Module 11 Readings

Trifles

Due: Wednesday

Here is the link to Susan Glaspell's Trifles. Download Susan Glaspell's Trifles.

For Trifles, take particular note of the following. These notes will help you complete this week's assignment, but they are not required homework questions. They are meant to help guide you through the reading:

• Take very specific note of the following symbols: dirty towels/bread, the quilt, apron, canary, bird cage, rope (way husband and bird are found), and preserved fruit. All of these symbols get to the motive of the murder and will help you to understand the dynamics in the play a bit more if you look really closely.
• Take note of life events that happen to Mrs. Peters: her child dies and she witnesses her cat being murdered--what do these things have to do with the murder of Mr. Wright? How do these life events help to understand the ending of the play?
• The phrase "quilt it or knot it" is quite significant. Think about what alternative meanings this phrase can have.
• Take note of how the men treat the women throughout the text. Does this justify the ending?

"I Want a Wife"

Due: Wednesday

Here is the link to Brady's “I Want a Wife”. Download Brady's “I Want a Wife”.

As you read, consider:

• Why she uses such a sarcastic tone
• What does she wish she could do instead of conform to traditional womanhood/wifehood?
• How might this text sound different if it was written about a husband? What are husbands' duties?
• Have the traditional marriage roles changed since she wrote this text in 1971? If so, how?

"Woman Hollering Creek"

Due: Wednesday

Here is the link to Cisneros's "Woman Hollering Creek." Download Cisneros's "Woman Hollering Creek."

In La Llorona, the folktale on which this story is based, the woman drowns her children and kills herself in despair. Her ghost is said to cry out (llorar) for her deceased children, and in some versions of the tale, her ghost grabs children who are playing outside so she can have children again. 

As you read, consider:

• How Cisneros's story is different than the folktale
• Why Cisneros chose to make these revisions to the folktale
• What Cisneros is arguing about domestic abuse
• The meaning of each of the characters' names
• The symbolism of Feliz and her red pickup truck
• The symbolism of el arroyo (the river)--why is it significant that Cleofilas and Feliz drive over the river in the red pickup? What is the significance of the laughter at the end?

"The Descent of Men"

Due: Saturday

Here is the link to Kindlon's "Descent of Men." Download Kindlon's "Descent of Men."

As you read, take note of:

• How Kindlon represents gender role reversal
• The statistics on Bachelor's and Doctorate degrees
• The claims he makes about men and women's earnings 
• The claims he makes about the distribution of power in relationships 
• How men feel about the gender norm reversal--do you find this to be true in your experience? 
• Why he says men are better suited to be homemakers than men
• The consequences of hyper masculinity 

#MeToo

Due: Saturday

Let's look at a modern rendition of female empowerment. Take a few minutes to read through the following:

1. Here is a timeline of the #MeToo movement Links to an external site. 
2. Peruse the Me Too Website Links to an external site. to learn more about the organization 
3. Watch Oprah's Golden Globe Speech where she speaks out against sexual harassment and empowers modern women: