WorksheetsTrifles Quiz 3.2
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
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.
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 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.
They are attempting to hide something by distracting the speaker.
Which stage direction from part one of Trifles most adds to the suspenseful tone?
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.)
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 adds to the mysterious mood in the scene as the reader is left to wonder why Mrs. Hale is upset.
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.
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 fervent desire to solve all types of crime
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 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.
In part two of Trifles, the symbol of the broken birdcage best supports the theme that women often
endure unjust acts in male-dominated societies.
face difficult paths as they pursue careers.
feel the need to restore their broken homes.
Based on part two of Trifles, the symbolism behind the uneven stitching in Mrs. Wright’s otherwise perfect quilt indicates that she
did not enjoy the process of quilting.
did not want her husband to know how well she could quilt.
was agitated or distracted by something during her quilting.
Based on part two of Trifles, what did the bird’s singing most likely symbolize to Mrs. Wright?
freedom and beauty
talent and success
nature and equality
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?
The bird symbolizes Mrs. Wright's joy, which was snuffed out after her marriage to Mr. Wright.
The bird symbolizes Mrs. Wright’s hopes of a singing career, which likely died when she married Mr. Wright.
The bird symbolizes nature, which Mrs. Wright missed greatly once she became secluded in the house.
In part two of Trifles, how does the symbol of the broken fruit jar impact the theme that women were often unhappy in the roles they were expected to fulfill?
The shattered fruit jar symbolizes the broken and unhappy home in which Mrs. Wright lived.
The shattered fruit jar symbolizes the disappointment and hostility Mr. Wright felt for Mrs. Wright.
The shattered fruit jar symbolizes the love and affection that Mrs. Wright once felt for Mr. Wright.
In part two of Trifles, which of the following most supports the feminist theme that women suffer abuses within a male-dominated society?
the shattered jar of fruit
the bird with the broken neck
the quilt with the uneven stitching
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?
the implication that a young Mrs. Peters was discouraged from saving her childhood pet from a vicious little boy
the accepted understanding that Mrs. Hale was too busy with her own home and children to stop for a visit
the idea that Mrs. Wright was unable to open her own fruit-stand
MRS. HALE. It’s a 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.)
Which theme is best reinforced by the excerpt?
The thoughts and opinions of women were not considered noteworthy.
The daily deeds of women were quite complex and detail oriented.
The dedication that women had for their communities was unmatched.
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?
Women were overwhelmed by the roles they had to play and usually needed extra help.
Women generally felt detached from each other because of the societal roles thrust upon them.
Women were too busy caring for the men in their lives to spend time with other women.
In part two of Trifles, which of the following images most reinforces the theme of loneliness that exists throughout the play?
the hollow in which the Wright home sat
the partially messy table in the kitchen
the broken hinge on the door of the birdcage
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?
The lighthearted and humorous tone of the County Attorney is the opposite of what you would expect during a situation like this.
The County Attorney appeared to be asking a question about the quilt, but he was actually asking another question entirely.
It appeared as though Mrs. Hale was answering the question, but she actually meant something quite different with her response.
In part two of Trifles, which of the following is an example of situational irony?
The men overlook the important details because they believe the kitchen holds nothing but trivial kitchen items.
Mrs. Peters explains to Mrs. Hale that Mrs. Wright had an uncomfortable feeling around cats.
Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters discover a birdcage with broken door hinges and no bird inside of it.
In part two of Trifles, which is an example of dramatic irony?
The men believe that Mrs. Wright may not have been a very good homemaker.
The audience knows about the deceased bird hidden in the box, but the men in the play do not.
The audience views the setting of the Wright home as a lonely place, but the characters do not.
