The Crucible By Arthur Miller English 11 Mrs

“The Crucible” By Arthur Miller English 11 Mrs. Kempsey

MODERN DAY “WITCH HUNT” Witch hunt: “The searching and deliberate harassment of those with unpopular views. ” DO NOW: 1. 2. Pair up and write down examples of two or three modern day witch hunts For each example, explain who this group is and why you believe this group is being “hunted. ”

Brief Video salemwitchtrials. com

Background information Arthur Miller (author, playwright) Mc. Carthyism (1950 s) Salem Witch Trials (1692) “The Crucible”

Arthur Miller & The Crucible � Born in Harlem on October 17, 1915, died on February 10, 2005, of heart failure. He was 89 years old. � Brought before the House of Un-American Activities Committee - found guilty of beliefs in Communism. The verdict was reversed in 1957 in an appeals court. � Married Marylin Monroe in 1956 but divorced her in 1961 � Twenty-six plays, a novel entitled Focus (1945), several travel journals, a collection of short stories entitled I Don't Need You Anymore (1967), and an autobiography entitled Timebends: A Life (1987) � Wrote “The Crucible” in 1953 during the Mc. Carthy period

Salem Witch Trials � Began January 1692 in MA � Young girls accusing citizens of witchcraft � More than 150 "witches" were taken into custody � By September 1692, 19 men and women had been put to death, and five more accused had died in jail � Most were hanged, 1 pressed to death � None of the executed confessed to witchcraft. � Officially ended on October 29 1692

Mc. Carthyism � Joseph Mc. Carthy � 1950’s witch hunt ◦ made the public charge that 205 Communists had infiltrated US ◦ An hysterical attempt to root out communism by Senator Joseph Mc. Carthy ◦ Government workers, college professors, playwrights and Hollywood screenwriters, actors, artists, musicians, Jews, etc. NO ONE EXEMPT ◦ Entertainers blacklisted for possible communist views � To be suspected of being a communist was worse than being a murderer or rapist

What is a Concept Ladder? � Helps develop questions that will guide your reading and understanding of a text. � Develop a question for each run of the ladder based on existing background knowledge and/or a common reading experience around a concept. � These questions then help establish a purpose for reading.

Concept Ladder PURITANISM What is it? What did they believe? Who practiced it? How does Puritanism “play” in to “The Crucible”? Why is it important? Do the Puritan beliefs contradict their actions in the novel? If so, how? What happens to the Puritans in the end of novel?

Homework �Create your own concept ladder ◦ Ask yourself the following… �Causes of? �Effects? �Historical examples? �Evidence of? �Contemporary examples? �Literature connections?