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Trifles: The Rise of Modern Feminism on the Stage, Part 2 Answers

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Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.COUNTY ATTORNEY (with the gallantry of a young politician). And yet, for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies?What is the primary purpose of these stage directions?

to further establish the time period

to indicate a character’s tone of voice

to direct actions that take place onstage

to describe a character’s thoughts

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Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.HALE. So I knocked again, and I thought I heard somebody say, “Come in.” I wasn’t sure, I’m not sure yet, but I opened the door—this door (indicating the door by which the two women are still standing), and there in that rocker—(pointing to it) sat Mrs. Wright. What can you infer about Hale based on both the dialogue and stage directions in this excerpt?

He is easily upset and becomes wildly animated as a means of expressing his upset.

He is prone to wild gestures and exaggerated descriptions of things that have occurred.

He is desirous of making it seem as though Mrs. Wright is guilty of killing her husband.

He is eager to relay the details of the incident with as much accuracy as possible.

Which excerpt from Trifles contains a stage direction?

SHERIFF (looking about). It’s just the same.

COUNTY ATTORNEY. Somebody should have been left here yesterday.

HALE. Well, she looked queer.

MRS. HALE. Well, I don’t know as Wright had, either.

Which of the following stage directions from part one of Trifles is designed to express emotion?

MRS. PETERS (after taking a step forward).

SHERIFF (looking about).

MRS. PETERS (to the other woman).

MRS. HALE (stiffly).

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.SHERIFF (unbuttoning his overcoat and stepping away from the stove as if to the beginning of official business).How does the use of the word “official” in this stage direction affect the mood of the scene?

It suggests that the Sheriff is an honest man with great integrity.

It suggests that the Sheriff is pretending to know what he is doing.

It suggests that the Sheriff is going to attempt to act professionally.

It suggests that the Sheriff is very experienced with crimes of this sort.

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.SHERIFF (unbuttoning his overcoat and stepping away from the stove as if to the beginning of official business).What is the primary purpose of these stage directions?

to show interactions between characters

to direct actions that take place onstage

to describe a character’s appearance

to indicate a character’s tone of voice

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.COUNTY ATTORNEY (with the gallantry of a young politician).Which best describes the effect of the word “gallantry” in this excerpt?

It creates the setting by hinting at a period in time when men were more inclined to treat women with respect.

It develops the conflict by creating tension as the other men in the story realize the County Attorney actually sympathizes with women.

It enhances the theme of the story by showing that some men are capable of treating women with respect, even if it does not seem so.

It characterizes the County Attorney as someone desirous of showing respect to women, even if he does not mean it.

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.COUNTY ATTORNEY. Dirty towels! (Kicks his foot against the pans under the sink.) Not much of a housekeeper, would you say, ladies?What does this excerpt emphasize about the character of the County Attorney?

his strong belief in a woman’s domestic role

his fervent desire to solve all types of crime

his awkward shyness when dealing with women

his passionate desire to keep things orderly

He is easily upset and becomes wildly animated as a means of expressing his upset.

He is prone to wild gestures and exaggerated descriptions of things that have occurred.

He is desirous of making it seem as though Mrs. Wright is guilty of killing her husband.

He is eager to relay the details of the incident with as much accuracy as possible.

Which stage direction from part one of Trifles most adds to the suspenseful tone?

MRS. PETERS (to the other woman).

MRS. HALE (shaking her head).

MRS. HALE. (She arranges the pans under sink which the Lawyer had shoved out of place.)

MRS. PETERS (starts to speak, glances up, where footsteps are heard in the room above. In a low voice.)

Which of the following excerpts from part one of Trifles suggests that Mrs. Hale believes Mrs. Wright may have had a motive for killing her husband?

MRS. HALE. I’d hate to have men coming into my kitchen, snooping around and criticizing.

MRS. HALE. She used to wear pretty clothes and be lively, when she was Minnie Foster, one of the town girls singing in the choir.

MRS. HALE. Well, I guess John Wright didn’t wake when they was slipping that rope under his neck.

MRS. HALE. That’s just what Mr. Hale said. There was a gun in the house. He says that’s what he can’t understand.

Which stage direction from part one of Trifles most adds to the suspenseful tone?

MRS. PETERS (to the other woman).

MRS. HALE (shaking her head).

MRS. HALE. (She arranges the pans under sink which the Lawyer had shoved out of place.)

MRS. PETERS (starts to speak, glances up, where footsteps are heard in the room above. In a low voice.)

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.SHERIFF. Nothing here but kitchen things. (The County Attorney, after again looking around the kitchen, opens the door of a cupboard closet. He gets up on a chair and looks on a shelf. Pulls his hand away, sticky.) COUNTY ATTORNEY. Here’s a nice mess. (The women draw nearer.) MRS. PETERS (to the other woman). Oh, her fruit; it did freeze. (To the Lawyer). She worried about that when it turned so cold. She said the fire’d go out and her jars would break.What do the underlined stage directions suggest about the women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters?

