Follow the directions given for each section. Answer thoroughly in complete sentences on your own paper. Do not "cut and paste" -- rephrase the answers in your own words.

1. "Participate" in the Salem Witch Trials. Write a paragraph response, as the accused, describing your feelings.
   
   
2. What are the main differences between the historical witch trials and The Crucible? Which differences do you think Miller took the most freedom with? Why? Which differences do you consider minor? Why?
   
   
3. Read an article and interview with Linnda Caporael. What do you think of her theories? Explain your answer.
   
   
4. What similarities do you see between Miller's description of "McCarthyism" and the Salem Witch Trials? What is your response or reaction to Miller's article?
   
   
5. Read about the House Un-American Activities Committee. Compare and contrast the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials with that of the "Red Scare."
   
   
6. Try a virtual McCarthy hearing. What was the result? How did this game compare/contrast to the Salem Witch Trial game at National Geographic? Describe your feelings after participating.
   
   
7. Explore the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Read an article at Human Rights Watch. Finally explore Children of the Camps. What similarities and differences do these events have to the Salem Witch Trials? To the Red Scare?
   
   
8. George Santayana said, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." What does this quote mean? How do we keep repeating history? How do we learn from it? Describe how successful you think The Crucible is on educating its readers about history.
   
   
9. Can you think of other examples of "witch hunts" in history? Explain.
   
   
10. What was the most interesting thing you learned from this activity? Why?

This scavenger hunt was written by Dana Huff and is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Home | English Class Main