Part 1: Establishing Danforth

WALT: describe Danforth’s role, beliefs, motivations and development across The Crucible.

Vocabulary: authority · coercion · absolutism · hypocrisy · institutional power · dramatic irony · conscience

Role: What is Danforth’s official position and relationship to the court?

Beliefs: What does Danforth claim to value about truth, justice and authority?

Motivations and pressures: What influences Danforth’s decisions? Consider fear, reputation, authority and the court’s previous actions.

Actions and consequences: Identify one major decision Danforth makes and explain its result.

Sentence starter: Miller constructs Danforth as a character who...

Part 2: Close Reading and Themes

WALT: analyse dialogue, characterisation, contrast and dramatic irony to explain how Miller constructs authority.

Identify one technique, such as metaphor or imagery. What does “hot fire” suggest about the court?

What assumption about truth and justice is implied? How might the audience respond?

Sentence starter: The metaphor of “...” presents the court as..., but the audience may recognise...

Explain the effect of the absolutist language and the binary opposition between “with” and “against”.

How does this statement reveal Danforth’s attitude to individual conscience?

Moment or quotation: ________________________________________________

Theme: power / hysteria / reputation / justice / individual conscience

Evidence and explanation: What does Danforth do, and what does this demonstrate?

Sentence starter: Danforth’s action develops the theme of... because...

He says he values: _________________________________________________

His behaviour demonstrates: _________________________________________

This contrast suggests: _____________________________________________

Part 3: Analytical Writing and Self-Assessment

WALT: develop an evidence-based paragraph and explain how Miller positions audiences.

Topic sentence: Make a clear argument about Danforth and unchecked authority.

Miller uses Danforth to reveal that...

Evidence: Integrate one quotation or specific moment from the play.

This is evident when Danforth states, “...”

Explanation: Analyse a dramatic technique and connect it to a theme.

The use of [technique] suggests..., revealing...

Link and audience: Explain the position Miller invites the audience to take towards institutional power.

This positions the audience to question...

My next step: The skill I need to practise is __________________________________.

Extension: In Act Four, is Danforth’s refusal to postpone the executions driven by conviction, cowardice, political self-preservation, or a combination of motives? Justify your interpretation with evidence.