The Crucible - Act One Reading Notes
Please answer the following in your posts for Act One of The Crucible:
A. Observation - Write who, what, where, when, why, and how for the historical context of each reading.
(Remember, this should be your longest section.)
B. Interpretation - Write down your questions in regard to what the text means. You do not need to immediately find the answers to every question, but at least make note of them.
C. Application - You must have a personal opinion such as how the selected passages or question makes you feel, how it has meaning or lacks meaning, or why it is difficult to accept, etc.
D. Lists - Make a couple of lists in an attempt to clarify observations, characters, interpretations, and applications. Many times lists can alleviate confusion and further understanding.
Please remember that this post is worth 50 points and is due by 8:00a.m. on Monday morning, 9/18/06!
A. Observation - Write who, what, where, when, why, and how for the historical context of each reading.
(Remember, this should be your longest section.)
B. Interpretation - Write down your questions in regard to what the text means. You do not need to immediately find the answers to every question, but at least make note of them.
C. Application - You must have a personal opinion such as how the selected passages or question makes you feel, how it has meaning or lacks meaning, or why it is difficult to accept, etc.
D. Lists - Make a couple of lists in an attempt to clarify observations, characters, interpretations, and applications. Many times lists can alleviate confusion and further understanding.
Please remember that this post is worth 50 points and is due by 8:00a.m. on Monday morning, 9/18/06!
posted by Jenni Vega | 8:48 AM
2 Comments:
A. Observation
The characters of Act 1 of the Crucible include Reverrend Parris,Betty Parris, Abigail, Tituba, John Proctor, Reverend Hale, Susana Walcott,Thomas and Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis,Mary Warren, Rebecca Nurse, and Giles Corey. They are all gathered at Reverend Parris's house because Betty is sick and bedridden, they say, due to witchcraft in the woods the night before. Abigail, Mercy, and Tituba were also involved. Reverend Hale is called upon because the other doctor could find no "natural" cure for her. This is all taking place the day after all of the witchcraft has been supposedly goin on. Betty was discovered attempting to fly, which arroused the interest of some. Reverend Parris and the others recognize this to bge a very dangerous situation due to the fact that they live in a very Puritan community, and there was no telling what the authorities would do if they thought that they were involved in witchcraft and dancing naked in the woods.
B. Interpretation
How significant would dancing in the woods be in the puritan culture? Is it really that horrible that someone would suspect witchcraft? Why is everyone so worried about what is going to happen apart from the fact that there are two bedridden, dying girls in their town? It sounds almost like there is a huge conspiracy going on that just went wrong. What is Abigail talking about when she starts to attack John Proctor? Have they had relations before?
C. Application
I think that that what is going on is slightly ridiculous, but very interesting. I don't know how the Puritans could live under such harsh and strict policies. Just the fact that they were not allowed to dance is just a little crazy. This is a very wierd situation, and it almmost sounds like a huge conspiracy that someone either snitched about and that was why it was discovered, or that it just went very wrong. As far as to make two girls very, very sick. According to the book, it sounds like the practices have been going on for more than one night. It is just very eerie to me, and i think there is way more to learn about what went between those girls.
D. Lists
1. Betty Parris
2. Abigail
3. Tituba
4. Mercy Lewis
5. Mary Warren
6. Sarah Good
7. Goody Osborne
8. Bridget Bishop
9. George Jacobs
10. Goody Howe
11. Martha Bellows
12. Goody Sibber
13. Alice Barrow
14. Goody Hawkins
15. Goody Bibber
16. Goody Booth
Katherine
A
All of the village of Salem is involved in the first scene. The first scene introduces all of the characters and establishes their places in the story. Reverend Parris is a the pastor of the village who's relatives he has found dancing in the woods. He scared his daughter Betty to the point where she faints and when she wakes up, she starts acting strangely. In the middle of church, she starts spazzing out. They are accused in the church of using witchcraft and are said to be lead by Reverend Parris' slave Tituba. Tituba said that she was a witch and could communicate with the devil. She says that the devil told her to do things like murder but she resisted. She starts to name other people who forced her to commit these acts of witchcraft and this is when the witchhunt begins. Abigal, who is one of the girls involved, is known to be fake by a man named John Proctor but John does not say anything because he had an affair with Abigal that he is afraid Abigal will reveal.
B
Why is this book written in acts? Was it origionally intended to be a play? Why is the act of the girls dancing in the forrest significant enough that the whole town starts a witchhunt over it? Is the town eager to root out people in their midst? Is the people's only motivation to get back at people that they happen not to like?
C
I don't really like the book so far. It seems a little empty to me. Although there is a lot happening, it is pretty much just everyone accusing everyone around them and it's not very fun to read. I can't imagine that the rest of the book can be a whole lot more interesting since we already know what the ending will be like.
D
People that were in the woods
Tituba
Betty
Abigail
Marcy Warren
Ruth
Mercy Lewis
People accused of being witches (so far)
Sarah Good
Goody Hawkins
Bridget Bishop
Goody Osborn
Martha Bellows
Alice Barrow
Goody Howe
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