They are totally fascinated by what the County Attorney is saying.

They are being polite by attempting to move nearer to the speaker.

They share a bond as women and are instinctively curious.

They are attempting to hide something by distracting the speaker.

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.MRS. HALE (examining the skirt).What does the word “examining” mean in the stage direction?

checking for flaws

looking very closely

searching for clues

seeking solutions

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.HALE. Well, she looked queer.COUNTY ATTORNEY. How do you mean—queer?HALE. Well, as if she didn’t know what she was going to do next. And kind of done up.Which word has a meaning similar to “queer” as it is used in this excerpt?

doubtful

strange

pensive

irrational

Which of the following stage directions from part one of Trifles supports the idea that the two women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, are stronger than they may at first appear?

COUNTY ATTORNEY. Here’s a nice mess.(The women draw nearer.)

HALE. Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.(The two women move a little closer together.)

COUNTY ATTORNEY. And yet, for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies? (The women do not unbend.)

MRS. PETERS. Yes, Mr. Henderson.(The women listen to the men’s steps on the stairs, then look about the kitchen.)

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.HALE. Well, my first thought was to get that rope off. I looked . . . (Stops, his face twitches.) . . . but Harry, he went up to him, and he said, “No, he’s dead all right, and we’d better not touch anything.”How does the use of the word “twitches” in the stage direction most affect this scene?

It characterizes Hale as someone who is weak and cannot handle difficult aspects of the job.

It emphasizes the fact that death is a difficult subject for Mr. Hale and causes him discomfort.

It hints to the reader that Hale may have somehow been involved and is acting out of guilt.

It reveals to the reader that Hale is extremely upset because he and Mr. Wright were very close.

his strong belief in a woman’s domestic role

his fervent desire to solve all types of crime

his awkward shyness when dealing with women

his passionate desire to keep things orderly

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.COUNTY ATTORNEY (with the gallantry of a young politician).Which best describes the effect of the word “gallantry” in this excerpt?

It creates the setting by hinting at a period in time when men were more inclined to treat women with respect.

It develops the conflict by creating tension as the other men in the story realize the County Attorney actually sympathizes with women.

It enhances the theme of the story by showing that some men are capable of treating women with respect, even if it does not seem so.

It characterizes the County Attorney as someone desirous of showing respect to women, even if he does not mean it.

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.COUNTY ATTORNEY. How did she seem to feel about you coming?HALE. Why, I don’t think she minded—one way or the other. She didn’t pay much attention. I said, “How do, Mrs. Wright, it’s cold, ain’t it?” And she said, “Is it?”—and went on kind of pleating at her apron. . . . And then she—laughed. I guess you would call it a laugh.How does this dialogue further develop the idea that Mrs. Wright may have had a motive for killing her husband?

It suggests that she has actually gone insane.

It suggests that she finds death humorous.

It suggests that she did not care about his death.

It suggests that she is hiding her real emotions.

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.HALE. I didn’t hear or see anything; I knocked at the door, and still it was all quiet inside. I knew they must be up, it was past eight o’clock. So I knocked again, and I thought I heard somebody say, “Come in.” I wasn’t sure, I’m not sure yet, but I opened the door—this door (indicating the door by which the two women are still standing), and there in that rocker—(pointing to it) sat Mrs. Wright. (They all look at the rocker.)How does the underlined stage direction affect the mood of the scene?

The emphasis on the rocker creates a tense mood as everyone is reminded of where Mrs. Wright calmly sat as she discussed her dead husband.

The emphasis on the rocker creates a hostile mood as the characters envision Mrs. Wright and the lack of emotion she showed as she sat rocking.

The emphasis on the rocker creates a calm mood as the reader is reminded of something that is typically used to pacify or soothe individuals.

The emphasis on the rocker creates a warm mood as the reader becomes focused on something that is often associated with fond memories.

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles. MRS. HALE (abruptly moving toward her). Mrs. Peters?Which best describes the effect of the word “abruptly” in the excerpt?

The use of the word abruptly heightens the conflict by revealing to the reader that Mrs. Hale is becoming increasingly anxious.

The use of the word abruptly characterizes Mrs. Hale as someone who is aggressive and assertive by nature.

The use of the word abruptly quickens the plot by making it appear as though the characters in the play are rushed.

The use of the word abruptly adds to the mysterious mood in the scene as the reader is left to wonder why Mrs. Hale is upset.

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.MRS. HALE (examining the skirt).What does the word “examining” mean in the stage direction?

checking for flaws

looking very closely

searching for clues

seeking solutions

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Trifles: The Rise of Modern Feminism on the Stage, Part 2 Answers

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