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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. What is Mrs. Peters’ response when Mrs. Hale asks, “Do you think she did it?”

2. What character says, “the law is the law”?

3. Mrs. Hale remarks to Mrs. Peters, “Well, I don’t see any signs of” what “around here”?

4. What was Mrs. Wright’s name before she got married?

5. What do the women decide to take to Mrs. Wright to help pass the time?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mrs. Hale remark to Mrs. Peters about the signs of anger in the Wrights' house?

2. What does Mrs. Hale say to Mrs. Peters in disregarding the stitching of the quilt?

3. How does Trifles reflect women’s roles during Susan Glaspell’s lifetime?

4. How does Mrs. Peters attempt to maintain objectiveness with Mrs. Hale when she concludes Minnie's innocence?

5. How do the men in the play respond to Mrs. Wright's worry over her preserves?

6. How does Mrs. Peters describe her understanding of stillness in the narrative?

7. What is strange about the choice of weapon used in the murder? What do the women remark about it?

8. What leads Mr. Henderson to the conclusion that Mrs. Wright is a bad housekeeper?

9. When does Mrs. Hale ask Mrs. Peters her opinion on the guilt of Mrs. Wright? What is her reply?

10. What condescending comments are made of the women as the men first disappear upstairs?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define and analyze the theme of guilt in the narrative. What character is racked with guilt and why? In what different ways does “guilt” apply to the story? Is Minnie Wright guilty? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character of Mr. Henderson and his role in the narrative. What threat does Mr. Henderson pose to Minnie Wright? What threat does he pose to Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale? What is Mr. Henderson's intention in his investigation?

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?

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This section contains 870 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample