Character John Wright – quiet, unfriendly, cold, no concern for wife’s needs, stingy

Minnie Wright - dull voice, distant, isolated, did not join ladies club / Used to be lively, pretty, wore pretty clothes, sing

COUNTY ATTORNEY  Thinks he is superior to women  Thinks women are simple / only worry about unimportant things

Mrs. Hale -compassionate, no loyalty to husband, feels guilty about not visiting Minnie more often. Mr. Hale -judgemental, tries to make conversation

Mrs. Peters -compassionate, no loyalty to husband, hides evidence from husband (sheriff)

SETTING  Kitchen, farmhouse, 1900’s in Midwest SYMBOL- Students brainstorm first with partner.  Knotted sewing –  Kitchen –

SYMBOL  Broken jar of preserves –  Caged canary –  Women –  Dead bird –  Cold weather-

SYMBOL  Kitchen – represents the Wright’s marriage / relationship  Broken jar – damage to Minnie’s life  Knotted sewing- Minnie’s anger over dead bird

SYMBOL  Dead canary – John’s cruelty / Minnie’s motive for killing him  Dead canary – death of Minnie’s spirit / echoes & imitates John’s death( neck was wrung) (strangulation)

SYMBOL  Caged bird – isolated & restricted life that Minnie led  Women – represent being naïve, worrying about unimportant details

SYMBOL  Knot- John’s neck / the knot Minnie started doing when she was sewing THEME Compassion & detection

CLIMAX  John killed the canary CONFLICT - External Men vs. women – men look at women’s concerns as trivial / unimportant John vs. Minnie

SIMILE – Pg. 780 Mrs. Hale: “Come to think of it, she was like a bird herself – real sweet & pretty, but kind of timid & fluttery.” EXPLAIN!

FORESHADOWING- Pg. 779 Mrs. Hale states, ”Bad sewing always makes me fidgety.” / (Covering for Minnie)

FORESHADOWING- Pg. 780 Mrs. Peters – “It’s broke. One hinge is pulled apart.” (John agressively pulled door off the cage.) -Pg. 780 Mrs. Hale- “Looks as if someone must have been rough with it.” (John – ripped bird cage door off cage.)

IRONY The clues that seem to be trifles end up being the most important clues that solve the case and the motive.