The Crucible
Lesson plans and teaching resources

"Are You Now or Were You Ever?"
In this essay Arthur Miller describes the paranoia that swept America and the moment his then-wife Marilyn Monroe became a bargaining chip in his own prosecution.

Arthur Miller's The Crucible
A very complete site: information on Miller, Salem and witches, McCarthy and HUAC, and teaching tips.

Arthur Miller's The Crucible: Fact & Fiction
This site's subtitle is "Picky, Picky, Picky" because it lists some of the historical facts Miller altered for the sake of the drama. It also acknowledges his artistic license to do so. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for some insightful essay topics.

The Crucible
This site offers theme openers, crosscurricular activities, research assignments, and suggestions for related reading.

The Crucible
Study guide and links to related sites.

The Crucible
This 14-page document addresses 60 vocabulary words drawn from the play. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible application for access.

The Crucible
An extensive list of post-reading activities.

The Crucible
An extensive list of post-reading activities, including vocabulary, comprehension, and literary analysis.

The Crucible Anticipation/Reaction Guide
Students explore their attitudes toward specific statements both before and after reading the play. MS-Word or compatible application required for access.

The Crucible Dialogue Project and Newspaper Assignment
This page has 2 projects. In the first students rewrite a scene in a different dialect. In the second students produce a newspaper as though they were in Salem village in 1692.

The Crucible project
The 3 activities in this SCORE guide analyze the play as a work of art, in relation to the Salem trials, and in relation to the McCarthy hearings.

The Crucible Study Guide
This 6-page document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader for access.

Crucible Vocabulary
50 words drawn from the play.

Dramatizing History in Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Students examine historical documents related to the Salem trials and compare those facts to incidents in the play. They read the play, act some scenes, analyze Proctor as tragic hero, and write about the play. This unit is very extensive.

Famous American Trials: The Salem Witchcraft Trials
The trials from a legal point of view, with an overview, transcripts of testimonies, and other legal documents.

Fire!
This collection of cartoons by Herblock (Herb Block) covers the 50s and McCarthyism. They would lend themselves well to a pre-reading activity.

Journal Assignments: The Crucible
Suggestions for making reader-to-text connections. These prompts are divided up by act.

"Half-Hanged Mary"
This poem by Margaret Atwood imaginatively explores the experience of Mary Webster, who was hanged for witchcraft and survived.

Kazan, Miller, and the McCarthy Era
From the site: "Although director Elia Kazan won an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement at the 1999 Academy Awards, his career and reputation have remained clouded by his 1952 decision to "name names" before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Kazan's testimony not only diminished his reputation; it also led to a personal and artistic rupture with good friend and playwright Arthur Miller. In this set of learning activities, students will use the Miller-Kazan story as an introduction to the McCarthy era ... [and] the political ramifications of censorship."

Salem, Massachusetts, Witch Trials
Information and an interesting variety of links related to the trials from the town of Salem.

The Salem Witch Museum
Historical information from the town of Salem.

The Salem Witch Trials, 1692
A brief summary and an eyewitness account of the trial of Martha Corey.

Salem Witchcraft Hysteria
An interactive site in which students become the accused during the Trials. Outstanding graphics based upon historical records. From National Geographic, and a wonderful example of using unique features of Internet technology.

Study Guide: The Crucible
Extensive study guide questions for each act.

Studying the Background of Arthur Miller's The Crucible
In this WebQuest, students "research the background of the Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism, and other 'witch hunts' throughout history to find their causes, evaluate their consequences, and develop a solution that would help avoid and/or prevent such 'witch hunts' in the future."

Teaching The Crucible: a guide to curriculum integration
Synopsis, study questions, historical background to both witchcraft and McCarthyism. Designed to go with the 1996 film version, which Miller worked on.

"The Trial of Arthur Miller"
In this excerpt of an essay from the June 1957 Esquire, John Steinbeck eloquently defends American playwright Arthur Miller and excoriates the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Understanding The Crucible
If you're asking your students to research the background of the play, here is the page to start with. This collection of links is divided into five parts: the American colonial period, The Crucible, McCarthyism, Puritanism, and the Salem Witch Trials. A very thorough site!

Victims of Mass Hysteria
In this WebQuest students explore the causes and effects of mass hysteria by researching the Salem Witch Trials, the internment of the Japanese-Americans during WWII, the McCarthy Hearings, and the Robert Roberson case. They write newspaper articles presenting their findings.

Vocabulary from The Crucible
A list of 48 words drawn from the play, presented in the order in which they appear.

Which Witch is Real?
This WebQuest asks students to explore connections between literary and historical understanding of characters. They present their findings in the form of a monologue.

Witchcraft in Salem Village: Intersections of Religion and Society
This historical essay points to possible causes of the trials. It also suggests classroom resources and approaches.