the crucible essay questions igcse

The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Essay Questions

Here are some essay questions I’ve developed on Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’. The specific word choices and phrasing is tailored towards GCSE and A-Level students on the following exam boards: AQA, CIE / Cambridge, OCR, WJEC / Eduqas, CCEA, Edexcel. However, they can also be used by anyone studying the subject at any level!

Thanks for reading! If you find this resource useful, try our full course on The Crucible.

You can also take a look at our full English and Literature courses here .

DISCURSIVE ESSAY QUESTIONS:

(Discursive essays are based around characters or themes).

What do you think is the importance of Mary Warren in the play and how does Miller present her?

In what way does Miller present different attitudes to the court in  The Crucible ?

How does Miller present ideas about freedom in  The Crucible ?

How do you respond to Miller’s presentation of Abigail in  The Crucible ?

In which way does Miller present ideas about witch-hunts in  The Crucible ?

How does Miller explore the themes of envy and greed in ‘The Crucible’?

CLOSE READING ESSAY QUESTIONS:

(Close readings are extract / passage based questions).

Extract: MARY WARREN: It’s not a trick! ( She stands. ) I used to faint because I — I thought I saw spirits.>>>>> PROCTOR: How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore!

In what ways does Miller use this scene to explore ideas about fear and paranoia in The Crucible?

ELIZABETH: ‘The deputy governor promise hangin’ if they’ll not confess >>>> PROCTOR: [laughing bitterly] “Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!”(Act 2)

How does Miller present the relationship between Elizabeth and John Proctor at the beginning of Act 2, and how does it change by the end of the play?

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY QUESTIONS:

(Argumentative essays are based around extracts).

To what extent do you think Proctor is to blame for his own downfall?

How far do you agree that Hale is a negative character who contributes to the hysteria in Salem?

‘Abigail is not a villain, but a victim of the oppressive society in which she lives.’ How far do you agree?

If you’re interested, check out our other related articles: The Crucible  Context ,  Key Themes + Ideas ,  Character Analysis of Tituba , and Key Quotations .

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Essay Questions For The Crucible

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List of over 70 practice essay questions for the crucible, categorised by points of the syllabus (can also be used for other prescribed texts.)

Eg. How effectively does your prescribed text tell stories to reveal both the personal and shared nature of human experiences? Individual and collective human experiences How effectively does your prescribed text tell stories to reveal both the personal and shared nature of human experiences? Evaluate how composers use evocative imagery to explore the similarities and differences between individual and collective human experiences. Make close reference to the crucible. Through the representation of individual and collective human experiences, we are able to gain a greater understanding of the complexity of human qualities and emotions. Explore this statement with close reference to the crucible. ‘We only reveal our true selves in moments of difficulty’. To what extent is the human experience defined individual suffering? Answer this question with reference to the above statement and your prescribed text What is illuminated about human experiences in your prescribed text? How does your text’s form and features represent the impact of human experiences on individual lives? Answer this question with close reference to your prescribed text. Drama invites the audience to engage with the play’s conflict. How does the playwright of your prescribed text use dramatic tension to represent human experiences? While we may have different experiences and attitudes to life, we all share the same fate. Explore this statement with close reference to your prescribed text.

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The Crucible

By arthur miller, the crucible essay questions.

The Crucible is famous as a political allegory, but what exactly is Miller trying to say? Who do you think is being most criticized in the contemporary analogy?

Miller was particularly offended by those who "named names" before HUAC, and he himself refused to do so. While the Crucible indeed villainized the prosecutors and Court – those in the parallel positions of Joe McCarthy and HUAC – the play martyrs Corey and Proctor for refusing to do so. At the expense of their own lives, Corey and Proctor refused to condemn others, and in Miller's eyes this is the only truly moral decision.

The Crucible features a significant reversal of social roles in the Salem community. Choose a character whose position of power is upended and analyze the development of their role in the town and in the narrative. Can you make any observations about gender in this process?

The witch trials greatly increased the power and agency of otherwise lowly women like Tituba and Abigail, while bringing down more respected community members like Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth. The position of men remained more stable – they were always in charge, and even if some of them were executed for witchcraft they would always control the positions of highest authority.

What is the role of gossip in the trials? How does Miller use gossip to implicate the whole town in the events of the witch trials?

Clearly the trials are begun by the wagging of tongues after the girls are found in the woods, but gossip certainly has a more enduring role. Reputations in Salem are made or broken based on slander and rumor, and reputation was a man's only defense against accusation – and even that often failed to correct aspersions. But gossip also proves to be a destructive force even in the hands of the good and unwitting, taking on a life of its own – Giles Corey, for instance, condemns his own wife simply by a slip of the tongue.

Miller makes some significant changes to the historical events for the play – most noticeably, he raises Abigail's age from 11 to 19, and invents an affair between her and Proctor. What purpose does this serve?

