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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 the Sheriff’s response when asked, “You’re convinced that there was nothing important here—nothing that would point to any motive”?

2. What is Mrs. Wright doing with her apron when Mr. Hale enters?

3. What character in the play is based on the real-life figure of Margaret Hossack?

4. Mrs. Hale refers to Mrs. Wright as “real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and” what?

5. What is Mr. Hale’s response when asked of Mrs. Wright, “How did she seem to feel about your coming?”

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What comment is made regarding the kitchen before the men depart upstairs? Why is this significant?

5. What indication does Mrs. Wright give in front of Mr. Henderson that Mr. Wright is unpleasant?

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

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

8. What leads the women to discover the pretty box in Mrs. Wright's sewing basket?

9. What does Mrs. Peters say in response to Mrs. Hale berating herself for not visiting Minnie?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the most important characters in Trifles is Mrs. Wright, yet she never appears on the stage. Why did Glaspell leave her out of the play? How does her absence impact Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters? Discuss the ways the play would be different if Mrs. Wright was present.

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?

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This section contains 913 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample