1. A Jury of her Peers
By susan Glaspell

2. Here’s a riddle for you…
A man was found murdered one Sunday morning. His wife immediately called the police. The police questioned the wife and staff and was given these alibis: The Wife said she was in bed reading a book. The Cook claimed she cooking breakfast. The Gardener claimed he was planting seeds. The Maid claimed she was getting the mail. The Butler claimed he polishing the silver. The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?
It was the Maid. She claimed that she was getting the mail but there is no mail on a Sunday!

3. What are the elements that detectives look for to find the killer?
When solving a murder….
What are the elements that detectives look for to find the killer?

4. INDIANOLA, Dec. 4.--(Special)--Persons who went to the home of John Hossack Monday and saw the murdered man in his bed, and heard portions of the testimony before the coroner's jury, are all at sea as to who killed Hossack or for what reason. There is no evidence of burglary. The murderer came through a porch and front room to the bed room where Mr. and Mrs. Hossack slept. He evidently reached across the bed with an ax and struck two blows. One crushed in the skull and the other made a deep cut, yet Hossack lived from Saturday night until 10 a.m. Sunday, though he did not regain consciousness, and no one has yet been found who can give a clue to the murder. The ax was found under a shed about fifty feet from the house. Mrs. Hossack swore before the jury that she was awakened about midnight by the slamming of a door, saw a flash of light and then all was dark. She called to her husband but as he did not respond, she got up and lighted a lamp. Then she discovered him on the bed, with blood all over the clothing. She said she did not hear the blows nor see any one. The officers are investigating.

5. Motive – Why would a woman kill her husband?

6. A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell
It was a play first- “Trifles”
Then it becomes a short story.
It was based off of a real murder case in which a wife was the main suspect in his death, but there was enough reasonable doubt in the case that she went free.

7. A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell - http://vimeo.com/34270271
Minnie Foster Wright – the accused
John Wright – the victim
Mr. Hale – neighbor
Mrs. Hale - neighbor
Mrs. Peters - the Sheriff’s wife
Sheriff Peters
Attorney Henderson

8. Who makes up the Jury of her (Minnie Foster) peers
Who makes up the Jury of her (Minnie Foster) peers? How do they judge her? Why? How do the others judge her?
Compare/Contrast the men's reasoning/investigation and the women’s. What do the women discover that the men don't? Why?
Do the women tell the men about their discovery? Why or why not?
What does this story say about the relationship between men and women during this time?
Why did Glaspell make the following decisions: not to show the crime, not to show the body, not to show the other rooms of the house,?