OVERVIEW OF ACT II, Part 2 (pp55-81) After the conversation between John and Elizabeth that opens Act II, Mary Warren returns home, and then Mr. Hale visits the Proctors. When Mary Warren arrives home, she tells the Proctors that many people have been accused of witchcraft and that one woman has been sentenced to die. Mr. Hale wants to learn about the Proctors since Elizabeth name has come up in court. Content Vocabulary: grasp, dynamic, reprimand, and suspicion Page 55 1. Limp means not firm or strong 2. Comprehension Check: proceedings means a. the actions at the court in Salem b. the dancing outside that the girls enjoy 3. Comprehension Check: when Mary declares that her insides are all shuddery, she means a. She probably feels bad that she was partially responsible Page 56 b. She was shaking for the cold 4. Mary Warren probably made a very simple doll for Elizabeth. A poppet is a doll made from cloth. 5. What ails you means what is wrong with you? Page 57 6. To jabber means to talk. A jabberer is someone who talks a lot. 7. Comprehension Check: describe Goody Osburn a. She is a poor, old, homeless woman who, like Tituba, is vulnerable everybody in trouble b. She is a vicious liar who tries to get 8. Reflect with a partner a. What interaction have Mary Warren and Goody Osburn had? b. Thinking about that interaction, what is Mary Warren probably actually feeling as Goody Osburn testifies and why?
Page 58 9. Comprehension Check: the judge asks Goody Osburn to recite the 10 Commandments so that a. She can prove herself innocent b. He can know whether she is lying or telling the truth 10. Make a Connection & Reflect with a partner: in our criminal justice system, defendants (those who are accused of committing a crime) are not required to prove their innocence. For example, they do not have to testify if they do not want to. Instead, it is the job of the prosecution to prove that the defendant is guilty. Does Goody Osburn s inability to recite the 10 Commandments prove that she is a witch? Explain Proctor s outburst, But the proof, the proof! Page 59 11. When Mary Warren declares that Goody Good will not be punished because she is pregnant, Elizabeth reacts with incredulity (disbelief). Do you think Goody Good is pregnant or not? Justify your answer, explain why Miller adds this detail whether you believe that she is pregnant or not. 12. A mantel, also called a mantelpiece, is a shelf above a fireplace, usually part of a frame which surrounds the fireplace. He strides to the mantel, means: Page 60 a. He walks very slowly to the mantel b. He gets to the mantel as fast as he can 13. Erect here means upright with good posture. The opposite would be bent over, hunched over. Why does Miller describe Mary as erect? 14. Study Question 6: As he is about to whip Mary Warren, John stops short. What did she tell him? [Answer all on study guide.] 15. When Mary Warren says to Proctor, I only hope you ll not be so sarcastical no more, what is she saying to Proctor; what is she demanding of him? 16. Without conviction means he does not really believe what he himself is saying 17. Study Question 7: Who does Elizabeth think called out her name and why? Page 61 18. Study Question 8: What does Elizabeth want John to do now? Page 62 19. Begrudge me not my anger means I have the right to be upset (angry). 20. Base means morally low; dishonorable
21. A stallion is a male horse; a mare is a female horse. Comprehension Check: when Proctor says, The promise that a stallion gives a mare I gave that girl! he means: a. Just as a male horse cannot talk to a female horse, I did not promise her anything b. Just as a male horse only has sexual intercourse with a female horse, I only had sex with Abigail; I did not promise her anything else. 22. Study Question 9: Why is John reluctant to do what Elizabeth asks of him? 23. Of Mr. Hale, Miller writes, He is different now drawn a little, and there is a quality of deference, even of guilt, about his manner now. What kind of character do these statements paint Hale as? Page 64 24. Pious means having a sincere reverence for God. 25. Study Question 10: Why has the Reverend Hale come to the Proctors house? 26. Study Question 11: SKIP; DO NOT ANSWER. 27. Comprehension Check: basing your answer solely on context clues (without looking up the word), what does wily mean Page 65 a. smart, tricky, hard to get b. mean, evil, determined to win souls (victims) 28. Pewter is an alloy, or a substance composed of two or more metals or of a metal and a nonmetal. Tin is the main metal in pewter, and it is often mixed with lead, an inexpensive metal. 29. What reason does Proctor offer for having missed so much church? Page 66 30. The man s ordained means He was officially made a priest in a religious ceremony. 31. It may be that I have been too quick to bring the man to book means I may have judged him too quickly. 32. There is a softness in your record means You do not seem to be as faithful to the Church as you can be. Page 67 33. These 10 Commandments come from the Christian Bible. The Hebrews believed that these laws given to the Hebrews by their God. The Puritans also used the 10 Commandments. To covet means to want badly what someone else has 34. Nor make any graven image means You shall not make a false god (idol) 35. Misgivings means a feeling of doubt, distrust, or anxiety
