Compare and Contrast Two Texts: Trifles by Susan Glaspell

Susan Glaspell grew up in Iowa and became the statehouse reporter for the Des Moines Daily News in 1899. Her memory of a murder trial in Iowa that she had covered served as the inspiration for the short play Trifles (1916). Glaspell recalled that she "had meant to do it as a short story, but the stage took it for its own." The microfilm images of the newspaper articles in this collection present the first news of the murder of Mr. Hossack and the subsequently released facts of the case and Mrs. Hossack's involvement.

Download the Sources of Trifles and Annotated Text of Trifles documents, and use them to answer the questions below about the relationship between Susan Glaspell’s play and her source material.

  1. How similar is the plot of Trifles to the facts reported in this article? How significant are the differences? Explain.

    Question

    How similar is the plot of Trifles to the facts reported in this article? How significant are the differences? Explain.
    Chapter 1: How similar is the plot of Trifles to the facts reported in this article? How significant are the differences? Explain.
  2. The article characterizes Mr. Hossack as “a prominent farmer, highly respected” and his murder as “foul.” How does this characterization affect your view of Mr. Wright?

    Question

    The article characterizes Mr. Hossack as “a prominent farmer, highly respected” and his murder as “foul.” How does this characterization affect your view of Mr. Wright?
    Chapter 1: The article characterizes Mr. Hossack as “a prominent farmer, highly respected” and his murder as “foul.” How does this characterization affect your view of Mr. Wright?
  3. Mr. Hossack, unlike Glaspell’s Mr. Wright, had children. Why might Glaspell have made Mr. Wright childless? If Mr. and Mrs. Wright had children, would your opinion of Mr. Wright’s murder change?

    Question

    Mr. Hossack, unlike Glaspell’s Mr. Wright, had children. Why might Glaspell have made Mr. Wright childless? If Mr. and Mrs. Wright had children, would your opinion of Mr. Wright’s murder change?
    Chapter 1: Mr. Hossack, unlike Glaspell’s Mr. Wright, had children. Why might Glaspell have made Mr. Wright childless? If Mr. and Mrs. Wright had children, would your opinion of Mr. Wright’s murder change?
  4. Why might Glaspell have chosen to write about a canary in her play as opposed to a chicken (as described in this article)?

    Question

    Why might Glaspell have chosen to write about a canary in her play as opposed to a chicken (as described in this article)?
    Chapter 1: Why might Glaspell have chosen to write about a canary in her play as opposed to a chicken (as described in this article)?