The Crucible Textual Analysis Thread

[Bri MT]

The Crucible

What is this thread for?
This thread is for discussing and understanding the text The Crucible. It is a central place for inter-state discussion and sharing of resources, as well as a place to ask questions and discuss themes. Everyone is welcome to contribute; even if you're unsure of yourself, providing different perspectives is incredibly valuable. Please don't be dissuaded by the fact that you haven't finished Year 12, or didn't score as highly as others, or your advice contradicts something else you've seen on this thread, or whatever; none of this disqualifies you from helping others. And if you're worried you do have some sort of misconception, put it out there and someone else can clarify and modify your understanding! There'll be a whole bunch of other high-scoring students with their own wealths of wisdom to share with you, so you may even get multiple answers from different people offering their insights - very cool.

Summary:
The Crucible is an allegorical play written by the playwright Arthur Miller at a time when fear of communism was highly prevalent in the United States. The play is loosely based on the Salem Witch trials and features many references to McCarthyism within it. The town of Salem (no, not the Werewolf-like game) is overcome with suspicion and fear manipulated by a young girl named Abigail to conceal her own wrongdoings and build her power. Accusations of witchcraft are used to undermine any who would oppose her, with other characters - whether they believe her or not - facing the consequences of Salem's hysteria.

You can read Arthur Miller's statement on why he wrote The Crucible here. Remember when analysing the play that it is a play and thus you should write about it as such.

Themes:
Reputation, hysteria, power, guilt, deception, morality.....

Free Notes:
- People and politics essay using speech as related text
- People and politics essay
- Themes and quotes
- Types of conflicts in the movie w/ quotes

Feel free to upload your own here.

Writing feedback & ideas:
- Creative based on Crucible - bystander in conflict
- Speech with related text of Mice and Men
- Essay intro, prompt on human nature
- Practice essay, prompt on conflict
- Ideas for writing about conflict discussion
- Comparative essay with To Kill a Mockingbird
- Feature article linking The Crucible to religous intolerance
Year of Wonders and the Crucible
- Essay planning, prompt on brutality
- Comparative essay planning
- Essay with feedback, prompt on conformity
- Ideas for fear of evil forces
- Ideas for impact of fear on community
- Sample essay

Other Resources:
- AN Video series on The Crucible
- Human experiences in The Crucible brainstorming
- Related text ideas for human experiences in The Crucible
- film vs play discussion

Thread Index:

character

themes

questions