Page 68 36. Naught means nothing. So, I know the children s sickness had naught to do with witchcraft means I know the children s sickness had nothing to do with witchcraft. 37. Daft means without sense or reason; crazy, silly Page 69 38. Do you falter means Do you hesitate? 39. Proctor s speech is difficult. Proctor says, I do not hesitate, but I wonder whether my story will be believed (credited) in such a court. It amazes me (wonder) that such a level-minded minister as yourself would suspect (suspicion) a woman that has never lied and that cannot lie and that the world knows cannot lie. I am somewhat hesitant, Mister, because I am no fool 40. Study Question 12: As proof of witchcraft, Reverend Hale points out that a number of people have already confessed to being witches. What is Proctor s response? Page 70 41. Bewilder means confuse. 42. Upright means pious, religious, correct 43. You surely do not fly against the Gospel means You surely do not go against (oppose) the Bible. Page 71 44. I m sure he mistakes these people means I am sure he has made a mistake when issuing arrest warrants for these people (especially Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey) 45. Comprehension Check: When Francis asserts My wife is the very brick and mortar of the church, he means 46. Marvelous here means perplexing, confusing, worrying, suspicious, etc. 47. Comprehension Check: When Mr. Hale says, Believe me, Mr. Nurse, if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing s left to stop the whole green world from burning, he means 48. Hale s speech is difficult. He says, Nurse, we must be strong even if it is hard for us. There are new times, sir. Something we do not understand is going on here. What is going on is so tricky that we cannot rely on people as we used to know them. I have seen proof in court that the devil is in Salem. Because the devil can attack anybody we cannot be respectful of anybody. We must follow the trail of proof. Subtle means not open, direct, or obvious; crafty; sly. 49. Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven. According to the Bible, the devil was heaven s highest angel before he was driven out because of his excessive pride.
Page 72 50. Why does Giles believe his wife was taken? 51. Why is Herrick shamefaced? 52. I d as lief that means I would prefer that Page 73 53. Cheever, embarrassed, glancing toward the mantel where sits Mary Warren s poppet. What kind of irony is in this stage direction? 54. Comprehension Check: What signifies a poppet means Page 74 a. What is a poppet? b. What is the importance of a poppet; why are you asking about a poppet? 55. Comprehension Check: Why, this go hard with her means a. The judges will treat your wife hard because of this evidence b. This evidence will be hard to explain 56. A calamity is an event that brings danger and damage, such as a natural disaster. 57. Study Question 13: Who stuck the pin in Abigail s belly and why? Page 75 58. I never warranted to see such proof of Hell, and I bid you obstruct me not means I never expected to see such proof of the devil s work and I ask you not to get in my way (as I do my job) Page 76 59. How does Hale s response to Mary s statement that she put the needle in the doll (poppet) show his eagerness to believe in witchcraft? Page 77 60. Reflect in your journal: Proctor has a very important speech. Write 5-6 sentences explaining Proctor s meaning (what exactly is on his mind) when he declares, I ll tell you what s walking Salem vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant s vengeance! I ll not give my wife to vengeance! 61. Pontius Pilate According to the Christian Bible, the Roman official Pontius Pilate consented to the crucifixion of Jesus despite the lack of formal charges or evidence. Pilate then washed his hands and declared himself innocent of shedding Jesus blood. Connect: what is Proctor saying to Hale?
Page 78 62. A fraud is someone or something that deceives people by saying that they are someone or something that they are not. Example: She was a psychic who was later revealed to be a fraud. 63. Giles s comment to Hale emphasizes the doubts that Hale is having about the trials. Page 79 64. Hale s speech is hard but I believe you can make sense of it with a little help. Cause proportionate means an appropriate (reasonable) cause or reason for the problem. An abomination is something that is displeasing to God or to someone. Blasphemy is disrespect (in actions or words) to God. Think on cause means Think about or try to figure out what is making this all happen. Let you help me to discover it means Help me figure out what is making this all happen. 65. Study Question 14: To what does Hale attribute the calamity (bad event) that has befallen (happened to) Salem? Page 80 66. Study Question 15: what does this [Hale s talk of a cause or reason] mean to Proctor? 67. Menacingly means threateningly 68. Lechery here means sexual abuse 69. Why is Mary Warren afraid of going to court to testify against (denounce) Abigail? Study Question 16: what will Abigail do if Proctor goes into court to denounce (expose) her, according to Mary Warren? 70. Study Question 17: how does Proctor respond to Mary Warren s statement about what Abigail will do?