Analyzing The Crucible
You'll create and use a dialectical journal as you read The Crucible. A dialectical journal is like a conversation between you and the text. It is a way to
record the questions you want answered from the text and your thoughts and observations about the text.
Part A
Write down all of the critical questions you hope to answer ahead of time. Then, record your conclusions-along with the supporting text-as you
progress through the reading. The table has sample questions you can use, or you can delete them and use your own. Be sure to include
questions that relate to character development and theme analysis.
Question
What is the play about?
What are the settings, motivations, or societal
values in which the play was written?
What kinds of literary techniques does the play
use?
Which character(s) shows external character
development?
Which character(s) shows internal character
development?
Where do these common themes show up in
the text?
• fear
• persecution
HERE
Analysis
VE
Textual Evidence