
4) What are Parris' and Hale's personal reasons for wanting to obtain confession?
5) How many people have already been hanged? Why does Danforth refuse to postpone any hearings or executions?
6) Why is Elizabeth brought to see John?
7) What are the reasons why Rev. Hale provides for why the town is being ruined?
9) Who shall be hanged at sunrise? Does Rebecca Nurse confess to witchcraft? Why or why not? Why won't Proctor name her even though others have already?
10) What does Elizabeth confess to John> What does John admit to? What is his dilemma about signing the confession? What are your reactions to this final scene between them?
ACT 1
1) Why would Miller include the note on Historical accuracy?
2) Who are the Reverend Parris, Betty and Abigail? What is their relationship to each other?
3) What is wrong with Betty Parris?
4) Who is Tituba? How is she reacting to Betty's condition?
5) What news does Susanna bring from the doctor> What rumor is circulating about Betty? Why is Parris so worried about his reputation?
6) Why does Parris suggest calling Reverend Hale?
7) Who are Ann and Thomas Putnam? (Describe them) What is their suggestion as to Betty's problem? IN what condition is their own daughter? What is their motivation for their suggestion?
8) Why did Mrs. Putnam enlist Tituba's help?
9) Why did Abigail drink blood? How did Abigail threaten the other girls? What does the conversation between Abigail, Mercy Lewis, Mary Warren and Betty reveal about their recent activities?
10) Rev. Parris is worried that Abigail's actions may have jeopardized something important. What is it?
11) Describe John Proctor. Antecedent action is action that happened before the play. What events transpired between John Proctor and Abigail prior to the beginning of Act 1. Analyze the interaction between the tow when they are left alone.
12) What does Abigail say about Elizabeth Proctor? How might this effect the outcome of the play?
13) Who is Rebecca Nurse? What is her take on Betty's illness? Why don't the Putnams like the Nurses?
14) Why is Rev. Parris dissatisfied with his job in Salem?
15) Describe Giles Corey? What are his complaints about his wife? Are they valid?
16) Provide 2 examples for why Proctor, Corey ad Putnam believe that Parris is an ineffective minister.
17) What is the Putnam's grievance over land? What significance might this have?
18) Describe Rev. Hale. What is Miller's tone toward this character.
19) How does Hale confuse Tituba? What does she "confess"? What do you think of her actions?
20) What is the motivation behind the girls' actions? What does the girls' behavior tell you about the youth in Salem?
21) What were the purposes of the Salem theocracy?
20) What is the motivation behind the girls' actions? How many people are accused at the end of Act 1? What does
ACT 2
1) What is the mood at the beginning of the act? How is the mood established?
2) What does the first scene establish about the relationship between John and Elizabeth? What does this scene show about their characters?
3) What does Elizabeth encourage John to do? Why is he hesitant?
4) What gift does Mary give to Elizabeth? How does this gift become an integral part of Act 2?
5) How many have been arrested at this point? How does Mary's involvement with the court change her personality and the way she speaks to the Proctors?
6) What are Elizabeth's feelings about the relationship between John and Abigail? How does John see it from his perspective?
7) How does John feel about Rev. Parris? What information in Act 2 supports this?
8) What is Elizabeth's response to the question as to whether or not she believes in witches? What does this imply about her character? Why is her response dangerous?
9) What is Hale's reaction to the arrests and to the role of the court in the trials? Support with evidence.
10) How are Martha Corey and Rebecca nurse charged?
11) Explain the meaning of Proctor's comment, "I'll tell you what's walking in Salem-vengeance is walking in Salem."
12) Explain Mary Warren's confession at the end of Act 2. What does it reveal about the severity of the situation?
ACT 3
1) Discuss t he effects of the voices heard off stage at the start of Act 3. What information does it provide to the audience? What tone does it set for the rest of the act?
2) What does it mean to be held in contempt? How does this relate to Hale's comment "Is every defense an attack upon the court?"
3) How has Hale evolved as a character?
4) Who does John Proctor bring with him to court? Why?
5) How would you describe Danforth? What is the motive for his actions?
6) How does Cheever put his position as an "official of the court" above any previous friendship he had with Proctor?
7) What news does John receive about his wife? How does Danforth attempt to use this information in order to quiet John's accusations against the girls?
8) What has John brought to the court in defense of Martha Corey, Elizabeth Proctor and Rebecca Nurse? What are the repercussions of this?
9) Why is Giles Corey arrested? What accusations did he bring to court?
10) What logic does John provide to the court about the idea of making accusations about witchcraft? How does his statement sum up the entire proceedings of the court?
11) What is the result of the confession John makes in court?
12) Who is jailed at the end of Act 3? What is Hale's response? What predictions can you make about the conclusion of the story?
ACT 4
1) Why do you think Parris has a "mad look about him these days"?
2) Whose presence in the jail upsets Danforth? Why does Parris bring Rev. Hale to the jail?
3) What is the significance of the fact that Abigail and Mercy Lewis have fled Salem?
4) What are Parris' and Hale's personal reasons for wanting to obtain confession?
5) How many people have already been hanged? Why does Danforth refuse to postpone any hearings or executions?
6) Why is Elizabeth brought to see John?
7) What are the reasons why Rev. Hale provides for why the town is being ruined?
9) Who shall be hanged at sunrise? Does Rebecca Nurse confess to witchcraft? Why or why not? Why won't Proctor name her even though others have already?
10) What does Elizabeth confess to John> What does John admit to? What is his dilemma about signing the confession? What are your reactions to this final scene between them?