Behind the name

Arthur Miller's The Crucible takes its name from the three meanings of "crucible."  One of these definitions is "a severe test or trial."  Several characters--John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Mary Warren, Giles Corey, Rebecca Nurse, and Reverend Hale--are tested throughout play.  Select one of these character and briefly recount his/her test and come to a conclusion as to whether he or she passed or failed this test and explain why.  (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Saturday, September 29, 2012.)

The court is in session...

Many plot changing events occur in Act III of The Crucible.  Select one of the following and explain what this event/scene reveals and why it is an important part of the plot.  
1) Giles is arrested for contempt of court.  2) John confesses adultery with Abby. 
3) Elizabeth lies to Gov. Danforth. 
4) Abby and girls accuse Mary of bewitching them. 
 5) Mary turns on John Proctor and he is arrested. 
6) Hale quits the court.
(The deadline to post to this blog is midnight Thursday, September 27, 2012)

Oh, sweet diary of mine...if they only knew...

Which character in The Crucible have you selected as the author of your secret diary?  Why did you select him or her?  What do you want your diary to reveal about this character? (The deadline to post a response to this blog question is midnight Wednesday, September 26, 2012.)

What's a Puritan to do?

At the end of Act Two, both John Proctor and Mary Warren face crucibles: Mary must decide to tell the truth or not about Abigail and what the girls did in the forest while John must decide to go to the court and tell that he had an affair with Abigail.  Who should confess? Does this person have the ability to do this? What do you predict will happen if this person goes to the court with the truth? Why do you think this? (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight Sunday, September 23, 2012)

There are wheels within wheels...

Ann Putnam's statement in Act One of The Crucible that "...there are wheels within wheels and fires within fires" in Salem village presents one of the major themes of the play--selfishness/self-directed society. Which character do you feel is most self-directed and why? How does his/her self-motivation "spin" the wheels of others? In this blogging, you must read the responses given by your fellow classmates who posted before you. Not only must you add to the conversation, you must reply to their responses. I will start this comments. The person who comments after me cannot write about the same person I did and must make some comment about what I said.(The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight Saturday, September 22, 2011.)

The omnipotent power of hands...

In "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Jonathan Edwards creates via great imagery the wrath of God upon sinners. Which image, metaphor, simile, personification, etc., did you find to be most effective in conveying Edwards' message? Explain how it made you feel and how you think the members of the congregation must have felt hearing this. (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Saturday, September 15, 2012.)

The Puritan Pen...

Although most of the Puritans shunned the fanciful and lived simplistic lives of spiritual denial, the poetry of Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor reveals much creativity and use of figurative language.  Likewise, the diary of William Bradford contains figurative language.  Which of the pieces--"Upon the Burning of Our House," "To My Dear and Loving Husband," "Huswifery," or The History of Plymouth of Plantation--did you find to be the creatively written yet strong in theme?  Give a line or passage from the work that you found most vivid or expressive.   THERE IS A CATCH HERE; YOU CAN'T GIVE THE SAME LINE/PASSAGE AS THE PEOPLE WHO POST PRIOR TO YOUR POST.  (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight Thursday, September 13, 2012)

This land is my land...

Having read two selections by European explorers to America--Christopher Columbus and John Smith--we have discussed their focus upon abundance, religion, wealth, and hospitality of Early America.  Time has changed these concepts of America in many ways. Which of the four aspects(abundance, religion, wealth, and hospitality) has remained basically the same throughout American history?  Which has changed the most?  Explain.  (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012.)