The affair is a dramatic device. It provides motive for Abigail's accusation of Elizabeth, and complicates the relationship between the Proctors. By raising Abigail's age and giving her motives of revenge, Miller can complicate the characterization of what would otherwise be a tale-telling little girl, without compromising her villainy.

Clearly, Proctor is the protagonist of the play, dominating three of the four acts. What begins as an ensemble rendering of the town's drama ends in an examination of a decision by one man, the focus gradually narrowed over the course of the play. How does Miller make this 17th century farmer into a character capable of holding our interest and sympathies for two hours?

Proctor is developed as a "modern" figure in the play. He is resistant to authority, rebelling against both the church and the state. He sees through humbug and shouts it down. Moreover, he has a complicated relationship with his wife, and is flawed but in an understandable way. He is independent minded, and struggles against the conformity of Salem that is so like 1950s America. In short, he's like every other hero rebel – the same man in so many movies in stories, just realized this time in 17th century Salem.

What started the Salem witch trials? In their contemporary parallel of the red scare, we know that there really were Communists. But in 17th century Salem, there was no true witchcraft. So how did this thing start, and what does Miller have to say about its origins?

A major point of the play is that the witch trials were not truly started by any event or scandal – the discovery of the girls dancing in the woods was merely a tipping point, not the true origin. Miller is steadfast in his belief that the social structure of Salem is what caused the witch hunt and allowed it to accelerate. If it hadn't been Betty Paris falling sick after dancing in the woods, it would have been something else.

Act One is punctuated by prose passages in which Miller details the background of Salem and the characters. However, this background mixes facts from the historical record with the changes Miller made for dramatic reasons. What do you think of this?

Because the prose passages are contained within a fictionalized dramatic work, a reader should be aware that the passages are subject to the limitations of the form. However, Miller speaks with the voice of a historian in these passages, not with the voice of a playwright, and gives no indication that what he says is less than historical fact. Indeed, it is a slightly worrisome idea – a play about a man who died for the truth is so free with its own truths.

What is the function of Reverend Hale in the narrative?

Reverend Hale is an interesting and well-developed minor character. He serves the dramatic function of an outsider, aiding in exposition in the first act even as his presence catalyzes the witch trials. But in the third act, he begins to question the trials, and by the fourth act has renounced them completely and is actively working against them. Hale shows that the ministry and the courts need not all be evil, but that it is possible to realize the error of one's own ways and work to fix their effects.

Mary Warren is a bit of a cipher – we see her only as a pawn of Abigail, and then of Proctor, and then again of Abigail. Do we learn anything about the "real" Mary Warren?

Mary Warren is a particularly undeveloped character in the narrative, who functions largely as a plot device. We know that she is a weak-willed and terrified girl, who is easily manipulated by people stronger than herself. Abigail and Proctor are the ones who manipulate her, both threatening her with violence and vengeance, which draws a lucid connection between those two. Mary wants to be good, but she lacks the ability to see clearly where this good choice lies.

Are the judges evil? Be sure to define what you mean by "evil" in your answer.

This is a deceptively simple question. Miller believed that the judges in the witch trials were purely evil, and has stated that if he were to rewrite the play, he would make them less human and more obviously and thoroughly evil. But is evil a function of the will, or a failure of reason? These men did not set out to do evil – they legitimately saw themselves as doing God's work. Is it evil to be wrong? Arguably, the Putnams are the most evil characters in Miller's interpretation of the events, as they both support the trials and clearly are aware of the falsity of the charges.

The Crucible Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Crucible is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

parris appears more terrified that his daughter is suffering from unnatural causes than that she is suffering.How the unnatural cause theory feed into his insecurities?

Parris is worried that his daughter may be suffering from unnatiral causes more than about the suffering itself because all he worries about is his place in the community. He doesn't want any talk or gossip to have an effect on his job.

The Crucible, Act 2

1) Proctor believe the girls to be liars and tells Hale how Abigail said Parris discovered the girls sporting in the woods. Hale claims that it is nonsense, as so many have confessed, but Proctor says that anyone would confess if they will be...

As the act opens, who is being interrogated, and on what charge?

In the beginning of Act III, Martha Corey is being interrogated on charges of witchcraft.

Study Guide for The Crucible

The Crucible is a play by Arthur Miller. The Crucible study guide contains a biography of Arthur Miller, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Crucible
• The Crucible Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Crucible

The Crucible essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

• Conformity, Imbalance of Power, and Social Injustice
• Sins and Ambitions
• The Stream of Conscience in Arthur Miller's The Crucible
• The Crucible as an Allegory
• Contemporary Events Leading to The Crucible

Lesson Plan for The Crucible

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Crucible
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Crucible Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Crucible

• Introduction

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IGCSE English Literature (0486) Past Papers

Complete igcse english literature (0486) past papers.

The syllabus enables learners to read, interpret and evaluate texts through the study of literature in English. Learners develop an understanding of literal meaning, relevant contexts and of the deeper themes or attitudes that may be expressed. Through their studies, they learn to recognise and appreciate the ways in which writers use English to achieve a range of effects, and will be able to present an informed, personal response to the material they have studied.

