Session 2: Rumours in the village
Goals
- Meet the characters
- Understand a short quotation
- Speak in a village meeting
Warm-up
Chain whisper: one sentence goes around the class. What changed?
Read
Arthur Miller, The Crucible (1953), Act II, John Proctor
Tasks
More tasks
Character cards: faith and power in Salem
Each group receives one card and presents it: role in Salem, what the character wants, what the character fears, one link to faith or power.
| Character | Role | Wants | Fears |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverend Parris | minister of Salem | respect and a secure position | a scandal in his own house |
| Abigail Williams | his niece, once the Proctors' servant | John Proctor | punishment for the forest dance |
| John Proctor | farmer | to protect his family and his name | his secret being revealed |
| Elizabeth Proctor | his wife | honesty and trust | Abigail |
| Thomas and Ann Putnam | rich landowners | land and influence | losing status |
| Reverend Hale | expert in witchcraft | to find the Devil | failing in his mission |
| Rebecca Nurse | respected old woman | peace and common sense | madness in the village |
Character map and 'who accuses whom' chart
Draw a map of Salem: put the characters in circles, and draw arrows for love, conflict, land and accusation. Then complete the chart as you read and update it after each act.
| Accuser | Accused | Act | Real motive? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abigail | Tituba | I | to save herself |
| Tituba | Sarah Good and others | I | ... |
| Abigail | Elizabeth Proctor | II | ... |
| Mary Warren | John Proctor | III | ... |
Act II: the Commandments
Hale asks Proctor to say the Ten Commandments. Proctor forgets one: adultery. Elizabeth reminds him.
- Which commandment does Proctor forget?
- Why is it a problem for him?
- Proctor forgets...
- It is a problem because...
Answer key
- Adultery.
- Because he had an affair with Abigail: the audience knows his secret.
Writing: a character diary entry
Choose Elizabeth, Mary Warren or Reverend Hale. Write a diary entry at the end of Act II (A: 180 words, B: 80 words): what happened today, what your character feels, what your character fears for tomorrow. Write as the character, never about yourself.
- Dear Diary, today...
- I cannot believe that...
- I am afraid that tomorrow...
- If only...
Sentence starters
- I have heard that...
- Where is the proof?
- I think she is innocent because...
- We must stop...
Role play
Groups of four: a village meeting. Two villagers believe the rumours, two ask for proof. Everyone speaks twice.
Gap-fill worksheet
- John Proctor is a .
- Elizabeth is his .
- Abigail is of Elizabeth.
- A is a story without proof.
- We need .
- Abigail wants .
Answer key
- farmer
- wife
- jealous
- rumour
- proof
- revenge
Homework
Write four sentences: what Abigail wants and why.
Watch the film at home
The Crucible (1996), directed by Nicholas Hytner. In France, the film is called La Chasse aux sorcières.
- Where to watch: see the list of streaming and rental options on JustWatch France.
- DVD: ask at your local library or médiathèque.
- Official trailer: on the Apple TV page of the film.
- Scenes to watch: Act I: the girls dance in the forest at night (the opening of the film). Act II: the officers arrest Elizabeth at home. Act III: in court, the girls turn against Mary Warren. Act IV: Proctor tears his confession and walks to the gallows.
Watch with English subtitles if you can.
Assessment grid
| Criteria | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speaking | Silent | Short | Clear | Clear and convincing |
| Vocabulary | Few words | Some | Good | Many words |