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Quizzes > Literature & Language > Books & Literature

The Crucible Act 3 Quiz: Test Your Mastery of Act Three

Ready to tackle The Crucible Act 3 quiz? Think you can ace these act three questions?

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Mohd Zuhairi Mohd ZubirUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for The Crucible Act 3 quiz on a sky blue background

This The Crucible Act 3 quiz helps you review the Salem courtroom scenes and check for gaps before a quiz or exam. Expect questions on Abigail's power plays, Danforth's choices, Mary Warren's switch, and Elizabeth's lie. Want a quick recap first? Read this Act 3 refresher , then come back and practice.

What is the setting of Act Three in Arthur Miller's The Crucible?
The Salem marketplace
The Proctors' farmhouse
Judge Hathorne's private chambers
The vestry room of the Salem meeting house
In Act Three, Miller sets the action in the vestry room of the Salem meeting house, which serves as the court. This enclosed setting creates a sense of authority and tension, reflecting the theocratic power structures at play in Salem. The location underscores the interplay between religious and judicial power in the trials.
Who presides over the Salem witch trials in Act Three?
Deputy Governor Danforth
Judge Hathorne
Reverend Hale
Reverend Parris
Deputy Governor Danforth is the primary judge in Act Three, representing civil authority over the witch trials. He exhibits unwavering belief in the court's infallibility, intensifying the play's tension. His interactions reveal the dangers of absolute power untempered by mercy.
What document do Giles Corey and Francis Nurse present to the court in Act Three?
A list of accused witches
A petition signed by ninety-one Salem residents
A deposition accusing Elizabeth Proctor
A written confession by Mary Warren
Giles Corey and Francis Nurse bring a petition signed by ninety-one people attesting to the good character of their wives. This petition is meant to counter the accusations of witchcraft. Its presentation highlights the community's resistance to the hysteria.
Which item is introduced as evidence of witchcraft and found in the Proctor household?
A portrait of the devil
An ominous grimoire
A poppet with a needle stuck in it
A cauldron of strange oils
A poppet (straw doll) with a needle is discovered in the Proctor home and used as proof of Elizabeth's witchcraft. Abigail Williams claims the poppet was used in a curse. This small object symbolizes how trivial evidence is manipulated into damning 'proof'.
What critical revelation does John Proctor make in Act Three?
He confesses to having had an affair with Abigail Williams
He admits to practicing witchcraft
He discloses a plan to overthrow the court
He reveals his secret aid to Native Americans
Proctor admits to his affair with Abigail in a dramatic attempt to expose her ulterior motives. This confession is pivotal, as it challenges Abigail's credibility. It also marks a turning point in Proctor's moral journey.
How does Elizabeth Proctor respond when asked about John's affair during the court proceedings?
She refuses to answer the question
She lies and says he did not have an affair
She openly confirms the affair
She claims she knows nothing of such events
Elizabeth lies to protect John's reputation, unaware that he has already confessed. Her denial inadvertently undermines his statement and helps Abigail's cause. This tragic miscommunication deepens the play's drama.
What accusation does Giles Corey make against Thomas Putnam in Act Three?
That Putnam is secretly practicing witchcraft
That Putnam sold contraband to Parris
That Putnam prompts his daughter to accuse neighbors to acquire land
That Putnam forged court documents
Giles accuses Putnam of using the witch trials to seize his neighbors' land by prompting false accusations. This confrontation exposes greed among some accusers. It also illustrates the theme of personal vendetta within the trials.
Who serves as the clerk of the court and helps carry out warrants in Act Three?
Ezekiel Cheever
Mercy Lewis
John Hale
Giles Corey
Ezekiel Cheever, the court clerk, assists in delivering warrants and recording testimonies. His character represents the bureaucratic machinery that enforces the court's power. Cheever's rigid adherence to orders underscores the dangers of unquestioning authority.
What action does Reverend Hale take at the conclusion of Act Three?
He arrests Abigail Williams
He delivers a passionate speech supporting the trials
He confesses to witchcraft
He resigns from the court in protest
By Act Three's end, Hale is disillusioned by the court's cruelty and outright falsehoods. He denounces the proceedings and quits the bench. This shift foreshadows his later attempts to save the accused.
What crucial information does Judge Danforth demand from Giles Corey to support his accusation against Thomas Putnam?
A written deposition sworn by Mary Warren
The name of the person Giles heard supporting his claim
A signed petition from his neighbors
Financial records of Thomas Putnam
Danforth insists Giles give the name of the individual who informed him about Putnam's alleged land-grabbing scheme. Absent that name, the court will not admit his testimony. This demand illustrates the court's flawed adherence to legal formalism over justice.
Which tactic does Danforth employ to assess Mary Warren's truthfulness in Act Three?
He orders her to produce additional witnesses
He instructs her to read from the Bible
He examines her poppet for devil's markings
He asks her to faint on command
Danforth challenges Mary to faint, believing an innocent person can control her body when accused unfairly. When Mary cannot faint on command, the girls feign a supernatural attack. This tactic exposes the power of suggestion and hysteria.
What form does Abigail claim Mary Warren's spirit takes when she allegedly attacks her in court?
A yellow bird
A green frog
A white rabbit
A black cat
Abigail dramatically points to a 'yellow bird' that she pretends to see, accusing Mary Warren's spirit of attacking her. This imagery heightens the hysteria and manipulates the court's sympathies. Miller uses this tactic to showcase how fear overrides reason.
Which character joins Abigail in pretending to be attacked by Mary Warren's spirit during her testimony?
Mercy Lewis
Giles Corey
Francis Nurse
John Proctor
Mercy Lewis supports Abigail by feigning an assault from Mary Warren's spirit, reinforcing the false accusations. The girls' synchronized performance pressures Mary into recanting her testimony. This moment underscores the theme of collective hysteria.
What plea does Francis Nurse make before the court in Act Three?
That the trials be moved to Boston
That the accused be given new trials
That his wife Rebecca be released
That Giles Corey be freed
Francis Nurse implores the court to free his wife, Rebecca, presenting the signed petition to prove her innocence. His plea exemplifies the tension between community support and institutional authority. Miller uses this to show personal loyalty confronting systemic injustice.
