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The Crucible - Illustrating and Supporting Points

In this GCSE English Literature quiz you will practise using short quotations from The Crucible to illustrate and support clear points about characters, themes and dramatic techniques.

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Fascinating Fact:

Stage directions such as “with a cry of his whole soul” when Proctor tears up his confession can be quoted to support ideas about emotional intensity and sacrifice.

In GCSE English Literature, you need to select short, well chosen quotations from The Crucible and use them to back up clear points. Examiners look for precise evidence, accurate quotation and thoughtful explanation that links language and stage directions to character, theme and audience impact.

Key Terms

Point: A clear statement that answers the question and makes a specific claim about a character, theme or moment.
Evidence: A short, accurate quotation or reference from the text that supports the point you have made.
Analysis: Explanation of how the evidence proves your point, often focusing on language, structure and audience response.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How do I use quotations to support my points in The Crucible?

Begin with a clear point that answers the question, then choose a short quotation that illustrates it, such as a key phrase or stage direction. Follow this with analysis that explains how the words or action prove your point about character or theme.

How many quotations should I include in a GCSE literature paragraph?

Quality matters more than quantity, but one or two well chosen quotations per paragraph is usually enough. Each quotation should be analysed in detail so that you explain language and effect rather than simply retelling the plot.

What makes good analysis after a quotation from The Crucible?

Good analysis picks out specific words, punctuation or stage directions and explains what they suggest about power, fear or relationships. It then links this back to the question and to wider themes or conflicts in the play.

Try These Related Quizzes

Read the text from The Crucible and then choose the answer which best uses evidence in support of a point.

1 .

DANFORTH: In an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not? Therefore, who may possibly be witness to it? The witch and the victim. None other. Now we cannot hope the witch will accuse herself; granted?

Interestingly, Danforth refers to "proving innocence" instead of "proving guilt"

Because "witchcraft" is not an "ordinary crime", there are few "witnesses" to provide "evidence"

Danforth trusts "vicitms" over "witches" to prove the occurrence of an invisible crime

Danforth's inexorable logic blinds him to the irony of relying on the testimony of victims to prove the occurrence of an "invisible crime"

Be careful to quote accurately. "Proving innocence", for example, is not the same as "prove his innocence"

2 .

REBECCA: Why, it is a lie, it is a lie!; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot

Ironically, Rebecca's speech is like incantation as she repeats the phrases it is a "lie" and "I cannot"

Ironically, Rebecca's speech is like incantation as she repeats the phrases "it is a lie" and "I cannot"

Ironically, Rebecca's speech is like incantation as she repeats the phrases it is a lie and I cannot

Ironically, Rebecca's speech is like "incantation" as she repeats the phrases "it is a lie" and "I cannot"

Remember to pay attention to the features of language and imagery in the text. Talking about these is a good method of using evidence too

3 .

MARY WARREN: I'll not hang with you! I love God, I love God

Recognising that Proctor is now in danger, Mary disassociates herself from him, declaring that she'll "not hang with you"

Recognising that Proctor is now in danger, Mary disassociates herself from him, repeating her declaration that she loves God

Recognising that Proctor is now in danger, Mary disassociates herself from him, repeating her declaration that "I love God! I love God!"

Recognising that Proctor is now in danger, Mary disassociates herself from him, repeating her declaration that "she loves God"

Pronouns can be a bit tricky when using quotations from the text. Here, the entire sentence, including the quotation, should refer to Mary, as well as John, in the third person. The use of "you" and "I" becomes grammatically incorrect here

4 .

MARY WARREN: When she come into the court I say to myself, I must not accuse this woman, for she sleep in ditches, and so very old and poor. But then - then she sit there, denying and denying, and I feel a misty coldness climbin' up my back, and the skin on my skull begin to creep, and I feel a clamp around my neck and I cannot breathe air; and then - (entranced) - I hear a voice, a screamin' voice, and it were my voice - and all at once I remembered everything she done to me!

