Literary Analysis #1

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

1.       Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read.

        The story took place in Salem, Massachusetts, and in that town there is a big mystery of people doing witch craft. It all started with the little girl Betty being in a comma and no one knowing what caused it; after a nurse looked at her they came to a conclusion that she wasn’t really sick, it was more like a possession. Betty’s dad is named Parris and he believes that someone did witchcraft on his daughter because he saw a group of girls dancing in the forest with a black slave named Tituba and he believed that that’s where everything happened. The information traveled fast and a crowd gathered in Parris’s home. Parris is suspicious about Abigail because she was one of the girls dancing in the forest. Even though, the witchcraft story was true, Abigail denied it and while Parris tries to calm the crowd that has gathered in his home, Abigail talks to some of the other girls, telling them not to admit to anything. For some reason Betty starts screaming and Reverend Hale comes in to check on her because he is an expert in detecting witchcraft. Tituba confesses to communing with the devil, and she hysterically accuses various townsfolk of consorting with the devil and then all the other girls confess as well. John and Elizabeth is a married couple and they had a history with Abigail because John and Abigail had an affair and Elizabeth fired her because she was he servant. Towards the end of the story Abigail starts accusing John and Elizabeth of witchcraft because she is jealous of them. At the end no one wanted to confess that John was innocent, so they killed him and Abigail ran away with john’s money.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid clichés.

I believe that the theme of the story is honesty, because throughout the story no one knew what the true was and what was not. There was a lot of blaming and confessions, but who was telling the truth? This question kept getting brought up throughout the story and it all started with trying to figure out what was wrong with Betty.

3. Describe the author's tone. Include three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).

I think the author’s tone is sympathetic because many innocent people are being accused of witchcraft, such as John. He is also sympathetic of Parris having to see his daughter in a comma and not knowing what to do. Throughout the story he is also very serious because this is not subject to mess around with.

4. Describe five literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthen your understanding of the theme and/or your sense of the tone. Include three excerpts (for each element) that will help your reader understand each one.

 Dramatic Irony: The reader knows more than the characters so it’s easier to understand.

·         John admitting to adultery

·         Event in the woods

·         People are falsely accused

Imagery: Create a better understanding in the readers head.

·         "sweated like a stallion" pg29

·         “She dissolves into sobs” pg19

·         “He walks in thought, deeply worried” pg127

                      Metaphor: Creates more excitement and drama (tone).

·         "the magistrate sits in your heart that judges you" pg55

·         "Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small!" pg65

·         "we burn a hot fire here, it melts down all concealment" pg81

Symbolism: Represents witchcraft

·         The doll

·         People seeing them “fly”

·         Betty being in a comma

·         The dancing in the forest

Foreshadowing: know what to expect before it happens

·         The dancing in the forest

·         Mary tells John that Elizabeth’s name was said in the courtroom

·         When everyone came to see the scandal with Betty, right away I knew that it was going to be a big deal in the town.