Which of the following lines from Susan Glaspell’s play “Trifles” is most significant in the development of themes related to justice?
A. “I stayed away because it weren't cheerful—and that's why I ought to have come.”
B. “But, Mrs. Peters—look at it! Its neck! Look at its neck!”
C. “Now, Mr. Hale, before we move things about, you explain to Mr. Henderson just what you saw when you came here yesterday morning.”
D. “She just nodded her head, not getting a bit excited, but rockin' back and forth.” “‘Somebody slipped a rope round his neck and strangled him and you didn't wake up?’”
Which of the following best describes the use of irony in Susan Glaspell’s play “Trifles?”
A. The play includes only dramatic and verbal irony.
B. The play includes only verbal irony.
C. The play includes only dramatic and situational irony.
D. The play includes only situational irony.
E. The play includes all three forms of irony.
In Susan Glaspell’s play “Trifles,” Mrs. Wright is characterized through
A. the accounts other characters provide of her words and actions.
B. her actions, as described by her husband and his friends.
C. her own words, expressed in the voiceover narration at the end of the play.
D. her own words, represented in the letter she left beside the bird cage.
E. her silent actions onstage at the end of the play.
1. B.
2. E.
3. A.
the correct answers
I apologize for the incorrect answers in my previous response. The correct answers are:
1. The most significant line in the development of themes related to justice is option D: “She just nodded her head, not getting a bit excited, but rockin' back and forth.” “‘Somebody slipped a rope round his neck and strangled him and you didn't wake up?’”
2. The use of irony in Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles" is best described by option E: The play includes all three forms of irony. The play includes dramatic irony, verbal irony, and situational irony.
3. Mrs. Wright is characterized through option E: her silent actions onstage at the end of the play. In the final scene, Mrs. Wright's actions reveal her true nature and the emotions she has kept hidden throughout the play.
For the first question, the most significant line related to justice is option D: “She just nodded her head, not getting a bit excited, but rockin' back and forth.” “‘Somebody slipped a rope round his neck and strangled him and you didn't wake up?’” This line signifies the discovery of Mrs. Wright's motive for killing her husband, highlighting the theme of justice and the punishment of a perpetrator.
Regarding the second question, the best answer is option E: The play includes all three forms of irony. "Trifles" includes dramatic irony, where the audience knows something that the characters do not; verbal irony, where characters say one thing but mean another; and situational irony, where events do not unfold as expected.
Finally, for the third question, Mrs. Wright is characterized through option A: the accounts other characters provide of her words and actions. Throughout the play, the other characters share their observations and memories of Mrs. Wright's behavior, giving insights into her character.
The most significant line in the development of themes related to justice is option D: “She just nodded her head, not getting a bit excited, but rockin' back and forth.” “‘Somebody slipped a rope round his neck and strangled him and you didn't wake up?’” This line highlights the injustice and lack of concern for Mrs. Wright's abusive situation, as the men fail to recognize or understand the significance of her silent and stoic response.
The use of irony in Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles" is best described by option E: The play includes all three forms of irony. The play includes dramatic irony, as the audience is aware of Mrs. Wright's motive for murdering her husband while the characters are not. It also includes verbal irony, as there are instances where characters say one thing but mean another. Lastly, it includes situational irony, as the investigation focuses on the trivial "trifles" that the men dismiss as unimportant but are central to understanding Mrs. Wright's motivation for the murder.
Mrs. Wright is characterized through A. the accounts other characters provide of her words and actions. Throughout the play, other characters, such as the neighbors and the sheriff's wife, provide glimpses into Mrs. Wright's personality and behavior through their descriptions and recollections. This allows the audience to piece together a picture of Mrs. Wright's life and mindset.