1. A Jury Of Her Peers
Anticipation Guide

2. Bell Work
Based on the title (A Jury Of Her Peers), what do you think this story is going to be about?
Please get an extra piece of paper out for notes.

3. Susan Glaspell Date of Birth: July 1, 1876
Place of Birth: Davenport, Iowa
Date of Death: July 27, 1948
Famous writer and feminist

4. Susan Glaspell Was a journalist first
Left profession to become a writer
Covered case that lead to story
Became popular again in 1970s

5. A Jury of Her Peers Written in 1917 Based on real case
the 1900 murder of John Hossack. In the historical case, the convicted woman murdered her husband with an ax, not a noose, while he slept.

6. Characters George Henderson – County Attorney (DA)
Henry Peters – The sheriff
Lewis Hale – A middle-aged local farmer who discovered the murder

7. Characters Mrs. Peters – The sheriff’s wife
Martha Hale – The wife of Mr. Hale and friend of Minnie
John Wright – The murdered man, and husband of Minnie Wright

8. Characters
Minnie Wright – The woman accused of killing her husband by strangling him in his sleep

9. Major Themes THE SUBJUGATION OF WOMEN
Women in this story are 2nd class citizens and have limited opportunities and power.
Pay attention to how the men treat the women and their duties

10. Major Themes THE OPPRESSION OF WOMEN
The men dismiss the women’s responsibilities as ‘trifles’
In 1917 only men sat on a jury
Compare that to the title
Who are Minnie’s peers?

11. LEGAL OBLIGATIONS VS. GENDER LOYALTY
Major Themes
LEGAL OBLIGATIONS VS. GENDER LOYALTY
Mrs. Peters and Martha Hale are caught between loyalty to Minnie and their duty to uphold the law

12. Major Themes CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Story is a murder mystery
Different kinds of justice
Pay attention to the clues in the story!

13. Things To Look For
Repetition – anything that gets mentioned more than once
Anything that is half finished
Anytime the men insult the women

14. Reading The Story Take turns reading out loud
Eligible to get a homework pass
5 quality annotations/page
Answer questions in packet on binder paper.
Please number them to match story

15. TOTD Which theme are you the most interested in reading about and why?
Oppression of women
Gender loyalty vs. legal obligation
Crime and Justice