Question

can you answer these

The fact that women often feel pressured to conform to society’s expectations is a common feminist theme found within literature. As this theme appears within part two of Trifles, which pair of symbols most strengthens this theme?
towel, table
bottle of fruit, birdcage
breadbox, cats
quilt, bird

Read the excerpt from The Little Foxes.

REGINA (to BEN, triumphantly) Exactly. (To HORACE) So I did a little bargaining for you and convinced my brothers they weren’t the only Hubbards who had a business sense.

HORACE. Did you have to convince them of that? How little people know about each other! (Laughs) But you’ll know better about Regina next time, eh, Ben? (BEN, REGINA, HORACE laugh together. OSCAR’S face is angry) Now let’s see. We’re getting a bigger share. (Looking at OSCAR) Who’s getting less?

Which of the following themes does this reinforce?
Women are often pressured to conform to roles set by society.
Women are commonly underestimated by those within society.
Women suffer injustices and abuses in male-dominated societies.
Women artists frequently face difficult paths when pursuing careers.

Which best describes the style of The Little Foxes?
realistic
stylized
participatory
experimental

Read the excerpt from The Little Foxes.
REGINA. (to BEN) Horace would like to talk to you now.
HORACE. Horace would not like to talk to you now. I am very tired, Regina—
REGINA. (comes to him) Please. You’ve said we’ll try our best with each other. I’ll try. Really, I will. Please do this for me now. You will see what I’ve done while you’ve been away. How I watched your interests. (Laughs gaily) And I’ve done very well too. But things can’t be delayed any longer. Everything must be settled this week— (HORACE sits down. BEN enters. OSCAR has stayed in the dining room, his head turned to watch them. LEO is pretending to read the newspaper) Now you must tell Horace all about it. Only be quick because he is very tired and must go to bed. (HORACE is looking up at her. His face hardens as she speaks) But I think your news will be better for him than all the medicine in the world.
BEN. (looking at HORACE) It could wait. Horace may not feel like talking today.
REGINA. What an old faker you are! You know it can’t wait. You know it must be finished this week. You’ve been just as anxious for Horace to get here as I’ve been.

What does this excerpt emphasize about the character of Regina?
her dismissive attitude toward her husband
her anger toward her husband about his past decisions
her desire to be a traditional wife for her husband
her innate belief that she is inferior to her husband

Which of the following most supports the fact that The Chaste Adventures of Joseph: A Comedy is written in an experimental style?
The audience is actively and randomly involved in the play.
The author uses language that is unusual for the time period.
The setting and characters are presented in unusual ways.
The actors read lines before an audience with no setting.

Answer 1

1) quilt, bird
- The quilt represents domestic expectations/roles and the bird (dead canary) symbolizes Minnie Wright’s stifled spirit — together they underline pressure to conform.

2) Women are commonly underestimated by those within society.
- Regina’s surprise and triumph about her business sense shows others didn’t expect a woman to be capable in commerce.

3) realistic
- The Little Foxes is written as a naturalistic, realist drama portraying believable characters and social situations.

4) her dismissive attitude toward her husband
- Regina talks over Horace, pushes him, and treats his tiredness and feelings as secondary to her goals.

5) The setting and characters are presented in unusual ways.
- Presenting setting/characters unconventionally is a hallmark signal of experimental drama.