Essential Question: What Role do STEREOTYPES play in community?
The Crucible is one of Arthur Miller's most widely read and critiqued plays. The story, set in Salem, Massachusetts during the witch hunt of the 1690s is an allegory for the Red Scare and Communist "witch hunt" of Arthur Miller's lifetime. The play dissects the relationship of Abigail Williams, the niece of the town reverend, and John Proctor, a married farmer. With themes centered around power, greed, corruption, and mass hysteria, The Crucible will take our class through many ideas of what it means to be a citizen in a local, national, and global community. The Crucible explores the Salem Witch Trials through a new perspective: The Red Scare. Audiences familiar with both of these periods of American History can clearly draw similarities between the events and the mass hysteria created. As a class, we will explore these two events through Arthur Miller's allegorical lens. This website will help guide our analysis & functions as a "drop box" for all handouts and extra links to help you understand the play.
Don't forget to check the class blog for up-to-date assignment information and classroom notes: Ms. Gossling's Blog
The Crucible WebquestDay 1 Exercises: Today we are in the computer lab exploring information relating to the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism. After viewing each link, answer the questions in a word document and turn it in via Google Docs. They are due next class.
Link #1: National Geographic Witch Trials -- In this link you will put yourself in the witch trials & see how quickly your luck can change. Write a paragraph summarizing the process and predict how you think this will relate to the play we are going to read. Be sure to read the information at the end of the process and the hyperlinks throughout to form a full understanding. Link #2: http://www.salemweb.com/memorial/ - tombstones (copy & paste this link. it will NOT work if you click on it). In thinks link you will view some of the tombstones in Salem, MA today. --Who are some of the people mentioned on these tombstones? Why would Miller choose to use actual people in his fictional account of the trials? How do you think this will affect the play? Link #3: Use this link to read about McCarthyism and the Cold War. Afterward, use this link to find out more about Senator McCarthy's life. Then, this link explains the lasting legacy of McCarthyism in America. Finally, after perusing these links, answer the following questions: (1) What events and accusations started the hysteria that lead to McCarthyism? (2) What do you think was the major cause of what McCarthy did? (3) How did the general public react to accusations of communism? Link #4: Miller's Response to McCarthyism -- Skim this article written by the author. How did McCarthyism and writing his play affect Arthur Miller's life, and that of his wife, Marilyn Monroe? Provide a 1-2 paragraph summary of the effects of Miller's choice to speak out against what he felt was government corruption. After you've answered the questions and turned them in or shared on Google Docs, please read the following in your textbook as homework: Cold War/Social Conflict pages 1028-1029; Contemporary American Drama 1089-1093; "Why I WroteThe Crucible" 1094-1096 All questions in this webquest adapted from Frank Stingo's original link, found here: http://zunal.com/author.php?w=166. Adapted by Ms. Gossling 2/2012 |
Handouts & Other Helpful LinksHow to take #winning Character Notes
The Crucible Character Analysis Essay The Crucible Character Analysis Rubric The Crucible Character Analysis PreWriting Worksheet Example of Character Analysis Essay Read The Crucible online: HOLT Online Textbook login: english312 password: h8e2n Great Review Presentation by Melissa Mason Jeopardy Review Game Interested in History vs. Miller's Creation? Check out the Picky Details here. The Salem Witch Trials: A Legal Standpoint Political Cartoons & McCarthyism Resources for Teachers ClassZone.com by McDougal Littell -- Cross-Curriciular Links and Activities and Related Readings Crucible Historical Webquest Online Unit Plan developed by Phil Coogan (adapted by Linda Scott) |
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