2011 crucible annotation guide

							                                   THE CRUCIBLE
                                                     Annotation Guide – 2011

As with any great work of literature, you as a reader will be thinking and vicariously experiencing great things. While you read, you
will be making note of some of these thoughts and connections you make regarding the text. You will need to track as you read the
following annotation categories and will need these to prepare a brief, ongoing, written analysis. Also, as you take various OER
quizzes over the novel, you will be able to use your notes/annotated text to help you. So the better your notes are the better help you
will have on these quizzes.

R E Q U I R E M E N T S :
   I.      Analysis of Character: There is a strong ensemble cast of characters in The Crucible. You will be tracking and
           analyzing with particular attention the following main characters, considering their characterization, possible change
           over time, and what thematic concepts they tend to exemplify.
           A. For each act of the play you need to annotate at least twice for the main character your teacher assigns to you and
                once for a secondary character of your choice, which means you will have at minimum three character annotations
                per act in total.
           B. Main Characters: Reverend Samuel Parris, John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Reverend John Hale, Tituba, Elizabeth
                Proctor
           C. Secondary Characters: Mary Warren, Giles Corey, Rebecca Nurse, Thomas Putnam, Ann Putnam, Deputy
                Governor Danforth, Betty Parris, Mercy Lewis

    II.      Analysis of Theme: While it is possible to analyze a multitude of different themes in any work, we will be focusing on
             a select few that standout. In the beginning of your analysis, it is acceptable to label elements as relating to a theme
             concept, but eventually you will have a fully articulated theme statement to accompany your findings.
             A. For each act you need to annotate at least twice for your theme concept. It is recommended to annotate every time
                   you notice your assigned theme concept.
             B. Possible Theme Concepts: hypocrisy, pride, vengeance, mercy/kindness/charity, honor

    III.     Analysis of Conflict: For each act, you must annotate at least twice for a conflict you notice. At least one of these must
             be an internal conflict.

    IV.      Analysis of Social Commentary: There are many areas/ aspects of society upon which Arthur Miller is commenting in
             the play. Some of them are to do with the society of the 17 th century Puritans, while other elements are meant to point to
             his frustrations with his own time period of the 1950’s. You are to notice these and delve into his purposes, making
             connections with the implications of his criticism upon society of our era as well as his. You must find at least one
             element of social criticism per act.

    V.       Analysis of Vocabulary: As in any piece of literature, there will be vocabulary that is unfamiliar or vocabulary that is
             not used in a way with which you are accustomed (often in this work because the language is designed to simulate the
             somewhat antiquated speech of the Puritans from the 17 th century). You will keep track of this language with at least 3
             vocabulary annotations per act. For each word you will prepare the following:
              definition (a predicted meaning AND the dictionary definition)
              part of speech
              the context sentence in which the word is used
              a synonym OR a picture/ illustration to help you remember the meaning of the word

G R A D I N G :
You will have a quiz over each of the acts of the play. You will need to be caught up on reading as well as with your annotation note-
taking prior to the quiz so that your notes are helpful for you on the quiz. Your teacher will grade your annotation with each act’s
annotation counting as ½ of a daily grade.