Why does Danforth ultimately refuse to accept Mary Warren's written deposition?
It lacked Reverend Hale's signature
The girls insist Mary is bewitching them, which invalidates her testimony
It contradicted Giles Corey's petition
It was submitted too late by Proctor
Despite Mary Warren's deposition, Danforth dismisses it because the girls pretend Mary is harming them from her seat. This shows the court values spectral evidence over documented statements. The contradiction highlights the court's reliance on fear-driven testimonies.
What irony arises from Elizabeth Proctor's testimony about John's integrity?
She lies to protect him, inadvertently condemning him
She confirms Abigail's honesty over John's
She refuses to take an oath before speaking
She accidentally curses the court
Elizabeth lies by denying John's affair, unaware of his confession, which undermines his credibility. This tragic irony seals John's fate, illustrating the play's theme of flawed human judgment. It highlights how truth can be twisted by good intentions.
What does Judge Danforth request John Proctor do with his signed confession?
Keep it hidden in the court records
Post it on the church door for all to see
Burn it publicly as a warning
Hand it to Reverend Hale in secret
Danforth instructs Proctor to affix his signed confession to the church door, symbolizing public acceptance of guilt. This action forces Proctor to choose between reputation and integrity. It also serves to legitimize the court's actions in the eyes of the townspeople.
What is Reverend Samuel Parris's primary concern during the court proceedings in Act Three?
Exposing Thomas Putnam's greed
Ensuring Elizabeth Proctor's acquittal
Protecting his reputation in Salem
Finding the actual witches in the forest
Parris worries most about his standing in the community and fears that unrest will harm his ministry. He even dismisses evidence that might denounce the court. His panic over reputation reveals the selfish motives underlying some accusers.
Which logical fallacy does Deputy Governor Danforth demonstrate when he states, "a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it"?
Ad hominem
Straw man
False dilemma
Slippery slope
By presenting only two options - supporting the court or opposing it - Danforth commits a false dilemma fallacy. This ignores the complexity of moral and legal issues in Salem. Miller uses this device to critique authoritarian thinking.
What symbolic significance does the poppet hold in Act Three?
It only serves as a literal toy with no deeper meaning
It signifies the technological progress of Salem
It represents the innocence of the church
It illustrates how innocuous objects can be manipulated into damning evidence
The poppet symbolizes the distortion of reality in the court, where an innocent doll becomes proof of witchcraft. This manipulation exposes the absurdity of the trials. Miller uses the poppet to critique how fragile evidence is exploited.
How does Arthur Miller employ dramatic irony in the courtroom scene of Act Three?
The characters break into laughter at inappropriate moments
The climax occurs outside the courtroom unnoticed
The judge secretly mocks the trials offstage
The audience knows the girls are pretending while the court believes them
The audience is aware that Abigail and the girls are fabricating their fits, yet the court accepts their claims as truth. This dramatic irony heightens tension and critiques the court's gullibility. It underscores the themes of truth versus deception.
Why does Reverend Hale denounce the court at the end of Act Three?
He is pressured by Judge Danforth
He wants to join Abigail's side
He seeks to expand the witch hunts
He believes innocent people are being condemned on false evidence
Hale's faith in the court collapses when he realizes that the trials rely on superstition and coercion rather than truth. He recognizes that innocent citizens are being executed. His denunciation marks a significant reversal from earlier zealotry.
Giles Corey's refusal to name the source of his information best illustrates which theme in The Crucible?
The necessity of public confession
The importance of individual integrity and conscience
The futility of personal sacrifice
The triumph of institutional authority
Giles chooses to protect his informant, valuing personal conscience over compliance with the court. This highlights the theme of individual moral integrity in the face of unjust authority. His stance ultimately leads to his tragic fate.
The girls' coordinated performance of being attacked by Mary Warren's spirit primarily demonstrates:
The benevolence of communal belief
The power of mass hysteria and groupthink
The strength of rational argument
The clarity of objective truth
Their synchronized act shows how collective fear and suggestion can override individual reason. Miller uses this to critique the phenomenon of groupthink in oppressive societies. This moment is key in understanding the spread of hysteria.
How does the confined setting of Act Three enhance the play's dramatic tension?
By introducing comedic elements offstage
By focusing the conflict within a single, authoritative courtroom that amplifies pressure
By employing frequent flashbacks to earlier events
By alternating rapidly between multiple locations
Keeping the action in the courtroom intensifies the scrutiny on each character and decision. This claustrophobic environment heightens the stakes and dramatizes the battle between individual truth and institutional power. The singular focus plunges the audience into the conflict.
Which trait best describes Judge Danforth's tragic flaw as depicted in Act Three?
Excessive cynicism toward all parties
Fear of public speaking
Unyielding commitment to authority over moral truth
Secret compassion for the accused
Danforth's inflexible belief in the court's righteousness prevents him from recognizing the injustices he perpetrates. This unwavering stance exemplifies hubris - a classic tragic flaw. His refusal to admit error drives the play's tragic outcome.
In literary terms, John Proctor's confession followed by his retraction in Act Three most directly serves as which dramatic device?
Comic relief
Deus ex machina
Climax and catharsis
Foreshadowing and flashback
Proctor's initial confession is the dramatic climax, and his subsequent retraction provides catharsis, allowing the audience to experience both tension and emotional release. This structure underscores the moral weight of his choice. Miller uses these devices to heighten the play's emotional impact.
The confrontation between Mary Warren and the girls toward the end of Act Three is an example of which type of conflict?
Man versus fate
Man versus nature
Man versus self
Man versus society
Mary faces not just the girls' accusations but the weight of community hysteria, marking a conflict between the individual and society's collective norms. Her breakdown illustrates how societal pressure can destroy personal agency.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Courtroom Dynamics -

