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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What sentence was the murder suspect given for the murder of John Hossack?
(a) Death by electric chair
(b) Death by hanging
(c) Life in prison
(d) 25 years in prison

2. According to the Introduction, where was Trifles first performed?
(a) The Oak Park Theater
(b) The Lucille Lortel Theater
(c) The Wharf Theatre
(d) The St. James Theatre

3. As a founding member of a famous theatrical collaboration, Susan Glaspell arranged for the first ever reading of a play by what famed playwright?
(a) Samuel Beckett
(b) Edward Albee
(c) Eugene O’Neill
(d) Norman Mailer

4. Who portrayed Lewis Hale in the original production of Trifles?
(a) Alexander Hampton
(b) Andrew Stabler
(c) George Cram Cook
(d) Gino Chelakis

5. For how many months did Susan Glaspell cover the John Hossack murder case?
(a) 4
(b) 16
(c) 20
(d) 30

Short Answer Questions

1. What character did Susan Glaspell portray in the original production of Trifles?

2. Where was the theatrical collaboration that Susan Glaspell and George Cram Cook formed originated?

3. According to the Introduction, who played the role of Henry Peters in the original production of Trifles?

4. What important theatrical collaboration did Susan Glaspell and George Cram Cook found?

5. According to the Introduction, during what years did Susan Glaspell work as a reporter for the Des Moines News?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mrs. Hale recall Mrs. Wright? What can the reader/audience discern of Mrs. Wright’s character by Mrs. Hale’s recollections?

2. What was the outcome of the murder trial upon which the events in Trifles are based?

3. What indicates the time period of the narrative?

4. Who goes for help after discovering Mr. Wright's body? What does Mr. Hale discuss with Mrs. Wright?

5. When was Susan Glaspell inspired to write Trifles? Who encouraged her to write it and why?

6. How is the kitchen staging set up? Where are the entrances and exits?

7. How is the Wright property described?

8. Why does Mr. Hale stop at the Wrights' property the previous day?

9. How was Susan Glaspell involved in the murder trial that she later based Trifles on? What were her feelings about the trial?

10. What theatrical group did Susan Glaspell help found? Where was it originated?

(see the answer keys)

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