Exposition (Act One of The Crucible)
As the setting and introduction of the story unfolds in the exposition of The Crucible, you will learn more about the characters and the challenges they face through the use of characterization, conflict, and irony.
Characterization
Characterization is the process in which a writer reveals the personality and motivation of a character to the reader or audience. Character traits can be revealed through direct characterization or indirect characterization.
With direct characterization, the author tells the audience the character's personality, feeling, or motivation.
Example: The arrogant politician marched through the crowd, paying no attention to the people hurrying to get out of his path.
Explanation: The writer has directly told the audience that the politician is "arrogant" and does not "pay attention."
On the other hand, indirect characterization shows rather than directly tells the personality and motivation of the characters. Character traits are revealed through five different methods of indirect characterization. The mnemonic TOADS is a useful tool to remember the methods of indirect characterization.
T – what the character THINKS
O – what OTHERS think of the character
A – the character's APPEARANCE
D – what the character DOES
S – what the character SAYS
When analyzing a play or drama for indirect characterization, pay attention to the details. Observe how the character dresses, the way he or she moves, facial expressions, and what the character says in soliloquies and monologues.
Arthur Miller's The Crucible is an interesting play not only for its subject matter and themes but also for the way it is written. Miller incorporates description and background information into and around the dialogue and action of the characters. This allows you to get a deeper understanding of these historical figures upon whom Miller's characters are fashioned as well as a better understanding of each character's individual motivation.
Read the narration at the beginning of Act One of The Crucible (before the dialogue between Reverend Parris and Tituba). Using the Characterization and Conflict Template, fill in some character traits and details about Reverend Parris. What is the first thing you learn about Reverend Parris? In which column should this go on the chart?
Conflict
A major component of any play or drama is the conflict. Conflict in dramas can be internal or external. Most often, you will encounter a major conflict within a play and many lesser conflicts between or among characters. In this interactivity, click on each section of the pyramid diagram to learn more about conflict and the different types of conflict. Click on the player button to begin.
View a printable version of the interactivity.
As you continue reading Act One of The Crucible, think about what kinds of conflict you see unfolding. What types of conflict have been introduced in the story?
Continue reading Act One of The Crucible until you reach the entrance of John Proctor. Add new characterization details to your Characterization Chart as you read and begin filling in the Conflict Chart.
Irony
Irony is just as much an important part of drama as are the characters and setting. Irony is defined as a contrast, or discrepancy, between what is said or done in relation to what actually happens or is understood. It is often through the varying types of irony (verbal, situational, and dramatic) that the audience learns most about characters' personalities and their motives. In this interactivity, click on each of the tabs to examine three different types of irony. Click on the player button to begin.
View a printable version of the interactivity.
Finish reading all of Act One of The Crucible. Continue adding characterization and conflict details to your charts. Pay close attention to how situational irony and the evolution of conflicts reveal more about the characters.
Characterization, Conflict, and Irony Review
Now that you have explored characterization, conflict, and irony in drama, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Read each statement or quotation from American literature. Then, identify the type of characterization, conflict, or irony that is exemplified by the literary text. Click on the player button to get started.