THE PURITAN INFLUENCE

William Bradford

Jonathan Edwards

And Arthur Miller’s

THE CRUCIBLE

William Bradford1590 - 1657

Born in Yorkshire, England

Belonged to a group of PURITANS who believedThe Church of England wascorrupt

They separated from thechurch and moved to NorthAmerica, what is now knownas Massachusetts.

Bradford was re-elected asthe Governor 30 times.

Bradford established goodrelationships with the NativeAmericans.

Instituted Town Meetings,still part of the democraticprocess in state governmenttoday.

Began writing Of PlymouthPlantation in 1630

Was not published until1836

Jonathan Edwards1703 - 1758

Entered the Collegiate School of Connecticut(now Yale) at age 13.

Graduated as theValedictorian at age 17

Played a major role in“The Great Awakening,”a religious movement that swept the coloniesin 1730’s and 1740’s.

“Sinners in theHands of anAngry God,” the titleof a famous sermon he preached to a congregation inEnfield, Connecticutin 1741

Arthur Miller’s

THE CRUCIBLE

Arthur Miller1915 - 2005

THE CRUCIBLE1953

SATIRE –criticism of an event, an individual or a group in a clever manner, usually witty, and often very funny.

THE CRUCIBLE is a satireon “The Red Scare.”

“The Red Scare” was a fear of the spread of communism in Americaduring the 1950’s.

Republican SenatorJoseph McCarthy repeatedly chargedindividuals opposed to hisinvestigation on communism as beingcommunists

Arthur Miller was one ofthe individuals charged.Many Artists, Authors and Playwrights were

blacklisted after being accused.

CRUCIBLE –1. A container for melting and purifying metals.2. A severe trial or test.

Other Important Literary Terms…

IRONY – a device used to puncture a reader’s expectation.EX: A man who is afraid to fly takes a train to his destination, and he is killed when the train jumps the tracks.

DRAMATIC IRONY – The irony takes place within the story, play or movie itself.

VERBAL IRONY – The irony is spoken or put into words.EX: