The Crucible

Lesson 4
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ELA

Unit 7

10th Grade

Lesson 4 of 22

Objective


Explain the herd mentality phenomenon.

Analyze the full setting and explain how the setting helped to create the herd mentality that caused the witch trials.

Readings and Materials


  • Article: “Herd Behavior” by CommonLit Staff 

  • Play: The Crucible by Arthur Miller  — Act I, pp. 1-7

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Target Task


Multiple Choice

Miller most likely chose to open with this scene to

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Which best describes why people felt the need to accuse and confess?

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Which best describes why the theocracy was considered a paradox?

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Key Questions


  • Examine the description of the room in the opening scene. What does the description of the room reveal about the lives of the people who live here?
  • How do we first find Parris? 
  • What united the people of Salem? 
  • Find evidence of herd mentality on p. 6.
  • What was the role of the theocracy in Salem? 
  • According to the bottom of p. 6, what did people begin to turn toward that caused the witch hunt?
  • According to p. 7, what is the reason people wanted to accuse and confess? 
  • What is one thing we can infer the Puritans of Salem must have valued based on this introduction?

Notes


  • If students read the article, "Herd Behavior" for homework, class should begin with a reading quiz or review in which students show an understanding of herd mentality.
  • It is helpful to have images of 1600s Salem for this part of the text so students can visualize the simple setting. 
  • The opening portion of text is very dense. The teacher may wish to read this portion aloud as a class. 
  • For homework, assign the article “Salem (and Other) Witch Hunts."
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