The syllabus also encourages the exploration of wider and universal issues, promoting learners’ better understanding of themselves and of the world around them.

The last examination series for Cambridge IGCSE Literature (English) (0486) will be November 2019.

From 2020 this syllabus will be replaced by the updated syllabus,  Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English (0475) .

Notice for UK schools

English – 0486  – IGCSE – Syllabus & Specimen Papers

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English FAQ:  400124-faqs

English Learner Guide:  163029-learner-guide-for-cambridge-igcse-literature-english-0486

The Crucible

Arthur miller, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Arthur Miller's The Crucible . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Crucible: Introduction

The crucible: plot summary, the crucible: detailed summary & analysis, the crucible: themes, the crucible: quotes, the crucible: characters, the crucible: symbols, the crucible: literary devices, the crucible: theme wheel, brief biography of arthur miller.

Historical Context of The Crucible

Other books related to the crucible.

• Full Title: The Crucible
• When Written: 1950-52
• When Published: 1953
• Literary Period: Realist Drama
• Genre: Tragic Drama
• Setting: Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, when it was a Puritan colony
• Climax: The Crucible has an odd structure, in which each of the four acts ends on a climax. Act I: the girls scream out the names of witches. Act II: Proctor vows he will confront Abigail. Act III: Proctor reveals his adultery with Abigail, and Elizabeth Proctor lies. Act IV: Proctor rips up his confession.
• Antagonist: Abigail Williams

Extra Credit for The Crucible

The Real Salem Witch Trials. In his depiction of the witch trials, Miller took many major departures from fact. For instance, John Proctor was nearly 60 and Abigail Williams only 11 at the time of the witch trials. Any affair between the two is highly unlikely, to say the least. Miller was always open about the liberties he took with history, saying that he was writing "a fictional story about an important theme."

Some Like it Hot. Arthur Miller was not a star the way writers are stars today. He was much, much bigger than that. After he wrote Death of a Salesman , he was a tremendous national sensation. In fact, he was such a big star that he married Marilyn Monroe. The couple married in 1956, and stayed together until 1961.

Practice questions for Students Studying Arthur Miller's The Crucible Taken from WJEC Exam Board Past Papers

About wjec english literature qualification, texts studied in gcse wjec english literature, the crucible - sample questions, the crucible  - questions from past papers (wjec).

Welsh joint Education Committee (WJEC) offers WJEC GCSE English Literature qualification which assesses a student's comprehension and analysis of English literature texts.

A wide range of poetry, prose, and drama from different cultures and periods are studied in WJED GCSE English literature. It includes Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible', Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', and Seamus Heaney's poetry.

How does Miller portray the significance of Mary Warren in the play?

In what way does Miller present various attitudes to the court in The Crucible?

In The Crucible, what are the ways in which Miller presents his ideas on freedom?

What is your response to Miller's portrayal of Abigail in The Crucible?

How does Miller portray ideas about witch-hunts in The Crucible?

In "The Crucible," how does Miller explored the themes of envy and greed?

Arthur Miller : The Crucible

OR Question 13

“Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!”

How does Miller present the relationship between Elizabeth and John Proctor at the beginning of Act 2, and how does it change by the end of the play? (30 marks) SPaG: (4 marks)

OR Question 14

How does Miller present ideas about witch-hunts in The Crucible ? (30 marks) SPaG: (4 marks)

How does Miller use the ending of each act to make the audience feel the madness in Salem? (30 marks) SPaG: (4 marks)

What do you think is the importance of Mary Warren in the play and how does Miller present her? (30 marks) SPaG: (4 marks)

How do you respond to Giles Corey in The Crucible and how does Miller make you respond as you do? (30 marks)

How does Miller present different attitudes to the court in The Crucible ? (30 marks)

Arthur Miller: The Crucible

EITHER Question 13

How does Miller show the changes in Hale during the course of The Crucible ? (30 marks)

How does Miller present ideas about freedom in The Crucible ?

In the opening of the play, how does Miller seek to create an atmosphere of hysteria and tension? Do you find the opening effective? (30 marks)

How do you respond to Miller’s presentation of Abigail in The Crucible ? (30 marks)

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50 Common English Phrasal Verbs

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The Crucible - C Grade/L5 IGCSE Essay Example

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This is an essay on Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ that attained 12/25 (a C grade / L5) on the CIE IGCSE exam board. It is based on a real past paper question, and marked using the CIE mark scheme. It was unfinished in timed conditions, if finished it would have likely achieved a few marks higher - around 14/25.  In this document, you’ll find a template for recommended middle paragraph essay structuring, the essay plan, the essay itself and detailed feedback. 

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The Crucible: GCSE essay questions

Subject: Plays

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

22 February 2018

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A resource providing a useful sheet for students to choose their own essay question on Arthur Miller's The Crucible. It includes GCSE grade level descriptor.

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