A Jury of Her Peers

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Mrs. Peters is a dynamic character, one who changes over the course of the story.

• How does Mrs. Peters change from the beginning of the story to the end? (topic sentence)
• Support your topic statement with 2-3 passages that inform the reader about Mrs. Peters. Consider her dialogue at the beginning and her actions near the climax.
• In your concluding statement or paragraph, explain how Mrs. Peters is a dynamic character. Consider connecting this change to the theme of Gender Roles, Duty of Neighbors to Help One Another, or The Law Versus Justice.

2. The canary is a multifaceted symbol in life and death.

• What does the canary symbolize, and how does this symbol evolve? (topic sentence)
• Describe 2-3 ways in which the canary is a symbol throughout its life and death. Support your description with passages in which the canary is discussed or described.
• In your concluding statement or paragraph, summarize what the canary symbolizes and connect this symbol to Mrs. Wright.

3. “A Jury of Her Peers” is told through a third-person omniscient narrator.

• How does the third-person omniscient narrator inform the audience about the characters? (topic sentence)
• Identify 2-3 passages in which the reader learns about the various characters. Consider their thoughts and actions along with their external dialogue.
• In your concluding statement or paragraph, explain the impact of the third-person omniscient narrator on the audience’s understanding of the characters and of one of the following themes: Gender Roles, Duty of Neighbors to Help One Another, or The Law Versus Justice.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. How do the men in “A Jury of Her Peers” reveal the biases of the era through their dialogue and actions? Contrast these revelations with the women’s actions. Research Susan Glaspell’s attitude toward the suffrage movement of the early 20th  century to find evidence to support your claim. Consider connecting your research to the theme of Gender Roles. Support your ideas with specific textual examples from the story and your research. Please remember to cite all direct quotes and paraphrased examples.

2. How does Susan Glaspell use the concepts of singing and stillness throughout “A Jury of Her Peers” to represent the nature of Minnie Wright’s marriage? In a well-developed essay organized around at least three examples, discuss how the author uses the elements to paint a picture of the young Minnie Foster and the woman she became. Support your ideas with specific textual examples and be sure to cite all direct quotes and paraphrased examples.

3. How does Susan Glaspell use irony to challenge the norms of her era regarding gender roles and the law? Research the suffrage movement in relation to women’s treatment by the law and justice system. Connect your research to your analysis of the use of irony. Consider connecting your work to the theme of The Law Versus Justice. Write a well-developed essay that includes an introduction with a thesis statement, several body paragraphs, and a clear conclusion. Support your ideas with specific textual examples from the story and your research. Please remember to cite all direct quotes and paraphrased examples.