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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who has heard that Hale has a "reputation for rationality" and tells him so?

2. What character in Act 1 could be called a hypocrite?

3. How old is Abigail?

4. What kind of expertise does Hale have?

5. Giles Corey asks Hale to explain his wife's behavior. What particular behavior is he concerned about?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Act 1, when Abigail feels cornered by Hale, she shifts the blame. Who does she blame onto and for what?

2. Rebecca suggests that they put their faith in "God and the doctor." Why is this an ironic statement?

3. Why does Abigail dislike Elizabeth Proctor so much?

4. Where is Betty's mother in Act 1?

5. To what extent is Betty really sick?

6. Giles asks Hale about his wife's behavior. What is he concerned about?

7. Giles tells Hale that John Proctor doesn't believe in witches. What is John Proctor's response?

8. Is Parris really living in poverty?

9. According to whom would Betty's scream be evidence of witchcraft and why?

10. Does Tituba come up with the idea of other townspeople talking to the devil?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Some compare the witch hunts of Salem to the McCarthy trials in the '50s. Has this type of hysteria happened again since? Could it happen in the future? Provide specific examples and support for all claims.

Essay Topic 2

In Act 4, Elizabeth wants Proctor to have a chance to forgive himself. She has already forgiven him. What other characters could benefit from acts of forgiveness? How might it have changed the way things turned out? Could forgiveness change our modern world? In what ways?

Essay Topic 3

Several characters in the play, like Parris are extremely concerned about their reputation. To what extent are we all just victims of reputation? How do labels and the society around us affect our behavior and the way we see ourselves? Is this natural human focus on reputation a benefit or a disadvantage or both?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 608 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample