Patrick McCoy

Eng. 68 TR 9:50 11:55

April 5, 2011
Audience: English 68 Class
1. General attribution
Mrs. Peters, the protagonist in Susan Glaspells play Trifles changes
her outlook from one of strict belief in the law to a more emotional ethical
standpoint.

2. Summary quotation
The protagonists husband The Sheriff Henry Peters investigates the
murder of John Wright in his own farmhouse. Sheriff Peters wife accompanies
him so she can retrieve some personal items for the murder suspect, Mrs.
Wright. Mrs. Peters is a just and upstanding woman, married to the law as
the County Attorney said. Mrs. Peters outlook changes after hearing her
friend Mrs. Hale speak about the victim John Wright, eluding to the idea that
maybe his wife was justified in what she may be guilty of. So much so that
when evidence presents itself Mrs. Peters feels compelled to hide potentially
damning evidence from her husband and the District Attorney (Glaspell 94).
Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. Writing About Literature. 2nd Edition. Ed. Janet E. Gardner.
Boston. Bedford/St. Martins. 2009. 94 105. Print.
3.

Direct/block quotation form with ellisis

Mrs. Hale begins to cast doubt on the character of John Wright, and
implies why Mrs. Wright may have murdered him.
Mrs. Peters: Not to know him; Ive seen him in town. They say he
was a good man.

Patrick McCoy
Eng. 68 TR 9:50 11:55
April 5, 2011
Audience: English 68 Class
Mrs. Hale: Yes Good; But he was a hard man, Mrs. Peters. Just to
pass the time of day

with him (Shivers.) Like a raw wind that gets

to the bone (Glaspell 102)

4. Full citation
Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. Writing About Literature. 2nd Edition. Ed. Janet E.
Gardner. Boston. Bedford/St. Martins. 2009. 94 105. Print.