In your essay, be sure to

• Develop a clear, defensible thesis that expresses Glaspell's main critique.
• Analyze at least two specific dramatic or literary elements (e.g., symbolism, dramatic irony, setting, dialogue, or stage directions) that bolster your argument.
• Examine how the "trifles" — such as the quilt, the birdcage, and the dead canary — serve as symbols of Minnie Wright's inner life and oppression.
• Consider how the women's final decision complicates or reinforces Glaspell's thematic message regarding justice, loyalty, and gender.
• Utilize textual evidence throughout to support your claims.

Scoring Focus

Thesis quality, use of textual evidence, analysis of literary elements, and coherence of argument.

In your essay, be sure to:

• Introduce a clear, defensible thesis that explains how Glaspell constructs this gender-based critique.
• Analyze at least two or three specific moments from the play (e.g., the quilt, the dead canary, the messy kitchen) to support your argument.
• Examine how literary elements such as symbolism, dramatic irony, and dialogue enhance Glaspell's thematic message.
• Consider the broader implications: what does the women's final choice to hide evidence imply about justice, solidarity, and the limitations of the law?
• Conclude by linking the play's themes to its historical context (the early 20th-century women's suffrage movement) or to a universal statement about systemic inequality.

Scoring Focus

Thesis strength, textual evidence, literary analysis, and coherence of argument.