Background for The Crucible
The Crucible’s author: Arthur Miller American playwright who combined in his works social awareness with deep insights into personal weaknesses of his characters'. Miller was one of the best -known American playwrights after WW II. Miller is best known for the play Death of a Salesman (1949).
What was Arthur Miller famous for besides his writing?
What is Arthur Miller’s connection to the state of Michigan? He came to Ann Arbor in the fall of 1934. Along with working for the Michigan Daily and washing dishes three times a day at a co-op restaurant—jobs that covered his tuition.
The Fabulous
Elia Kazan, with whom Miller had shared an artistic vision and for a period a girlfriend, the motion-picture actress Marilyn Monroe, named in 1952 eight former reds, who had been in the Communist Party with him. This probably influenced Miller to write The Crucible.
Beginning in 1947, in the early days of the Cold War and fearful about "communist influence" over impressionable Americans, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) decided to investigate communism in the movies.
In 1956 Miller was called before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Miller admitted that he had attended certain meetings, but denied that he was a Communist.
What is the difference between a novel and a drama? A novel is read, while a drama is a story told through characters played by actors on a stage
What is the protagonist? The main character of a narrative. It is the central character who engages the reader’s interest and empathy.
What is the antagonist? The character or force (thing) pitted against the protagonist.
What is the setting? Time and place of a story. Social environment can play a major role in the story. Setting helps develop the mood.
What is allegory? • Allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a story or play, REPRESENT ideas or themes, usually related to morality, religion or politics. • Characters often represent abstract ideas as charity, justice, greed, or envy. • For example: In The Lord of the Flies, the conch represented civility and order; while the character Simon represented peace and nature.
Who are the allegorical figures? 1. How is each main character an allegorical figure? 2. Are there objects or events that represent something in this play?
Review Conflict Be able to identify different types of conflict.
What is conflict? • Conflict is the struggle or problem in a story. • Conflict can be divided between external and internal. • For external conflicts, be able to explain the two forces against each other.
What is irony? • Situational irony is something that happens that is contrary to what was expected or intended • Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or readers KNOW something that is NOT known by the characters in the play.
What is theme? The theme is the main idea of a story, the abstract concept explored in a literary work; or a frequently recurring idea. • You extract it from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. • In other words, you must figure out theme yourself. What were themes in Julius Caesar? Ambition Free Will Power
What is an allusion? • It is reference to something in culture to help describe something. • Used like a metaphor • For example, “Amer and Kaitlyn were star-crossed lovers. ” • is an allusion from Romeo and Juliet.
What is a theocracy? Simply, it is government by religion. A government where the rule of law is based upon religion. Citizens are subject to religious authority. An example in today’s world is Iran.
Can you answer these questions? 1. What was the message Miller was trying to convey to his readers/viewers? 2. What is theme of the play? 3. How is each main character an allegorical figure? 4. What is the climax of the play? 5. What does the play exhibit about how society works? 6. Identify conflicts. 7. Identify irony.
Literary terms for The Crucible • • • Setting Mood Allegory Conflict Climax • • • Protagonist Antagonist Irony Dramatic irony Theme
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