Discussion Board 6: “Trifles” (1916)
Use the argument essay format to respond to the discussion board. Watch the video example of the essay format and make sure you understand the format.
Discussion Forum Tasks:
Read “Trifles” (1916) and write an essay to address the Discussion Focus.
Discussion Focus:
Trifles (1916)
By Susan Glaspell
To most readers Susan Glaspell (1876-1948) is still known primarily as the author of Trifles, the frequently anthologized, classic feminist play about two women’s secret discovery of a wife’s murder of her husband. One of the “trifles” in the play is whether or not Mrs. Wright was going to “quilt” or “knot” the quilt she was working on. As is the case for many of the “trifles” in this play, the question is more significant than it seems. The final stage of quilting is to attach the top, batting, and backing together. This can be done in two ways. One way (quilting) is to sew elaborate patterns on it. The simpler but just as effective way (knotting) is to sew a thread through the pieces using large stitches, cut the thread, and tie knots in it. For your Discussion focus, argue the significance of this difference or argue the significance of one of the other trifles in the play.
to an external site.
Defend your argument using quotations and examples from the novel to clarify and support your claim.
