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Crimes of the Heart Summary
Beth Henley

Everything you need to understand or teach Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley.

  • Crimes of the Heart Summary & Study Guide
  • 19 Literature Criticism
  • ...and more
  • 30 Crimes of the Heart Lessons
  • 20 Activities
  • 180 Multiple Choice Questions
  • 60 Short Essay Questions
  • 20 Essay Questions
  • Pre-Made Tests and Quizzes
  • ...and more

Crimes of the Heart Summary

The entire action of the play takes place in the kitchen of the MaGrath sisters' house in Hazlehurst, Mississippi

Act I

The action opens on Lenny McGralh trying to stick a birthday candle into a cookie. Her cousin, Chick, arrives, upset about news in the paper (the content of which is not yet revealed to the audience). She wonders how she's "gonna continue holding my head up high in this community." She and Lenny discuss going to pick up Lenny's sister Babe. Chick expresses displeasure with other facets of the MaGraths' family, as she gives Lenny a birthday present a box of candy. Doc Porter, an old boyfriend of the other McGrath sister, Meg, arrives, and Chick leaves to pick up Babe. Lenny is upset at Doc's news that Billy Boy, an old childhood horse of Lenny's, was struck by lightning and killed. Doc leaves to pick up his son at... View more of the Crimes of the Heart Summary

Study Pack

The Crimes of the Heart Study Pack contains about 151 pages of study material in 20 products, including:

Crimes of the Heart Study Guide

Lesson Plan

All teaching products sold separately.

Crimes of the Heart Lesson Plans contain 120 pages of teaching material, including:

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-- Babe is the youngest MaGrath sister. At the start of the play, she has shot her husband, Zackery, a... read more
-- Beth Henley is the author of Crimes of the Heart. read more
-- In the summer of 1978, the year the play takes place, Babe Botrelle (formerly Magrath) is twenty-fou... read more
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