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The narrator of the poem makes connections between the work he does and the work that his farther does. The narrator's father is a farmer, and the narrator is a writer. Comparing potatoes to words, the narrator believes planting and digging for ideas is the best way to reap benefits. The narrator illustrates the difference between him and his father: "Through living roots awaken in my head. But I've no spade to follow men like them" (Heaney 282).

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The title of "Trifles" is ironic since Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters find evidence in what the men consider women's trifles. Although the tone of the play is dark, I felt it is also clever. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters decide to protect Mrs. Wright's innocence. The County Attorney and Sheriff say sexist remarks that incite the women to protect Mrs. Wright. Themes of oppression and feminism are both present in the play. Mrs. Hale and Mrs.  Peter make a change by protecting Mrs. Wright and her stand against her abusive husband.
The bird symbolizes freedom, and Mr. Wright essentially kills Mrs. Wright's freedom. In return, she does the same to him.

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It is ironic how Dee claims Mama does not understand her heritage.
"'You just don't understand,' she said, as Maggie and I came out to the car. 'What don't I understand?' I wanted to know. 'Your heritage,' she said" (Walker 939).
Mama does her best to preserve their heritage by naming Dee after her aunt and grandmother. She preserves their heritage through the quilts and benches.  Dee's decision to follow an African heritage is ironic since she does not know much about it.
Dee resenting her mother's effort is heartbreaking since her mother did what she could to help her children understand their heritage as well as preserve it.

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This poem could either be understood as something serious or something as light as a father and son dancing. I first understood the poem to be light hearted and fun. However, some lines shift the tone:

"The hand that held my wrist, was battered on one knuckle" (Roethke 274).

The whiskey on your breath, could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death, such waltzing was not easy" (Roethke 274).

"You beat time on my head, with a palm cake hard by dirt" (Roethke 274).

The waltz could be understood as the relationship between the boy and the father. The boy was trying to keep up with his father. It is unknown whether the father is an alcoholic who mistreats his son and family, or if the drinking and time keeping is all in good fun.

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"There were so many ways for things to get better" (Tan 264).

Two kinds first refers to the two types of daughters Jing-mei is confronted with by her mother, "Those who are obedient and those who follow their own mind" (Tan 270).  Jing-mei and her mother understand this as an either-or situation. Her mother wants and obedient daughter, and Jing-mei wants to follow her own mind. Jing-mei follows this mindset of independence throughout her life until her mother passes away. During the recital, Jing-mei's struggle with the piano piece was reflective of the weakness of only choosing one kind. Through two piano pieces, she learns that the two types of daughters could exist together as they were "two halves of the same song" (Tan 271).
Both Jing-mei and her mother take their mindsets too seriously and their strong stances result in conflict. They both feet that they know what is best for Jing-mei.

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The things that weigh the least meant the most. The smallest items have the most effect on Jimmy Cross, and he becomes lost in his thoughts.  At first, the objects from Martha provide more closure and feeling of safety and serenity than weapons and medical supplies.
Then, the weightless things begin to  become more of a burden than the supplies they carry.

"They all carried ghosts" (O'Brien 1136).

"Imagination is a killer" (O'Brien 1136).

"By and large they carried these things inside, maintaining the masks of composure" (O'Brien 1142).

"You couldn't burn the blame" (O'Brien 1142).

Ted Lavender's death sparks a change in Jimmy. His focus on the things that were not important to his safety and his men's safety is what he felt put them in danger. He carries the blame of Lavender's death. He cannot help but feel guilt and regret because of his feelings towards Martha.

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At first, Charlie is excited to reunite with hid dad. He is excited with the idea of 'dad' instead the person his dad is. "I wished that we could be photographed. I wanted some record of our having been together" (Cheever 254). Charlie's dad seems to be controlled by the idea of being a father figure. He wants to impress Charlie by asserting power and putting others down.
Both characters are obsessed with the idea of a father, and they do not reconnect.
Their time together is brief, much like one of the passing trains Charlie boards.

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Lyman and Henry are very close. His statement about the convertible, "We owned it together until his boots filled with water on a windy night...now Henry owns the whole car" (Erdrich 241) is confusing at first.
Fixing the convertible is what makes the brothers happy, especially Henry. Henry and Lyman work on the convertible together to keep it nice, and the meaning and work behind the convertible helps to 'fix' Henry. I felt that Lyman provided some sort of closure when he let the convertible drive into the river to accompany Henry. The headlights seem to search for Henry too.
"...there is only the water, the sound of it going and running and going and running and running (Erdrich 247). The water reflects how the brothers lived life before Henry left.

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This poem reminds me of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" because of its vivid descriptions of what a lost dream can become. In "Death of a Salesman," Willy is unsatisfied with his life, and where his chase for the American Dream had left him and his family. Willy's suicide is the result of a lost dream, and Hughes' poem aptly describes this.
"Or fester like a sore - And then run?"
"Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?" (Hughes 80).

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Sammy's decision to quit is reflective of his age. He thinks he is doing something righteous, and expects praise. However, he learns that his actions are a very small movement compared to the daily happenings of the small town. I think at some point, everybody understands how small they are in the world, and what they view as powerful is insignificant to everyone else. Sammy makes a difference for himself, even though life will continue on as normal for A&P and its employees and customers.

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This is interesting to read. I don't think it has a deeper meaning. Collins provides the meaning on the surface level, as he wants students "to water-ski across the surface of a poem, waving at the authors name on the shore" (Collins 76). Reading a poem for the first time, one doesn't search for a deeper meaning, they enjoy it for what it is, if it's happy, beautiful, grotesque, or moving. I think Collins wants readers to do just that instead of ripping apart a poem to find the author's hidden meaning.

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This story is very solemn and surprising. It begins light-hearted but quickly grows sorrowful. The twist at the end is unexpected. I think Armand and Derisee are both quick to judge. It is ironic how they rush into marriage and are quick to separate.
"...she stood one day against the stone pillar in whose shadow she had lain asleep..." (Chopin 902).
"She was like a stone image: silent, white, motionless..." (Chopin 905).

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Rachel views her age as separate years with separate experiences added together. Because of this, she feels helpless when facing the red sweater issue. I think she should view her years and experiences as a collective. For example, items that build off one another in order to form a stronger being. This mindset is similar to how she describes growing old and the rings inside a tree.
"...the way you grow old is kind of like an onion or like the rings inside a tree trunk...each year inside the next one" (Cisneros 26).

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Throughout the story it is apparent that Alan only has himself in mind. I find it entertaining how the old man is blunt when explaining the effects of the potion. He advertises the fact that Alan, who is currently blinded by love, would be returning later on for a quick fix. The old man is a great salesman.
"Their effects are permanent, and extend far beyond the mere casual impulse" (Collier 2).