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Crucible important things to know

Crucible important things to know

  • Miller wrote this play when America was under the influence of Senator McCarthy – 1950s post war fear of communism – House UnAmerican Activities Committee [HUAC]
  • Miller was summoned before the court and demanded to tell of ‘so-called communist sympathisers’ he’d met at meetings [he refused to name any!]
  • Artists, poets, playwrights, novelists, teachers trades unionists etc all suspected of harbouring communist sympathies
  • Those who testified were allowed to continue their lives albeit under the watchful eye of the government; those who refused to confess or tell were imprisoned, had passports taken away, forbidden to travel, lost their jobs, unable to work, lost their homes and friends.
  • The Crucible was written as a deliberate parallel or parable of that time when justice, freedom and the democratic process were forgotten in the hysteria of the fear.

What you need to know about life in Salem

  • Disease, remoteness and regular skirmishes with the local displaced Indians caused hardship and fear.
  • So did the forest which was hard to penetrate and reclaimed hard won land too quickly; e.g. it’s taken some years for John to make a living off his own land.
  • The forest was also feared because within sheltered the displace Indians or as the church would have it ‘agents of the devil.’
  • The church was feared for its swingeing powers e.g to cry ‘witch’ , or to demand punishment of those who did not keep its laws like attending services.
  • They were used to reporting on each other any time someone did something they did not approve of.
  • Bitterness, jealousy and suspicion were prevalent. All the accusers had something to gain. And all the accused had something to lose. Even if only their life.
  • They were very superstitious.
  • They did believe in witches and the devil – they had left behind a Europe in the grip of witch madness.
  • Massachusetts was a theocratic state – i.e. the church was the power and government. After Salem the church’s power was broken.
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Section summaries for Of Mice and Men

Use the words in the box at the bottom to fill in the gaps.

One

……………………………………..workers George and Lennie rest in a clearing by the …………………………..on their way to the nearby ranch where they expect to sign of for ……………………………….work. They have left the last ranch in a ……………………… after an incident involving Lennie. Lennie pleads with George to tell him once again about the dream ranch where Lennie’s main task will be to tend the …………………………..

Two

Arriving at the ranch next day they meet the other workers. The boss is …………………………….that George won’t let …………………………………speak for himself. Candy and Slim are …………………………towards the newcomers. They are warned about ……………………………….. ………………………. Slim’s ………………………… has had pups and Lennie would like one.

Three

Slim realises Lennie’s problems. George tells him about the incident in ……………………………. .

…………………………. Bullies Candy into allowing him to shoot his old dog. George tells Lennie about the dream ranch and …………………………….. listening in is enchanted and offers money to buy in and make the dream a reality. Curley picks a fight with Lennie and gets his ………………………. hurt. Slim suggest he say he got it caught in a machine to avoid further ……………………………… .

Four

The men go into town except Lennie, Candy and Crooks. Lennie ends up in ………………………………..room and though Crooks upsets Lennie by suggesting George may go off and leave him one day to make point about his own ……………………………Lennie ends up telling him about the dream as well. Crooks offers to come and …………………….for them. Curley’s wife comes looking for company. She attacks Crooks …………………………..verbally using her superior position as a ……………………………woman with rights as against a black with none. Crooks takes back his offer.

Five

The men are outside playing horseshoes; Lennie is in the ………………………… where he has just killed the pup. He has been stroking by ………………………………….. . Curley’s wife comes in and is rebuffed by Lennie. Eventually he tells her he likes ……………………………… soft things, she suggest he stroke her hair but he gets too heavy handed and in pulling away she causes Lennie to hang on breaking her neck. Lennie ………………………………… where George said to go if there was trouble. Candy discovers the body. Curley vows …………………………….. and a man hunt is organised.

Six

……………………………… meets up with Lennie at the ……………………………………; Lennie is ………………………. George …………………………………. him with the story of their ranch then shoots him in the back of the neck with the stolen ………………………………… pistol.

George friendly barn suspicious Crooks’
remembers bitch itinerant stroking Lennie
white panicking hand temporary Verbally
hurry Curley’ wife isolation Weed soothes
accident rabbits humiliation labour Revenge
Carlson clearing Candy Luger river