Trifles Notes
Setting: _______________________________________________________________________
Symbols: What does each of the following symbolize?
Bird: _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Cage: _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Stove: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Cold House: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Broken Jars: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Unevenly Sewn Quilt Block: _____________________________________________________________________________
Rope: _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Irony: How is the following scene ironic (dramatic or situational)?
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.
Answer:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Characters: Write a description of each character (personality, actions, appearance)
John Wright: _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Minnie Foster Wright: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Hale: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Harry: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sheriff Peters: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Attorney: __________________________________________________________________________________________________
George Henderson: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Mrs. Hale: __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mrs. Peters: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Questions: Please answer after reading the play, on a separate piece of paper. Use the information in these notes to help form an
answer. Each answer must be supported by details from the play.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
What is the definition of “trifle” and how would you explain the meaning of the play’s title?
What is Minnie Wright’s life like?
How are the men set apart from the women, in the play?
Why do the men miss all the real evidence?
Why do the women cover up all the evidence?
How is Minnie Foster similar to the canary?
What is a “just” punishment for Minnie?
What is the evidence that Minnie killed her husband? What is the evidence that she did not commit murder?
Should victims always stand up for abuse?
What is true justice?
Is revenge a good enough motive for murder?
Trifles Notes
Setting: _______________________________________________________________________
Symbols: What does each of the following symbolize?
Bird: __________Mrs. Wright: her soul; death of her inner self; when he killed the bird, he killed her; freedom____________
Birdcage: ________________Abusive life, broken marriage___________________________________________________
Rocking chair: _________Peacefulness____________________________________________________________
Kitchen and cold house: ________chaos and loneliness ___________________________________________________
Broken Jars: _____Effect of loneliness and abuse: a broken state; her emotions_________________________________
Unevenly Sewn Quilt Block: ____The plot; the unfinished story_______________________________________
One, intact jar: the one, kept secret
Knotted quilt: _________________murder and the rope________________________________________
Irony: How is the following scene ironic (dramatic or situational)?
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.
Answer:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Characters: Write a description of each character (personality, actions, appearance)
John Wright: _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Minnie Foster-Wright: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Hale: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Harry: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sheriff Peters: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
George Henderson: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Mrs. Hale: __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mrs. Peters: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Questions: Please answer after reading the play, on a separate piece of paper. Use the information in these notes to help form an
answer. Each answer must be supported by details from the play.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
What is the definition of “trifle” and how would you explain the meaning of the play’s title?
What is Minnie Wright’s life like?
How are the men set apart from the women, in the play?
Why do the men miss all the real evidence?
Why do the women cover up all the evidence?
How is Minnie Foster similar to the canary?
What is a “just” punishment for Minnie?
What is the evidence that Minnie killed her husband? What is the evidence that she did not commit murder?
Should victims always stand up for abuse?
What is true justice?
Is revenge a good enough motive for murder?