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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was accused of the murder of John Hossack?

2. How many articles did Susan Glaspell write as a reporter that covered the John Hossack murder case?

3. According to the Introduction, what weapon was used to kill John Hossack?

4. When did Susan Glaspell marry George Cram Cook?

5. As a founding member of a famous theatrical collaboration, Susan Glaspell arranged for the first ever reading of a play by what famed playwright?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the theme of gender roles defined in the plot of the play?

2. Who does Mr. Hale call inside after Mrs. Wright tells him Mr. Wright is dead? What did they find?

3. What does Mrs. Wright reply when Mr. Hale tells her that he wants to see Mr. Wright?

4. What themes are central in the play? Which characters are the focus of the play?

5. Why has Trifles been associated with feminist writing and theory?

6. What indicates the time period of the narrative?

7. How does Trifles reflect “local color” in its style and narrative?

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

9. How does the theme of guilt apply to Mrs. Hale?

10. What does Mrs. Wright do when Mr. Hale attempts to make small talk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Minnie Wright in comparison to Margaret Hossack. How, in the articles about the Hossack trial, was Margaret Hossack described? What was Margaret Hossack’s sentence? How does this relate to the play?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the use of exposition in A Jury of Her Peers. In a linear plot, where does the exposition generally fall in a story? How does this traditional plot structure apply to Trifles?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the objectives of each character and the actions taken to achieve those objectives. What does Mr. Henderson want to find in the home? Why does he abandon the kitchen?

(see the answer keys)

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