The Crucible Characterization Group Activity

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The CrucibleCharacterization Group Activity

• Everything you never thought you wanted to know
  about the characters in the play.

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Purpose

• Gain deeper understanding of characterization
  (round / flat, dynamic / static) as demonstrated
  by Millers characters from the play.
• Use fellow classmates as a brain trust to
  gather and process data about the characters for
  the final exam on The Crucible.
• Collect information for your own characterization
  worksheet and write up that is part of your
  Crucible portfolio (due upon completion of the
  play)

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Procedure

• Divide into self-selected groups of 4 (no more
  than 4 please!)
• Take out several pieces of paper and prepare to
  take notes on each of the prominent characters of
  The Crucible as the teacher reads off the names
  one at a time.
• At the end of the group work, your group will
  report out to the class on one of the characters
  as assigned by the teacher. It could be ANY of
  them, so take quality notes, please!

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Procedure

• You will have approximately two minutes to
  individually write as many thoughts as you can
  about the character on your own piece of paper.
• You will then have approximately three minutes to
  discuss the character as a group and add to your
  own notes.
• A new character name will be put out for
  consideration approximately every 5 minutes, so
  work efficiently!

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Information to note about characters

• What does the character say in the play?
• What does the character do in the play?
• What does the character think at important points
  in the play?
• What do other characters say about the character
  being discussed?
• Is the character flat or round? Dynamic or static?

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Sample Notes

• Betty Parris
• Says You drank a charm to kill John Proctors
  wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!
• Does Hysterically cries for her dead mother,
  reveals important details about Abigails actions
  in the woods, seems to come to her senses and
  screams when a psalm is being sung at the
  beginning of the play (witchcraft? Is she
  bewitched?)
• Thinks That Abigail might bring a pointy
  reckoning if she reveals more about what
  happened in the woods.
• Other characters say Parris thinks she is ill,
  maybe bewitched. Mrs. Putnam thinks she IS
  bewitched. Rebecca Nurse thinks she is being a
  mischievous child.

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Following the gathering of facts about the
characters

• Each group will be required to report out to the
  class their findings about a selected cast member
  (Your teacher will assign one).
• The presentation should last approximately 2
  minutes (details, please!)
• Each member must contribute / speak as part of
  the presentation.
• As groups present, audience members should add to
  their own notes.

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Character Color Codes

• Red Supports the Witch Trials.
• Blue Both for and against the trials at various
  points in the play. (sometimes victims or
  potential victims)
• Green Victims of / dissenters against the witch
  trials

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Characters

• Reverend Parris
• Tituba
• Abigail Williams
• Mrs. Ann Putnam
• Thomas Putnam
• Mary Warren
• John Proctor
• Elizabeth Proctor

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Characters

• Rebecca Nurse
• Giles Corey
• Martha Corey
• Reverend John Hale
• Deputy Governor Danforth

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What should be done with the notes?

• If and when we watch the film version of the
  play, add to these notes.
• Use the notes as a study guide for the final
  candle essay on The Crucible.

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What is my responsibility during the film?

• Note differences between the film and play (Film
  review / compare and contrast essay).
• Specifically note additional settings versus the
  play, scenes that have been added or subtracted
  and characterizations that do or do not meet with
  your expectations.
• This will lead into your film review, which is
  part of the portfolio.
• Portfolios are due at the end of the play!