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Lesson 1 (from Introduction)

Objective

Susan Glaspell's one-act play, Trifles, is based on actual events that occurred in Iowa at the turn of the century. From 1899-1901, Glaspell worked as a reporter for the Des Moines News, where she covered the murder trial of a farmer's wife, Margaret Hossack, in Indianola, Iowa. Hossack was accused of killing her husband, John, by striking him twice in the head with an ax while he slept. In this lesson, students are introduced to the play and will research the playwright and the murder trial that influenced the play.

Lesson

Teacher Lecture: Introduce the class to the play and playwright. Trifles, first performed in 1916, is a one-act play based on events surrounding the trial of Margaret Hossack. It was first produced by the Provincetown Players at the Wharf Theatre in Cape Cod.

Research Activity: Students will be given time in class to read the Introduction...

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