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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. Trifles is seen by critics and theorists as an early example of what dramatic genre?

2. At the end of the play, where does Mrs. Hale stash the box?

3. Near the end of the play, what does Mr. Hale go outside to tend to?

4. Near the end of the play, where does Mrs. Peters attempt to hide the jeweled box?

5. Near the end of the play, at what sound does Mrs. Hale snatch the box?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the two women remark about the birdcage when they discover it?

2. What scene does Mrs. Hale recreate for Mrs. Wright after the men have exited upstairs?

3. What does Mr. Henderson discover broken in the cupboard? What does Mrs. Peters remark about this?

4. How is the theme of female loyalty illustrated in the play?

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

6. What does Mrs. Hale do with the stitching on the quilt? What is Mrs. Peters' response?

7. What happens after Mr. Hale finishes his story of the previous day's events?

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

9. What does Mrs. Hale regard of Mrs. Wright's clothing?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the relationship between Sheriff Peters and Mrs. Peters in comparison to the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Hale. What are the similarities? What are the differences?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the relationship between the women in the narrative. How does the relationship develop? Why do the women gain sympathy for Mrs. Wright through the second half of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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