    Examine the tense exchanges and power shifts in Act Three of The Crucible through targeted questions, identifying how courtroom strategies heighten dramatic stakes.

  2. Identify Character Motivations -

    Explore why figures like Danforth, Abigail, and Mary Warren act as they do, using quiz prompts to pinpoint underlying fears and ambitions.

  3. Recall Key Plot Developments -

    Strengthen your memory of critical events - Abigail's threats, Mary's confession, and Giles Corey's defense - by answering focused the crucible act three questions.

  4. Interpret Central Themes -

    Assess how themes of authority, hysteria, and integrity emerge in Act III of The Crucible by evaluating scenario-based prompts.

  5. Evaluate Dramatic Techniques -

    Break down Arthur Miller's use of dialogue, irony, and pacing in the Crucible Act 3 quiz to see how these devices intensify the play's conflict.

  6. Apply Critical Thinking Skills -

    Use act three summary of The Crucible questions to sharpen analysis, draw connections between plot points, and defend your interpretations.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Courtroom Dynamics in Act III -

    Act iii of the crucible thrusts you into a packed Salem courtroom where every gesture and accusation carries weight. Visualizing the layout from an act three summary of the crucible helps you remember how Proctor's stance and Mary Warren's shifting testimony escalate tension. Use this scene map when tackling the crucible act three questions to pinpoint shifts in power.

  2. Abigail's Manipulative Tactics -

    In questions about the crucible act 3, note how Abigail Williams uses fear and theatrical fainting to command the court's attention. A simple mnemonic, "F.A.C.E." (Feign, Accuse, Collapse, Escape), can help you recall her four-step drama to maintain dominance. Recognizing this pattern makes the crucible act 3 quiz a breeze when identifying the source of hysteria.

  3. Danforth's Rigid Authority -

    Judge Danforth's famous line, "A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it," captures his black-and-white worldview in act iii of the crucible. Understanding his logical fallacy of false dichotomy is crucial for many the crucible act three questions. Highlight this quote in margin notes - it's a go-to for essays on power and justice.

  4. Proctor's Moral Stand -

    John Proctor's confession and subsequent refusal to sign a false statement underscore the theme of personal integrity in the crucible act 3 quiz. When reviewing, link Proctor's arc to the concept of "naming names" and the cost of truth versus reputation. Remember "Truth over Tyranny" as a quick tagline for his ultimate choice.

  5. Dramatic Irony & Foreshadowing -

    Act Three summary of the crucible highlights Elizabeth's lie about Proctor's affair, creating dramatic irony since the audience knows the full story. Spotting this lie early helps answer advanced the crucible act three questions on irony and character development. Use the phrase "Hidden Truths, Public Lies" to jog your memory on key twists.

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