Trifles - Susan Glaspell (1916)

Exploration of the Text

What clues lead the women to conclude that Minnie Wright killed her husband?

There were many clues that lead Mrs Peters and Mrs Hale to conclude that Mrs Wright killed her husband. The first example comes up when the group of characters are in the kitchen. The Sheriff has said that there is nothing worth looking at in the kitchen as it is just "kitchen things". Second is when Mrs. Peters points out a broken jar of preserves. In the play the Sheriff says, "Well, you can beat the women! Held for murder and worryin' about her preserves". There is another point in the play when the men comment on the tidiness of the house and Mrs Hale countered back by saying, ".. But I dont think a place'd be any cheerfuller for John Wright's being in it" Indicating that Mr Wright is very controlling typed of husband. After getting few clues, Mrs Hale was certain by her instincts and asked Mr Peters if Mrs Wright killed her husband and Mrs Peters does not agreed. Mrs Peters later discovered that Mrs Wright was piercing a quilt. Mrs Hale was at that time was certain with evidence she have found around the kitchen asked Mrs Peters whether she (Mrs Wright) was going to quilt it or knot it -- showing how Mrs Wright killed her husband.

How do the men differ from the women? from each other?

Glaspell shows gender differences in Trifles. The two sexes are distinguished by the roles they play in society, their methods of communication and vital to the plot of the play, their powers of observation. In simple terms, Trifles suggests that men tend to be aggressive, brash, rough, analytical and self centered, in contrast, women are more cautious , deliberative, intuitive, and sensitive to the needs of others. It is these differences that allow Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale to get to the truth. 

What do the men discover? Why do they conclude "Nothing here but kitchen things"?

The men did not discover anything because while the men tramp around the farmhouse searching for big clues, they ignore the little things that the women discovered. "Nothing here but kitchen things" indicates that there are no clues or evidences but only small details that is not important to the case.


Work Cited

Glaspell, Susan. Trifles: A Play in One Act. 10 Apr. 2001. http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/ eng384/trifles.htm

On Susan Glaspell's Trifles. 18 Apr. 2001. http://www.geocities.com/ms_english101/ Trifles.html.

Susan Glaspell's Trifles - Little Things Mean a lot httpp://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=8589

http://www.enotes.com/trifles/14148

http://www.enotes.com/trifles/14150

http://fcgov.com/news/index.php?id=1660

Poetry and Drama

Poetry

Oxford dictionary (2013) define poetry as literary work in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature. The word came from Medieval Latin poetria and poeta 'poet'. In early use the word sometimes referred to creative literature in general. There are four elements to grasp as we define the term poetry which are; 

• Form – a poetic line that begins and ends where the poet chooses according to rhythm 
• Tone – help to create feelings and images to the readers
• Imagery – to describe senses to the readers
• Figurative language – to help the readers to access ideas chose by the poet. 

Generally, poetry is a piece of literature written by a poet in meter or prose expressing various emotions using different techniques including metaphors, simile and onomatopoeia. Khalil Gibran stated that ‘Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder with a dash of the dictionary’. Which explain, poem is a written text that includes emotions (deal of joy and pain and wonder) and use techniques (dash of the dictionary).

In class, Dr H mentioned that poetry makes words dance. Meaning -- they cannot create effective and astonishing meanings if they did not dance. Dance here implies that words use in poems are metaphorical, paradoxical and dynamic. 

In short, one can define poetry as different readers, different poets, different era, different culture experience poetry differently. 

Drama

According to Merriam Webster, drama is defined as: 

a : a composition in verse or prose intended to portray life or character or to tell a story usually involving conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue and typically designed for theatrical performance. 

b : a movie or television production with characteristics (as conflict) of a serious play; broadly : a play, movie, or television production with a serious tone or subject <a policedrama>

Drama is made up from elements like scene, subjects, story, perspective, continuity, visuals, sound effects and music, symbolism, theme, verbal/visual medium and impact on audience. 

What is the purpose of drama? -  Drama is used to portray a conflict that will hold the audience's attention by provoking a strong emotional response quickly. 

A little history on drama -  It is all started with ancient Greek theatre (in 5th or 6th BC in Greece: festivals of Dionysus) and then developed to Elizabethan theatre (think of Shakespeare) and later today, a modern theatre (Ibsen)

For me to understand a drama you must first trace the dramatic structure in the drama itself. Identify the conflicts, arguments, plot and most importantly, characters. 

Works Cited:

1. Kriszner and  Mandell. Portable Literature: Reading, Reacting and Writing. Boston, Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.

2. Schmidt and Crockett. Portable Legacies: Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Non Fiction. Boston, Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.

3. "Drama." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2013. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drama>.

4. Simpson and Weiner. The Oxford English Dictionary.  London. Oxford University Press, 1989.

5. <www.googleimages.com/poetry, n.d Web 5 Oct 2013

6. <www.googleimages.com/drama, n.d Web 5 Oct 2013