VERSION B · Bac pro · B1 (lighter version)

Session 5: Salem and the 1950s

Part 5. Why did Arthur Miller write about Salem?

Objectives

Warm-up

What is a blacklist? Guess.

Documents

Short text. In the 1950s, Americans were afraid of communists. Senator Joseph McCarthy accused many people. A committee, the HUAC, asked actors and writers to name names. Some lost their jobs. In 1956, Arthur Miller refused to name names. He wrote The Crucible to compare this fear with Salem.
Easy to find: "What is McCarthyism? And how did it happen?", Ellen Schrecker, TED-Ed; the trailer of Good Night, and Good Luck (2005).

Activities

  1. Complete a table: Salem / the 1950s.
  2. Like in Salem,... / Whereas in Salem,...
  3. Watch a trailer: what do you see?

More activities

Web enquiry: McCarthyism

In pairs, find the answers online.

  1. Who was Joseph McCarthy?
  2. What does HUAC mean?
  3. What is a blacklist?
  4. When did the Senate censure McCarthy?
Answer key
  1. An American senator who accused many people of being communists.
  2. House Un-American Activities Committee.
  3. A list of people who cannot get a job.
  4. In December 1954.

Sentence starters

Role play

Pairs: a committee member and Arthur Miller. "Give us names!" Miller says no and explains.

Gap-fill worksheet

QR code to this worksheet
Word bank: communists, names, jobs, refused, afraid, compare
  1. Americans were afraid of ______.
  2. The HUAC wanted ______.
  3. Some people lost their ______.
  4. Miller ______ to name names.
  5. People were ______.
  6. Miller wanted to ______ two periods.
Answer key
  1. communists
  2. names
  3. jobs
  4. refused
  5. afraid
  6. compare

Homework

Write five sentences: Salem and the 1950s.

Watch the film at home

The Crucible (1996), directed by Nicholas Hytner. In France, the film is called La Chasse aux sorcières.

  1. Where to watch: see the list of streaming and rental options on JustWatch France.
  2. DVD: ask at your local library or médiathèque.
  3. Official trailer: on the Apple TV page of the film.
  4. 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

CriteriaLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4
ComparisonNoneOne ideaTwo ideasClear comparison
LanguageMany errorsSome errorsFew errorsCorrect

Links reminder