AnswersDRHS American Literature and CompositionTrifles: The Rise of Modern Feminism on the Stage, Part 1

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

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Read the excerpt from part two of Trifles.COUNTY ATTORNEY (facetiously). Well, Henry, at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it. She was going to—what is it you call it, ladies!MRS. HALE (her hand against her pocket). We call it—knot it, Mr. Henderson.How is this excerpt an example of irony?

A
The lighthearted and humorous tone of the County Attorney is the opposite of what you would expect during a situation like this.
B
A show of interest in the quilt on the men’s behalf was a sudden twist of what would normally be expected.
C
The County Attorney appeared to be asking a question about the quilt, but he was actually asking another question entirely.
D
It appeared as though Mrs. Hale was answering the question, but she actually meant something quite different with her response.
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In part two of Trifles, how does the image of the dead bird wrapped in a silk cloth strengthen the feminist theme that women often suffer abuses within a male-dominated society?

A
The bird symbolizes loneliness, which Mrs. Wright endured throughout her marriage to Mr. Wright.
B
The bird symbolizes Mrs. Wright’s beauty, which heightened Mr. Wright’s insecurities about his marriage.
C
The bird symbolizes Mrs. Wright’s hopes of a singing career, which likely died when she married Mr. Wright.
D
The bird symbolizes nature, which Mrs. Wright missed greatly once she became secluded in the house.
3

In part two of Trifles, which of the following images most reinforces the theme of loneliness that exists throughout the play?

A
the hollow in which the Wright home sat
B
the box in which the dead bird was found
C
the partially messy table in the kitchen
D
the broken hinge on the door of the birdcage
4

In part two of Trifles, which of the following most supports the feminist theme that women suffer abuses within a male-dominated society?

A
the sewing basket
B
the shattered jar of fruit
C
the bird with the broken neck
D
the quilt with the uneven stitching
5

In part two of Trifles, how does Glaspell use irony to illustrate the idea that women were often seen as less capable than men in the early twentieth century?

A
She leads the men all over the Wright’s property to find clues, but leaves the women in the kitchen.
B
She makes Mrs. Peters appear to be afraid of breaking the law, but makes Mrs. Hale appear to be rebellious.
C
She emphasizes the trust that Hale and Mr. Peters have in their wives, but shows the wives plotting to upstage their husbands.
D
She suggests that Mrs. Wright may have been successful as a singer, but indicates that Mr. Wright was jealous of her possible success.
6

In part two of Trifles, which quotation most supports the theme that women are often unaware of the suffering of other women?

A
MRS. PETERS. Oh--I don’t know. I don’t know as she was nervous. I sometimes sew awful queer when I’m just tired.
B
MRS. HALE. It would, wouldn’t it? (Dropping her sewing.) But I tell you what I do wish, Mrs. Peters. I wish I had come over sometimes she was here.
C
MRS. PETERS. I know what stillness is. (Pulling herself back.) The law has got to punish crime, Mrs. Hale.
D
MRS. HALE. ...I tell you, it’s queer, Mrs. Peters. We live close together and we live far apart.
7

Read the excerpt from part two of Trifles.MRS. HALE. It’s log cabin pattern. Pretty, isn’t it? I wonder if she was goin’ to quilt or just knot it? (Footsteps have been heard coming down the stairs. The Sheriff enters, followed by Hale and the County Attorney.)SHERIFF. They wonder if she was going to quilt or just knot it. (The men laugh, the women look abashed.)What is ironic about this excerpt?

A
The men laugh at the women, and the women find themselves feeling very embarrassed by this.
B
The men believe the women are incapable of discovering anything of substance when, in fact, they are the ones who discover evidence.
C
Although they are considered to be good, knowledgeable homemakers, the women are puzzled by which stitching technique was used in the quilt.
D
Although the women are in Mrs. Wright’s kitchen, they are unfamiliar with many of the items that they find.
8

Based on part two of Trifles, the symbolism behind the uneven stitching in Mrs. Wright’s otherwise perfect quilt indicates that she

A
did not enjoy the process of quilting.
B
was just beginning to learn how to quilt.
C
did not want her husband to know how well she could quilt.
D
was agitated or distracted by something during her quilting.
9

Read the excerpt from part two of Trifles.MRS. PETERS (looking upstairs). We mustn’t—take on.MRS. HALE. I might have known she needed help! I know how things can be—for women. I tell you, it’s queer, Mrs. Peters. We live close together and we live far apart. We all go through the same things—it’s all just a different kind of the same thing. Which theme is best reinforced by the excerpt?

A
Women could not generally count upon one another for support, advice, or company.
B
Women were overwhelmed by the roles they had to play and usually needed extra help.
C
Women generally felt detached from each other because of the societal roles thrust upon them.
D
Women were too busy caring for the men in their lives to spend time with other women.
10

In part two of Trifles, which of the following best supports the feminist theme that women often found it difficult to fulfill their own heart’s desires?

A
the suggestion that Mrs. Wright stopped singing in the choir
B
the implication that a young Mrs. Peters was discouraged from saving her childhood pet from a vicious little boy
C
the accepted understanding that Mrs. Hale was too busy with her own home and children to stop for a visit
D
the idea that Mrs. Wright was unable to open her own fruit-stand

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