Mary's long, breathless sentence, beginning with but then - then she sit there, demonstrates the rapid acceleration of the girls' group hysteria

Mary's long, breathless sentence, beginning with "but then -"; then she sit there, demonstrates the rapid acceleration of the girls' group hysteria

Mary's long, breathless sentence, beginning with but then - then she sit there, demonstrates the rapid acceleration of the girls' group "hysteria"

Mary's long, breathless sentence, beginning with "But then - then she sit there", demonstrates the rapid acceleration of the girls' group hysteria

Sometimes, rather than quoting an entire sentence, it is possible to quote a part of the sentence, making it clear which section of the text you are discussing. Here the point depends on the length and style of sentence used

5 .

PROCTOR: I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!

Proctor sees that the value of his "confession" is not to save his "soul", but to provide "public" proof of his "sins"

Proctor sees that the value of his confession is not to save his soul, but to provide public proof of his sins

Proctor sees that the value of his "confession" is not to "save" his soul, but to provide public proof of his sins

Proctor sees that the value of his confession is not to save his "soul", but to provide public proof of his "sins"

Remember that paraphrase is a very useful way to refer to the text

6 .

ABIGAIL: She sends her spirit on me in church; she makes me laugh at prayer!
PARRIS: She have often laughed at prayer!

Parris repeats his niece's words, "laughed" at prayer, as if they were evidence of witchcraft

Parris repeats his niece's words, laughed at prayer, as if they were evidence of witchcraft

Repeating his niece's words as if they were proof, Parris naively agrees that witchcraft could be the cause for her having often laughed at prayer

Repeating his niece's words as if they were proof, Parris naively agrees that witchcraft could be the cause for her having "often laughed at prayer"

Remember to place the quotation marks around the entire phrase that appears in the text and in your own sentence

7 .

PROCTOR: A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth!

Proctor sees that evil lies with the townspeople; the devil's filthy face has become their own

Proctor sees that evil lies with the townspeople; the devil's "filthy face" has become "their own"

Proctor sees that evil lies with the townspeople; the devil's "filthy face" has become "my face" and "your face"

Proctor sees that evil lies with the townspeople; the devil's "filthy face" has become their own

Remember to make a point about the quotation you are using. Often this point will be in a previous sentence, or perhaps in the sentence following the quote

8 .

PROCTOR: To ask ownership is like you shall own the meeting house itself; the last meeting I were at you spoke so long on deeds and mortgages I thought it were an auction

Referring to the language of business, such as "deeds", "mortgages", and "auction", Proctor emphasises how worldly the "church" has become under Parris's leadership

Referring to the language of business, such as deeds, mortgages, and auction, Proctor emphasises how worldly the church has become under Parris's leadership

Referring to the language of business, such as "deeds", "mortgages", and "auction", Proctor emphasises how worldly the church has become under Parris's leadership

Referring to the language of "business", such as deeds, mortgages, and auction, Proctor emphasises how worldly the church has become under Parris's leadership

Quoting single words is effective in a list, and when the use of those particular words is important

9 .

HALE: Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have drawn from heaven such thundering wrath upon you all

Hale believes the events in Salem are God's punishment for hidden acts which the people of the town have committed

Hale's use of the word "drawn" indicates that he blames the people of Salem for the terrible events

Hale presumes that the terrible events in Salem are evidence of punishment, described as heaven's "thundering wrath"

All of the above

It is useful to practise different ways of making similar points

10 .

MRS. PUTNAM: This is no silly season, Rebecca. My Ruth is bewildered, Rebecca; she cannnot eat
REBECCA: Perhaps she is not hungered yet

Rebecca demonstrates her common sense with her response to Mrs. Putnam's worry about Ruth's inability to eat, reasonably suggesting, "Perhaps she is not hungered yet"

Faced with Mrs. Putnam's worry over her daughter's loss of appetite, Rebecca sensibly suggests that perhaps she is not hungered yet

Faced with Mrs. Putnam's worry over that "she cannot eat", Rebecca sensibly suggests that perhaps she is not hungered yet

Rebecca demonstrates her common sense with her response to Mrs. Putnam's worry about Ruth's inability "to eat", reasonably suggesting, "Perhaps she is not hungered yet"

Quote accurately and be sure that your own sentence makes sense and is grammatically correct

Author: Sheri Smith (PhD English Literature, English Teacher & Quiz Writer)