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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 type of pet does Mrs. Peters say Mrs. Wright was afraid of?

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

3. What acts as a symbol of Mrs. Wright’s marriage in the play?

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

5. What does Mr. Hale say he is going to town to sell when he stops by the Wrights’ home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mrs. Hale discover in the box in Mrs. Wright's sewing basket? How do the women respond?

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

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

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

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

6. What is discovered by Mrs. Peters in the stitching of Mrs. Wright's quilt?

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

8. What does Mrs. Hale remark to Mrs. Peters about the lack of children in the home and Mr. Wright's personality?

9. What causes Mr. Hale to backtrack in his description of Mrs. Wright's demeanor in his interview with the County Attorney?

10. What memory of brutal loss does Mrs. Peters share from her childhood?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Trifles contains several important symbols. What are some of the important symbols in Trifles? How does Glaspell use these symbols to propel the plot and convey deeper levels of meaning about her characters or themes?

Essay Topic 2

Define and identify the imagery used in Trifles. How does the use of simile give the reader a better understanding of Mr. and Mrs. Wright? What metaphors are presented in the play? How do they reflect the play’s themes?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the character of John Wright and different qualities that lead the reader to believe Mrs. Wright killed him. Is the murder justified given the circumstances? Why or why not?

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This section contains 843 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample