The Crucible

Lesson 15
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ELA

Unit 7

10th Grade

Lesson 15 of 22

Objective


Examine Miller’s use of suspense. 

Continue to track Mary Warren’s emotions for open response.

Readings and Materials


  • Play: The Crucible by Arthur Miller  — Act III, pp. 102-111

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

Examine Miller’s use of suspense.

Continue to track Mary Warren’s emotions for open response. How does Miller create suspense in the scene between Proctor and Elizabeth? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Key Questions


  • What does Proctor proclaim about his wife’s character on p. 103?
  • Examine the stage positioning of Proctor and Abigail and Elizabeth at the top of p. 104. How does this affect the scene?
  • Examine all of Elizabeth’s stage directions on pp. 104–105. How does she feel?
  • Who does Elizabeth seem to blame for all of this? 
  • What motivates Elizabeth to respond as she does on p. 105?
  • Why has John Proctor come in the first place?
  • How does Hale change here?
  • What tools did Miller use in this scene?
  • How does this scene contribute to the overall plot?

Notes


  • By the end of today’s class, students will have read enough to gather all the evidence needed to answer the writing prompt about Mary Warren. The writing of the essay can be done in class tomorrow (as allotted for in this unit plan) or assigned for homework if the teacher prefers.
  • One important aspect of today’s reading is the irony of the scene between John and Elizabeth. He swears by her honesty and she lies for him to cover up. He has come to save her and has done the opposite. 
  • In order to answer today’s Target Task, students must note that Miller uses staging (John and Elizabeth Proctor can’t see each other), dramatic irony, (we know more than the characters do—we know that John Proctor has confessed but Elizabeth does not, which makes the scene more suspenseful and dramatic) and stage directions ( to hold the reveal…”faintly…not knowing what to say….glances for a cue…faintly…she breaks off…”) to create suspense. The reader does not know what Elizabeth will do.
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Lesson 14

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Lesson 16

Lesson Map

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